Are you an entrepreneur, small business owner or solo
professional who wants to know what your customers and
prospects are thinking? It's really simple to find out:
just ask them! The answers you are seeking can easily be
found by conducting a simple survey.
Here are 10 things you need to do to make your survey a
success:
1. To begin, get very clear on the issue you want to
address. What exactly is the purpose of your survey? What
do you want to learn? The clearer you are before you begin
the process, the more valuable the answers will be for you.
For example, are you trying to get the Zone views, access
their knowledge, or determine their needs?
Do you want to learn their attitudes or weaknesses?
Perhaps you're looking for feedback on a new product or
want to determine their level of satisfaction with your
services.
Maybe you want to launch a new product and want to make
certain there is a need for it.
Ask the right questions and you'll get all the information
you need.
2. Consider using an online survey creator such as Survey
Monkey. ( http://www.surveymonkey.com ) You can have up to
100 participants without paying a fee,and you can design
your survey any way you like, e.g., multiple choice, rating
scales, drop-down menus,etc.
3. Include "other (please specify)" in your
multiple-choice options to ensure you get all the
information possible. In spite of all the time and thought
that you put into creating your questions, there will
always be room for other answers than the possibilities
you considered. Make sure you allow people every
opportunity to tell you what they're thinking.
4. Limit the number of questions you ask to 10 or less.
Anything more than that and people become overwhelmed.
They don't mind helping you out, but they do want to do it
quickly.
5. Entice people to participate in the survey by offering
something of perceived value in return for their
participation. In my last survey, those who answered all
the questions were entitled to enter a draw for a Starbucks
gift card. Needless to say, I got an overwhelming response.
Your offering need not cost you anything. A special
report, a template you created, or an article on something
in your area of expertise might do just as well.
6. Create a sense of urgency by having a deadline.
Without a time frame, people will put off responding and
forget about your survey. Try something like this, "The
draw will take place on August 1st and the survey is only
open to the first 100 people who respond, so you'll want to
hurry on this."
7. Send a special mailing to your list as well as
including information about the survey in your newsletter.
You really want to get as many people participating as
possible so be sure to use a compelling subject line in you
e-mail notification that lets people know you want their
help and that you're not trying to sell them anything.
8. Make sure each question must be answered before
participants can go ahead to the next question. Survey
Monkey allows you to set your questionnaire in this manner
and I'm sure other survey creators do too.
9. Include at least one question that participants must
answer in their own words. Ask this question in a way that
will allow you to learn what is missing for them. For
example, "what is your single biggest challenge when it
come to gardening, public speaking, financial planning,
etc.?" The answers you get will give you lots of ideas
about product creation, marketing strategies, potential new
services and so much more.
10. Analyze the data. Pay close attention to the answers
you receive-particularly on the open-ended questions-so
that you understand the respondents' personal concerns and
what is missing for them. Don't be surprised if you
uncover valuable information you have not previously
considered.
Bottom Line: Whatever questions you want answered, the
knowledge you glean from a survey can move you and your
business light-years ahead.
Copyright 2007 Leni Chauvin
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Leni Chauvin, The Client Attraction Coach, helps ordinary
people build extraordinary businesses. If you want to
attract more clients, make more money, and achieve more
success, you'll find TONS of f.r.e.e resources to help you
at http://www.AttractClientsGalore.com
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