Eliminate the Guesswork
A lot of time is spent by organizations and small businesses alike trying to figure out what their client's needs are and how best to meet them. Is is often surprising how creative the ideas can get and how much time is spent on trying to figure this out when all the while one of the most effective and cost effective methods is completely ignored. Curious about what people are thinking...why not just try asking them.
An online survey is a great way to get direct feedback from your clients on a wide range of topics which might include (but certainly is not limited to):
- Feedback about the services you provided
- Suggestions for services they would like to use in the future
- Products they would buy
- Ways they would like to get involved/connected to your organization
- If and how they use social media
Free Online Survey Tools
Ann Smarty with Search Engine Journal recently wrote an article titled "Free tools to create an online survey". In this article she highlighted a number of free tools available to help you get started today using online surveys as part of your marketing and communication strategies. It is important to note most free tools will have some limitations in the functionality with more features becoming available as you move into the paid packages. However, it has been my experience and that of many folks that I have worked with that of the tools listed there is one that stands out as offering the most versatility at the free package level. SurveyMonkey offers a wide range of functionality with and easy to use interface. In addition, on the occasion that I did have a question the help section and staff we quick to respond and helpful.
Be sure to check out the full article "Free tools to create an online survey" to get more details on each option, Ann's comments and evaluation. Below is a short list of the tools she covers.
Integration With Other Tools
It is always worth mentioning that when possible, integrating your various tools can be a great way to increase efficiency. In our article "5 Reasons You Need A Bulk Email Solution" a number of bulk e-mail solutions are talked about. Vertical Response is one of the bulk e-mail solutions highlighted which also offers online surveys as part of the free package available to 501(c)(3) organizations. A fantastic solution to address both bulk e-mail and online surveys in one tool.
Do you have any other suggestions or feedback on these options?
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