Website Usability Guidelines

Online Surbey

Purpose of an Online Survey - Online surveys are structured interviews with users, where you display a list of questions online and record users' responses. You can use this technique at any stage of development: (1) Before you redesign your website, or (2) After you launch a new design.

An online survey can also be a persistent item on your site that allows you to continually gauge how users view your site and identify ways to make the site better.

How do you conduct a survey?

• Decide why you are surveying your users.
• Decide where you will find the people you want to survey. (i.e. customers, interest lists, inquires).
• Post the survey to your website on a separate page or send an email to approved participants.
• Keep the survey short. Under 10 items is preferable.
• Make the survey easy to implement. It should take the user no longer than 10 minutes to complete.
• Use closed-ended or multiple choice questions. These types of questions are easier for your user to answer. People do not like to answer open-ended questions (these are questions that require the user to write something in a box).
• On your survey, ask if people are interested in answering more in-dept questions. If so, follow up with an electronic questionnaire.
• Consider combining an online survey with individual interviews via the telephone. This tactic allows you to go deeper into the interview process.

Use Online Survey - Use the data collected from your online survey to supplement other user data.