Survey Online

Conducting an online web survey should really be no different than any other kind of survey form, save for the medium. But all too often, normally restrained market research companies lose all sense of decorum when conducting an online survey. Suddenly it’s OK to plague potential respondents with multiple email survey reminders to take their electronic surveys.

It’s not. You must be mindful of how often you are communicating to potential respondents. I’ve even seen companies send out reminders to an entire respondent pool, some of whom have already taken the survey. If your survey is not getting enough respondents, there are probably issues that will not be fixed by several reminders. Perhaps you have fallen into some common traps not discussed previously – not explaining things clearly, no enticement, computer glitches or countless other things. The issue could also lie with the list you are sending it to and not the respondents themselves. If it is a list you have purchased, make sure the information is accurate. Always check out companies who sell lists thoroughly to ensure they are scrupulous.

It is important to check out all these potential avenues before sending out multiple reminders. Receiving unsolicited email reminders can irritate your potential respondent pool. All too often, I have seen this backfire when recipients unsubscribe from the email list. By sending out multiple email reminders for electronic surveys, you could be losing out on the ability to contact hundreds of potential respondents for future surveys. Once they have opted out, you can’t get them back.