Predict survey response rates

Set up your survey to get the greatest participation

A common response rate for a survey is 10-20%. Response rates can vary, depending on factors like survey length, incentives, and whether potential participants care about the survey's topic. Here are a few of the most common factors you'll want to think about:

• Survey Structure and Content
• Your Audience

Survey Structure and Content

You can adjust your survey's setup and content to help boost your response rate. Here are a few suggestions:

• Clarity of purpose and privacy policy - Your survey is likely to get more responses if its introduction clearly defines its purpose and intentions for handling personal information.
• Length  - Short surveys tend to get more responses than long surveys. Only ask respondents what you need to know, not what is just "nice to know."
• Question types - Respondents are more likely to answer close-ended questions than open-ended questions because they typically require less time and thought to complete.
• Frequency and uniqueness - The less frequently you survey a particular audience and the more you vary your questions among consecutive surveys, the higher your response rate is likely to be.
• Incentives - Offering incentives can boost response rates, but you may not need to offer an incentive to get a good response rate.
• Response data from past Surveys, if available - If your surveys have received a high response from the target audience in the past, your response rate may be about the same with your next survey (depending on the other factors listed above).

Your Audience 

To get a good response rate, you need to know your audience. You'll get more participation if your audience recognizes your brand, cares about your organization and is interested in the survey's subject.

• Recognition - Potential respondents are more likely to answer surveys if they are familiar with you or your brand.
• Investment - The more audience members feel devoted to your organization, the greater your response rate may be.
• Interest in the Survey topic - More contacts will be motivated to respond to your survey if its topic relates to - or could impact - the participants or something they care about.  

Questions?