Customer surveys aren’t a priority to a lot of businesses. Business owners wonder if it’s really worth the effort, and sometimes money, to survey customers. We’re here to tell you it’s definitely worth it!
Customer surveys hold a lot of power. They give your happy and unhappy customers a chance to let you know what you’re doing right and what you’re doing wrong. Plus, it gives unhappy customers an productive outlet to express their frustrations. Did you know, that a dissatisfied customer will tell 9-15 people about their experience, according to a study by the White House Office of Consumer Affairs. Instead of having them tell other potential customers about their experience you can have them tell you directly, which gives you a chance to fix it!
These four tips will help you craft a great customer survey!
Include Your Branding
The first thing you want to do when you’re creating your customer survey is add your branding to it. You want your customers to know that they’re interacting with your business.
Going above a basic template and including your brand’s images and colors will help keep your customer focused on you during the survey. This is also a great chance to use your voice. Remember, this is another interaction between your business and your customers, so treat it just like any other interaction. Make it a great experience.
Ask the Right Questions
Great customer surveys are short and to the point. At most there should be 10 questions. Most of these questions should be multiple choice, or on a rating scale, but you have to include space for people to give feedback in their own words.
Here are a few things you should consider when you’re generating questions for your survey.
- The interactions between the customer and your business
- How your team’s performance has been. Include back office staff as well!
- Overall satisfaction
- Value of your products or services
One thing you should avoid when crafting your questions is asking leading questions. If your questions are worded so that it makes you sound amazing, then it really turns people off to your business. Customers want to know that you’re humble and open to criticism, whether it is good or bad.
Allow for Open Feedback
Allowing open feedback is how you can get real opinions and suggestions on how to improve your business, or learn if what you’re doing is really working.
You can add a spot for feedback after each question with a rating, so that people can expand on why they gave you the rating they did. Or you can ask open ended questions so that your customer can respond with their opinion. However, you don’t want to make too many questions open ended because it may turn people off to your survey. Remember, this shouldn’t take up too much of your customer’s time.
Follow up
Here’s where you take a customer survey and use it to blow every other business out of the water. It’s great to send out a generic thank you email after taking a survey, but when you follow up with something of value to someone who has taken the time to finish the survey that’s what really counts.
If someone has complimented your business, take the opportunity to show them how much you appreciate their business. Sending a note or even a gift card can show them how much you appreciate them.
Now, if someone has given you bad feedback, it’s critical that you follow up. This is where you can turn their experience around. First, apologize that their interaction wasn’t anything but satisfactory. If they gave you any specifics on how you could improve, tell them that you’ve read their suggestions and are going to try implementing them into your business. If there is anything else you can do to change their opinion, do it. There are so many people who hate a company but their opinions are completely changed by good customer service! It’s worth the effort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are customer surveys important for businesses?
Customer surveys are vital because they provide insights into what your business is doing right and wrong. They offer unhappy customers a productive outlet to express their frustrations, which can help prevent negative word-of-mouth and allow you to address issues directly.
What are the key elements of a good customer survey?
A good customer survey should include your branding, be concise with a maximum of 10 questions, mostly multiple choice or rating scale, and allow for open feedback. This structure ensures the survey is engaging, focused, and provides valuable insights.
How should businesses handle negative feedback from customer surveys?
Businesses should follow up with dissatisfied customers promptly. Apologize for their unsatisfactory experience, acknowledge their feedback, and inform them of any actions you plan to take based on their suggestions. This can help turn a negative experience into a positive one and show that you value their input.
What type of questions should be included in customer surveys?
Include questions about customer interactions with your business, team performance (including back office staff), overall satisfaction, and the value of your products or services. Avoid leading questions to ensure honest and useful feedback.
How can businesses maximize the effectiveness of customer surveys?
To maximize effectiveness, follow up with customers after they complete the survey, especially those who provided negative feedback. Show appreciation to those who gave positive feedback through personalized notes or small gifts. Use the survey results to make tangible improvements in your business operations.
