Struggling with low survey completion rates? You’re not alone. Discover simple, effective strategies to get more responses, better data, and make your surveys work for you.
You’ve done the work. You built a survey with important questions, you sent it out to your email list or posted it on your social channels, and then you waited.
The responses trickle in. One… two… five…
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But out of a hundred people who saw it, only seven finished it. What happened to the other 93? Did they get bored? Was it too long? Did they just not care?
If this sounds familiar, take a deep breath. You’ve hit a common wall, but you don’t have to stay there. Low completion rates are a frustrating problem that can leave you with useless data and a lot of guesswork.
The good news? This isn’t a mystery. People abandon surveys for specific, fixable reasons. By making a few smart changes, you can turn those abandoned surveys into a goldmine of helpful information.
This guide walks you through practical, straightforward strategies to design surveys that people actually want to finish. Let’s turn that frustration into actionable insights.
Why Do People Abandon Your Survey? (The Pain Points We All Face)
Before we fix the problem, we need to understand it. Think about the last time you quit a survey halfway through. Why did you leave?
- It was too long: The number one survey killer. Nobody has 20 minutes to spare.
- The questions were confusing or boring: If it feels like work, people will close the tab.
- It asked for too much personal information too soon: People are protective of their data.
- It wasn’t mobile-friendly: A huge portion of users will see your survey on their phone. If it’s hard to use, they’re gone.
- There was no clear benefit: “What’s in it for me?” is a question every respondent asks silently.
Sound familiar? The key to higher completion rates is to solve these problems before your audience even encounters them.
How to Design Surveys That People Actually Finish?
1. Keep It Short and Sweet (Really, Seriously Short)
Your first goal is respect for your respondent’s time.
- Be Ruthless with Your Questions: Look at every single question and ask: “What will I do with the answer to this?” If you don’t have a clear plan for how that data will help you, cut the question.
- Set a Time Expectation: Start your surveys with a note: “This survey will take about 3 minutes to complete.” This manages expectations and makes people more likely to start, knowing it’s a small commitment.
- Use a Progress Bar: If your survey tool offers it, a progress bar is a great visual motivator. It shows people how much they’ve done and how little is left, encouraging them to push through to the end.
2. Write Crystal Clear Questions
Ambiguity is the enemy of good data. If people don’t understand the question, they’ll either guess, skip it, or quit.
- Avoid Jargon: Use simple, everyday language that your audience understands.
- Ask One Thing at a Time: A question like, “How satisfied are you with our product’s price and customer service?” is two questions in one. Split it up. This makes it easier to answer and gives you more accurate data.
- Use Closed-Ended Questions Wisely: Multiple-choice, dropdowns, and rating scales (e.g., 1-5) are faster and easier for people to answer than typing out paragraphs. Save open-ended text boxes for when you truly need detailed, qualitative feedback.
3. Perfect Your Opening Act: The Title and Introduction
You wouldn’t start a conversation by demanding personal info. Don’t start your survey that way either.
- Craft a compelling title: Instead of “Customer Survey,” try “Help Us Make Our Product Better for You.” One is generic; the other is inviting and speaks to a benefit.
- Write a friendly introduction: Briefly explain why you’re doing the survey and how the information will be used. For example: “Hi there! We’re always working to improve your experience, and your honest feedback is the best way for us to do that. Your answers will help us shape our new features.”
- Promise Anonymity (if true): If you are keeping responses anonymous or confidential, say so upfront. This builds trust and encourages honesty.
4. Make It Look Good and Work Everywhere
A messy, hard-to-use survey is an immediate turn-off.
- Mobile-First Design: Most of your respondents are probably on their phones. Use a survey platform that creates responsive forms. Always preview your survey on a mobile device to check that buttons are easy to tap and text is easy to read.
- Logical Grouping: Group similar questions together under clear section headings. For example, put all questions about “Product Features” in one section and all about “Billing” in another. This makes the survey feel organized and less overwhelming.
- Brand It: Add your logo and use your brand colors. A survey that looks professional and legitimate feels more trustworthy.
5. The Power of the Incentive: What’s In It For Them?
While some people are happy to help out of goodwill, a small incentive can dramatically increase your response rates.
- Offer a Chance to Win: A lottery-style incentive, like entering all completers into a draw for a $50 gift card, is a popular and effective option.
- Direct Rewards: For high-value audiences, consider a direct reward like a 10% off coupon code for everyone who completes the survey.
- Share the Results: People are often curious to see what others think. You can offer to share a summary of the key findings with everyone who participates. This positions you as transparent and values their contribution.
6. Test, Send, and Remind
Your work isn’t done once the survey is built.
- Test Everything: Send the survey to yourself and a few colleagues. Complete it on your phone and your computer. Check for typos, confusing questions, and technical glitches. There’s no worse feeling than discovering a broken question after 50 people have already answered it.
- Choose the Right Channel: Where does your audience live? Send the surveys via an email newsletter, post it on your dedicated social media channels, or even feature it on a relevant page of your website.
- Send a Gentle Reminder: It’s okay to send a follow-up email to people who didn’t complete the survey the first time. A simple “Hey, just a friendly reminder about our survey!” can work wonders. Just don’t spam them.
What to Do With All That Beautiful Data?
Congratulations! You’ve implemented these strategies and your completion rates have improved. Now what?
- Say Thank You: Always end your surveys with a sincere thank you message. It’s a simple but powerful way to show appreciation.
- Analyze and Act: Look for patterns and key insights in the responses. Most importantly, use the data. If people are asking for a specific feature, consider building it. If there’s confusion around your pricing, clarify it on your website.
- Close the Loop: If you promised to share the results, make sure you do it. This builds incredible goodwill and shows your audience that their voice was actually heard.
Read More
Top Strategies for Boosting Survey Participation
A Step-by-Step Guide to Using Survey Tools: Get Better Results Every Time
Beyond the Multiple-Choice: Where the Online Survey Industry is Heading?
Ready to See Your Completion Rates Soar?
Building a successful survey isn’t about tricking people into answering. It’s about creating a respectful, well-designed experience that values their time and opinion.
By keeping it short, writing clear questions, designing for mobile, and offering a small incentive, you remove the barriers that cause people to leave. You transform your surveys from a task into a conversation.
Start with your next survey. Pick one or two of these strategies to try. You might be surprised by how such small changes can make a big difference in the quality and quantity of the feedback you receive.