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  • Need a Survey Template? Here’s How to Create Survey Popups That Work

Need a Survey Template? Here’s How to Create Survey Popups That Work

  • Conversion
  • 6 min read

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Collecting customer feedback often feels like an uphill battle. You want valuable insights, but email surveys are often ignored, and asking in person can be cumbersome. What’s the solution?

Survey popups—a quick, non-intrusive way to capture real-time feedback and collect data while your customers are still engaged. In fact, a recent poll in our weekly newsletter revealed that most of our 30,000 subscribers rely on post-purchase feedback forms to gather insights.

If you’re looking for a better way to connect with your audience, survey popups might be the answer. Let’s dive into how to create survey popups that actually work!

What is a survey popup?

A survey popup is a small, interactive window that appears while someone is browsing your website. It’s designed to capture quick customer feedback—whether about a recent purchase, the user experience, or interest in a new feature.

Unlike email surveys, popups gather immediate responses, allowing you to act quickly on the data. Survey popups can be set up in just a few minutes, making them a convenient and efficient option. Many platforms offer free survey templates that can be easily customized to fit your specific needs, helping you quickly gather market research insights.

Why should you use survey popups?

Survey popups are more than just a quick questionnaire. They’re an opportunity to truly understand your customers.

Here’s why you should consider them:

  • Real-time feedback: You capture insights while users are actively engaging with your website, making the feedback more relevant and accurate.
  • Increased response rates: Let’s face it—email surveys often get buried in inboxes. Popups, on the other hand, are much harder to ignore, leading to more responses.
  • Better decision-making: With direct feedback, you can make smarter, data-driven decisions that align with what your customers actually want.
  • More data collection: Survey popups allow you to collect more data compared to methods like focus groups, enabling you to control the quality of public opinion and uniformity of responses.
  • Increased engagement: Asking for input shows users that you care about their opinions, strengthening their connection with your brand.

Pre-built survey templates

Not sure where to start? OptiMonk offers customizable pre-built survey popup templates. These templates save you time and ensure you’re following best practices.

Various questionnaire templates are available, and you can easily modify them to fit your needs. Adjust the design, questions, and triggers to match your specific requirements.

What are the key components of an effective survey popup?

Creating a successful survey popup isn’t just about asking questions; it’s about how you design, trigger, and present the survey to users.

Here’s what you need to make your popup stand out:

1. Simple, clear design

Design plays a crucial role in how users perceive your survey popup. Keep it clean and minimalist so it doesn’t feel like an interruption. A cluttered popup can frustrate visitors, causing them to close it without reading a single word.

Stick to a simple layout that aligns with your brand’s style. Use your brand colors, fonts, and logo to maintain consistency and build trust. A well-branded popup looks professional and reassures users that their feedback is valued.

Kettle Gifts excels at this with a clean, on-brand design. Their popup is eye-catching yet not overwhelming, making it easy for users to engage.

Increase customer satisfaction with clear survey form.

2. Concise, focused questions

When it comes to survey questions, less is more. Focus on short, relevant questions that are easy to answer. Stick to one or two key questions, and use multiple-choice or net promoter score options for quick feedback.

This makes it easy for users to complete the survey without losing interest. Clear and unbiased questions are essential for accurately gauging public opinion.

Example of focused questions:

  • Good: “How satisfied are you with your shopping experience today?”
  • Bad: “Please describe in detail your overall satisfaction with each stage of your recent purchase, including product quality, shipping speed, and customer service.”

MailTag’s survey question is a great example—it’s focused and takes seconds to complete, leading to higher completion rates.

Incorporate branding elements in your questionnaire templates.

3. Eye-catching, not overpowering

Your survey popup needs to catch the user’s eye without disrupting their experience. The key is to strike a balance between noticeable and non-intrusive.

Place your popup strategically, such as in the bottom corner of the page, and use subtle animations or visual cues to draw attention. Bold headings, contrasting colors, and subtle animations make it eye-catching without being disruptive.

Remember, the goal is to invite users to share their thoughts, not to force them. Including a net promoter score question can effectively measure customer loyalty.

4. Clear call-to-action

The CTA is the final step in getting users to complete your survey, so it needs to be strong and clear. Avoid vague or generic language like “Submit” or “Click Here”—these don’t motivate users or increase customer satisfaction.

Instead, use action-oriented language that tells users exactly what to do and why.

Examples of strong CTAs:

  • “Share Your Feedback”
  • “Help Us Improve”
  • “Tell Us What You Think”

These phrases feel more personal and engaging, giving users a sense of contribution and purpose. A strong CTA makes users feel like their input is valuable and that they’re helping to shape a better experience.

When and how to trigger your survey popup?

Timing is crucial for survey popups. A well-timed popup can make the difference between user engagement and indifference.

Trigger your survey popup based on specific user actions to make the interaction feel natural. Effective timing can also make popups a powerful tool for market research and gathering valuable insights.

Good times to trigger a survey popup include:

  • After a user completes a purchase
  • When a user spends a certain amount of time on a page
  • Upon cart abandonment

Avoid displaying a popup the moment users land on your site. Let them settle in first—this makes the interaction feel more intuitive and less disruptive.

4 best practices to create your own survey popup

Creating a survey form that’s not just well-designed but also effective? We’ve got you covered.

Here are four best practices to keep in mind before you design your own survey:

1. Keep it mobile-friendly

With most people browsing on mobile, your survey form needs to be responsive and easy to complete on any device. Use designs that scale to fit smaller screens, and keep the content bite-sized for mobile users.

2. Limit user disruption

A survey shouldn’t interrupt the user’s journey. Make sure the popup can be easily closed or minimized, and avoid showing it during critical moments, like checkout.

3. Incentivize survey completion

Sometimes, people need a little motivation. Offering incentives like a discount code or entry into a giveaway can significantly boost response rates. Who doesn’t love a good deal?

4. A/B test

Your first popup may not be perfect, and that’s okay. Run A/B tests to fine-tune elements like design, question length, and CTA language. Test different triggers and placements to see what drives the most engagement.

How to analyze the data and act on survey results

Gathering information is just the start—what really matters is how you use it in your marketing strategy. Begin by identifying patterns in the feedback. Are there common themes or frequently mentioned concerns?

These insights reveal what’s most important to your audience and can significantly enhance your marketing efforts.

Next, pinpoint specific pain points that need attention. Addressing these issues can lead to quick improvements that boost customer satisfaction and refine your marketing approach. Finally, take concrete action based on the feedback—whether it’s updating a product, tweaking your website, or improving customer service.

Don’t forget to close the loop by letting your customers know you’ve made changes based on their input. This not only builds trust but also encourages them to keep engaging in the future, further strengthening your marketing initiatives.

Wrapping up

Survey popups are an incredibly effective way to gather real-time feedback, boost engagement, and make smarter, data-driven decisions.

By applying these tips and best practices, you’ll be able to create popups that not only capture valuable insights but also deepen your connection with your audience.

Ready to get started? Create your own survey and sign up for a free OptiMonk account to start building high-impact popups today.

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Written by
Picture of Barbara Bartucz

Barbara Bartucz

Barbara is a Content Marketer at OptiMonk. She takes pride in creating different forms of content, whether it’s an article, a video, or an e-book.
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