Data collection techniques have been a part of business strategies for decades. As noted in a 2019 Business.com article, surveys are still “one of the best tools for doing market research.” According to Designli’s Keith Shields, surveys allow a business to “gather the information you need on each market and then parse it out in a myriad of different ways.”
The Harvard Business Review also points out that collecting data is a great tool when it comes to measuring employee engagement. It gives clients a chance to feel heard and influencing them to change their behavior.
Because of their usefulness, it is no surprise that data gathering has also adapted to the digital age. It is not just pen and paper surveys anymore, as survey software is now available for businesses to use. In fact, businesses that want to use data collection would have a lot of options to choose from.
But having the best survey software at your disposal isn’t the be-all and end-all. If you really want to maximize and optimize your data collection techniques, you can implement a number of strategies that will complement everything that the software can do.
Use Data Collection Techniques to the Fullest
It’s good to have a comparison of survey software so you can make an intelligent decision before buying one for your business. It’s even better to have in mind the following strategies so that the software you have can be used to the fullest.
- Keep surveys short and sweet
When you are still learning how to create an online survey, you might be tempted to cram in as many questions and as much information as you can. However, creating a lengthy survey might discourage your respondents. Ideally, a survey should be short enough that respondents can finish answering it within six to 10 minutes.
- Make sure the question you come up with can be understood
Even if you have the best software for questionnaires at your disposal, it is going to be useless if the questions you come up with are unintelligible and hard to answer. When coming up with questions, make sure that you don’t suggest answers and that a few words as a reply would be enough. You can choose to ask multiple-choice questions or even offer a scale of answers, such as making respondents choose from the most positive reaction to the least positive one.
- Don’t influence their responses with emotive words
When you use emotive words like enthusiastic, dismayed, amazed, and other similar terms, you might unintentionally sway the responses you get from people. You have to make sure that your questions sound as objective as possible when you’re writing them.
- Make sure your survey is also eye-catching
It’s hard to be enthused about answering a survey if it looks like it was done by a grade-schooler. Even the best online survey tool is not going to help you out with respondents if you don’t make use of images or videos to give your survey that extra kick. Know that these options are available to you when you’re making a questionnaire for research.
- Test it before you send it
Even just as a general business practice, it is always good to have your work tested before sending it out to the public. Have colleagues take a look at it first so they can check if everything is working out well and that the questions all make sense. That way, you can be sure that you will get the best possible answers from your respondents when you finally send the survey out.
Find the Answers You Need
When used properly and with the proper strategies complementing it, survey software can be a valuable tool in helping your business find the answers it needs. Software like IdSurvey, for instance, is a smart and simple way to manage your surveys.
IdSurvey, in particular, is really easy to use. Because it is web-based, businesses that choose to use it do not need to worry about any configuration or installation. It has been around for more than a decade and is intuitive enough to help bring down the time spent making surveys, no matter how complex they may be.
IdSurvey also comes with a graphic interface that lets its users easily come up with designs that are eye-catching and appealing, making it easier to get respondents. IdSurvey also delivers when it comes to customer service, as it has a support team that is quick to respond to any issues raised by its users. More than just resolving issues, the support team can even counsel users or recommend third-party integrations that they can check out.
With IdSurvey, a business can be assured that they have a survey tool that they can trust will deliver the answers they need to grow.
