Provide clear and honest survey information Everyone has opened a survey thinking they’d give some quick feedback, only to find that there are far more questions than anticipated and it will require more time than they were expecting. To avoid this, ensure that you’re open and transparent about the details of your survey. Provide the necessary information about the survey for your participants on the welcome screen of your survey. Before respondents begin, give them information about the survey topic, the number of questions, and an indication of how much time this will take. Additionally, it can be helpful to include details about data protection, including how the data is stored and whether participants can revoke permission. This can give people peace of mind, allowing them to fully understand how their responses and data will be used. In LimeSurvey, you can easily design your welcome screen. Once you have opened your survey, navigate to Settings -> Text elements and fill in the fields. Show survey relevance Gathering survey feedback hinges on ensuring your survey is relevant to your target audience. It is critical that you explain the topic and lay out how this is relevant to your survey respondents’ interests, be it determining the cause for a charity golf tournament, furthering academic research, or weighing in on workplace culture. To reach a more representative and engaged audience, consider using panel integration. This feature lets you tap into a pool of pre-screened respondents who align with your desired demographic, increasing the relevance of your survey responses. Whether you need feedback from specific consumer segments, age groups, or geographic areas, panel integration helps connect you with the people whose insights matter most. We recommend Splendid Research as a trusted Panel Provider - they will provide an exact sample of respondents according to your specifications and desired demographics. Also, explaining why participation is important can also help convince people to take your survey. When they fully understand the purpose of the survey and how it relates to them, they’ll be more inclined to respond. Use mandatory questions only where needed It can be appealing to make every survey question mandatory – after all, you worked hard on putting the survey together and every question matters to you! But, for many respondents, too many mandatory questions can create fatigue, resulting in a higher breakoff rate. To avoid this, determine which questions are the most important to receive answers to, and make those mandatory, but leave the rest as optional. You might be surprised by how many people go ahead and respond to the optional questions! To make a question of your survey mandatory, open a question in the survey editor (Structure - tab). Select the question you want to make mandatory and look at the Question settings panel (right side panel). Under General settings, you will find the option Mandatory. Toggle it on and Save your question. If you're done with this step, your question is mandatory, and can't be skipped anymore. This will also be shown to your participants when taking the survey. Mandatory questions are visualized by an asterisk (*). Test your survey to minimize breakoff Before pushing your survey live, it can be beneficial to receive feedback on your overall survey design through pre-testing. Send your survey questions to friends and colleagues to gain insights into the clarity of the questions, the survey flow, and whether the types of questions you’ve chosen (multiple choice, short answer, ranking, etc.) are the best option. After you’ve fine-tuned your content, don’t forget to check how your survey appears on different devices, such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets, and how quickly it loads when connected to different types of internet connections. If there are any issues with appearance or connection, be sure to address them before sending the survey to participants. {loadmoduleid 429}   Make surveys accessible During the testing phase, don’t forget to optimize your survey for a multitude of devices, including screen readers, which are often used by people who are blind or visually impaired. Make sure you’re using user-friendly fonts, readable font sizes, and high contrast to help further avoid eye strain or fatigue, especially if your survey is long or requires the participant to provide answers to open-ended questions. With LimeSurvey, you don't have to worry about accessibility. For instance, just use our new default survey theme "Fruity TwentyThree" for your survey, and all these aspects are taken care of for you. Nice, right? The following is an example of our default theme: Give people plenty of time to respond One critical component of gathering survey feedback is patience. Though instant gratification is hard to resist, ensuring participants have enough time to respond is imperative for receiving useful data, opinions, and information. When planning your survey timelines, ensure you’ve provided enough time for everyone to respond so that you can have a robust, diverse sample of answers, thoughts, and perspectives. Offer incentives for participation Never underestimate the power of an incentive. If you offer your target participants a small token of appreciation for the time they spend filling out your survey, it may entice more of them to complete the survey. Though unconditional incentives work best, you can also consider a lottery for respondents, a donation to a charity for each completed survey, perks for employees, or extra credit for students. Send reminders Everyone is busy these days, so don’t hesitate to remind people about your survey after you’ve sent out the initial links or invitations. If you’re conducting a closed-access survey, use the LimeSurvey feature to send reminders to both those who have yet to start a survey, as well as those who started, but did not finish. A little nudge might just be the thing they need to jump in! If you want to activate your survey in closed-access mode, simply activate your survey and choose Activate in closed-access mode. When this is done, a Participants table will be created for you. This table is like a list of your survey participants where you can upload and store important information about them, like their names and email addresses. To navigate to your participants' table, open your survey and go to the Settings - tab. Under Survey menu you will find the item Survey participants. You can send emails to your participants from here. You can also use the menu item Email templates to prepare the emails you want to send out and start distributing them once you're done. Using these tips and tricks, you should be able to acquire the feedback, data, and opinions you need to make your survey a success. To learn more about how to use LimeSurvey’s features, like sending reminders to participants, check out the Help Centre. Haven’t tried LimeSurvey yet? Start your own free survey now!

LimeSurvey offers a user-friendly platform that streamlines the survey design process, making it easier for people to craft informative surveys that yield meaningful results. Let’s explore tips that can help you design the ideal survey. 1. Plan, analyse, and report Before starting a survey, consider in detail how your report should be structured and which types of analysis (for example, statistical or predictive tests) should be done. Visualising the final result will allow you to identify required questions and relevant response options, and help you to also keep an eye out for anything missing from the survey. 2. Take advantage of validated questions and response scales Here’s a time-saving hack to gather reliable data: simply check that your question meets the essential criteria to collect unbiased data. The best practice for this is using simple wording, unambiguous questions, and avoiding long and complex items. Do your best to make questions as precise as possible to ensure that there is little to no confusion. If you’re not sure where to start, check out these two rating scales, which have been used countless times in studies worldwide: Likert Scale: Universally applicable for measuring attitudes, preferences, perceptions, and more, across virtually all domains of social science research. Semantic Differential Scale: Offers nuanced insights into the connotative meaning of objects, events, and concepts. This scale can be used for a wide range of research topics. 3. Use a mix of question types Incorporate a variety of question types, such as multiple- choice, open-ended, and rankings, to gather diverse insights and capture accurate responses. Mix structured questions with open-ended ones to balance quantitative data with qualitative insights. This approach provides depth and richness to your data, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of respondents’ perspectives. 4. Consider proven survey methods Drawing upon established survey methods will increase the reliability of your approach. Consider these two methods: Conjoint Analysis: A statistical technique used in market research and market segmentation to determine how people value different attributes that make up an individual, product, or service. Van Westendorp Price Sensitivity Meter: A method that helps determine consumer price preferences, and is widely used in market research to identify optimal price points. 5. Weave in survey instruments Survey instruments encompass an array of tools and techniques designed to systematically collect data from participants. These instruments include: Net Promoter Score (NPS): The most widely used tool for measuring customer loyalty and predicting business growth, applicable in customer experience studies. Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT): A straightforward and specific instrument for measuring immediate customer satisfaction with a product, service, or experience. Gallup Q12: A set of 12 questions focusing specifically on employee engagement and satisfaction, widely recognized for its effectiveness in organizational settings. Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES): A scale for measuring employee engagement, offering comprehensive insights across three dimensions: vigour, dedication, and absorption. Students' Evaluation of Educational Quality (SEEQ): A comprehensive assessment of educational quality from the student perspective, used in course evaluations. Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS): The standard, specific instrument for measuring patient perspectives on hospital care, used in patient satisfaction studies. Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI): A method for measuring levels of burnout among employees by indirectly assessing motivation and overall employee experience. 6. Incorporate a user-friendly layout A user-friendly survey layout ensures the form is visually appealing, easy to navigate, and accessible across different devices and screen sizes. Use consistent formatting, mobile optimization, and progress indicators to craft a better user experience. 7. Think about your target audience and sample size Keep the demographics of your target audience in mind, including age, gender, education level, and cultural background, so you can adapt the survey content and language to align with their preferences. Moreover, when it comes to sample size, bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better, as a larger sample size may not accurately reflect the population. Consider population size, margin of error, confidence levels, and standard deviation to calculate the ideal sample size. 8. Consider the standards of internet-based experimenting These guidelines, proposed by a professor of psychology in Switzerland, help to ensure the quality and validity of research findings. Seriousness: Researchers should maintain professionalism, provide clear instructions, and ensure that the survey’s purpose is well-defined to foster trust among participants. Personalization: Personalize the survey experience to make participants feel valued and engaged. For example, you may tailor instructions and feedback to the respondents’ progress. Rewards and incentives: Consider providing rewards or incentives, like gift cards, vouchers, or monetary compensation, to participants as a token of appreciation for their time and effort, as long as they commensurate with the level of participation required. 9. Minimize bias Take proactive measures to minimize response bias, which can skew the accuracy and reliability of survey results. Implement randomized response techniques, rotate answer choices, or use balanced scales to mitigate bias stemming from order effects or social desirability. Additionally, offer anonymity or confidentiality assurances to encourage honest responses, particularly for sensitive or controversial topics. 10. Do a pilot test Before launching your survey to a broader audience, conduct a pilot test with a small sample group that is representative of your target audience. This can help you identify any potential issues with question clarity, response options, or survey flow. Feedback from pilot testing will help you refine and improve your survey before distributing it widely, enhancing its effectiveness and reliability. LimeSurvey empowers you to craft unbiased, comprehensive surveys that suit your study requirements. Get your survey started today, and gather the insights you need to support research.

Welcome to LimeSurvey 6! We're thrilled to announce LimeSurvey 6 - our latest version that's easy on the eyes and offers a fresh way in how you interact with online surveys. Intrigued? Let's dive in! The main highlights The main highlights of this new release include: A completely new design system across the platform The new default admin theme for LimeSurvey The new default theme“fruity twentythree” for the survey participant’s view The update of all question types according to the new design Lots of user interface enhancements LimeSurvey in 40+ languages The new design   With our focus on your user experience, we've used global components across the platform for a consistent user experience, enabling you to navigate and carry out your tasks easily. From creating your first question to analysing complex data, every action feels a bit simpler and smoother. It is a big step forward in bringing in more clarity and meeting the expectations of the year (‘Fruity‘)twenty-three. The new default admin theme   We've engineered a new default admin theme — minimizing distractions and bringing in more clarity and focus. From the most important pages, like the dashboard, user management, and survey list, to alerts, tooltips, badges, tables, breadcrumbs, hover and focus states, pagination and buttons, sticky top bars, and back buttons, we touched it all and juiced the whole thing up. What else? Many more limes are coming your way — some minor hints to help you discover the new version. Action buttons   All of them are now on the far right side of the tables. Click on the action button to check the next best actions. Survey Settings & Survey Menu We calmed down the survey menu and survey settings design and finetuned all pages from ‘Overview’ to ’Simple plugins’. Some pages still need some 🍋‍ and are work in progress. While on it, we also cleaned up the top bars a bit. Survey structure   We've updated the user interface for a smoother experience. The sidebar, question editor, and settings are all limed up. Activate Survey & Stop Survey Survey activation is now in a straightforward popup. Stopping your survey is easier, with more guidance and user-friendly dialogues. Right-to-left orientation For our right-to-left friends 🕌🐪🏜. All good. We’ve got you covered. You can lime on us in terms of cultural inclusivity and the correct display of text. Bug fixes Apart from the above, we did at least a zillion 🐞 fixes. The new default “fruity twentythree” theme for the survey participants' view Imagine having a survey tool that not only lets you ask the right questions but also presents them in a way that makes your respondents say, "Wow, that was easy!" Stop imagining because we have revamped our world-famous fruity theme, which brings exactly that to your screen with additional color variations. In this major update, we've improved our question types and given them a new look. From simple yes/no questions to more advanced arrays, every question type has been redesigned to offer a more engaging experience for your survey participants. Now, to show you what we are talking about, here is an overview of some question types we have polished up. Remember, this is also what your participants will see. Yes/ No question type   List (Dropdown) question type   List (Radio) question type   List with comment question type   Array question type   Create your first survey now!It's as easy as squeezing a lime. Sign up   Create surveys in 40+ languages   Unlimited number of users   Ready-to-go survey templates   So much more... Array (Numbers) question type   Array (Texts) question type   Multiple-choice question type   Bootstrap buttons question type   Star rating question type   Ranking question type   Ranking with images question type   Free text question type   Numerical input question type   Gender question type   Equation question type   Date/Time question type   LimeSurvey in 40+ languages Imagine reaching out to an international audience in their native language, improving engagement and the quality of your results. LimeSurvey 6 makes it a reality with support for 40+ languages. Here's how this expansion can transform your survey experience: Global Reach: With over 40 languages supported, your surveys can cater to a wider international audience. We are not monkeying (🐒) around. With 40+ languages, we are the most international survey tool, period. 🙉 Improved Response Rate: Surveys in native languages can encourage more people to participate, increasing your response rate. Better Quality Responses: Respondents will likely provide more accurate and in-depth responses in their native language. Cultural Inclusivity: Show your respondents that you value their culture by allowing them to participate in their language. Flexibility: You can easily switch between languages while creating your survey or answering one, ensuring a seamless experience. Parting words We hope you're as thrilled as we are about these new features and improvements. Now it's time to get started with version 6.And get ready to hunt for some serious responses. We hope you gather some fantastic insights. And remember: “Also embrace thee, sour survey insights, for wise man say its the wisest course.“ Happy surveying!- Jan ✌️💚🍋‍🟩LimeSurvey. The LifeSurvey. Think one step ahead. Step into a bright future with our simple online survey tool Pricing & Plans Get started

In a world that is increasingly data-driven, harnessing the power of feedback through online surveys has become critical for businesses, educational institutions, government agencies, and even private users. And the right survey software is what makes this possible. What online survey administration software is best for you? The answer to this question depends largely on who you are and what your specific needs entail. Let's break it down and take a deeper look on the various types of users and the considerations you should keep in mind: Enterprise survey software For large corporations and multi-national enterprises, the demands on survey software are quite extensive. These organizations require a comprehensive, robust survey platform that can handle a significant volume of data and complex structures without compromising speed or performance. The software should offer advanced data analysis tools, enabling organizations to dig deep into their data, recognize patterns, and make informed decisions. Additionally, it's crucial for the software to offer extensive customization, allowing the survey to seamlessly align with the company's branding and to fit into a range of different scenarios. In such settings, integration capability is also a key factor. The software needs to easily sync with other business systems such as CRM and ERP systems for smooth, cross-functional operations. Finally, as enterprises often operate on a global scale, multilingual support is a vital component to ensure inclusivity and reach. Survey software for small businesses In the realm of small businesses, the needs are somewhat different. These operations require software that provides a balance between being feature-rich and cost-effective. The survey tools they choose need to be intuitive and user-friendly, simplifying the process of creating, distributing, and analyzing surveys. Small businesses often operate with lean teams, so a tool that requires minimal training to use and manage is crucial. While affordability is key, this doesn't mean they should compromise on features. Essential components include customizable templates, varied question types, and basic data analysis tools. More so, small businesses can greatly benefit from survey software that provides easy ways to share surveys on social media and via email campaigns, broadening their reach without extensive marketing budgets. Survey software for universities and students Universities, research institutions, and students have unique needs when it comes to survey software. Academic research often involves complex question structures and a need for diverse question types, including open-ended, multiple-choice, Likert scales, and more. The software should have strong data analysis capabilities, allowing researchers to extract meaningful insights from their data. Multilingual support is another essential feature given the international environment of most academic institutions.Additionally, many institutions are bound by strict data privacy rules, so a tool that complies with data privacy regulations, like GDPR, is non-negotiable. Considering budget constraints that students and educators often face, affordability and the availability of special academic pricing or programs is also a desirable attribute. Survey software for government Government agencies require survey software that is not only robust and reliable but also highly secure. These agencies often deal with sensitive data on a large scale, so top-notch security measures are critical. The survey tool needs to comply with numerous regulations, including accessibility standards to ensure all citizens can participate. Given the large-scale nature of many government surveys, the software must be capable of handling high volumes of responses without any issues. Furthermore, it's important that the software provides advanced analysis features to make sense of large data sets and enable informed policy-making. Survey software for private users For individual or personal users, the requirements for survey software tend to lean towards simplicity and ease of use. Whether they are conducting a survey for a personal project, a community initiative, or creating fun quizzes for friends and family, the software needs to be straightforward and intuitive. Basic customization options are a plus for personal users, allowing them to add a personal touch to their surveys.Given that most personal users don't require advanced analytics, simple reporting, and data visualization tools should suffice. And of course, as private users often work with limited resources, the software needs to be affordable or even free. What features must modern survey software analysis software have? To be truly effective in today's fast-paced, digital world, survey software must possess a robust set of features: A variety of question types: Modern survey software should offer a wide array of question types, allowing users to collect feedback in the most effective way. This could range from simple multiple-choice questions, open-ended text responses, and drop-down lists to more complex grid or matrix-style questions. The variety in question types allows for a more comprehensive and nuanced collection of data. Data analysis capabilities: The primary purpose of conducting a survey is to gain insights from the collected data. This makes the ability to analyze data directly within the software or export it for further analysis in other statistical tools a must-have feature. Ideally, the software should provide easy-to-understand reporting options, data visualization tools like graphs and charts, and advanced statistical analysis for more complex surveys. Customization: Each survey is unique and serves a specific purpose. Therefore, the software should provide ample customization options to tailor the survey to its intended audience and objectives. This could include customization of survey appearance and design, question logic, and even the language of the survey. Multilingual support: As we live in an increasingly global world, the capacity for a survey tool to support multiple languages is crucial. This is not only important for multinational businesses but also for research institutions, governments, and organizations wanting to reach a broader audience. The software should allow for multilingual survey creation, administration, and analysis. Security: With data breaches becoming increasingly common, robust security measures are a non-negotiable feature of any online tool, including survey software. This includes secure data storage and transfer, access controls, data encryption, and compliance with data privacy regulations such as GDPR. Scalability: Scalability is a crucial feature that ensures the software can adapt to growing or varying demands. Whether you're a small business looking to grow or an enterprise conducting global surveys, the software should be capable of handling increased volumes of responses, larger data sets, and more complex analyses without performance drops or increased costs. Comparison list: What is the best survey software for you? When evaluating survey software, it's crucial to focus on factors that match your specific needs and goals. Let's dive into these factors and our recommended types of survey software based on these considerations: Usability and User Interface: If a streamlined, intuitive user interface is your top priority, a basic survey software platform, often chosen by private users and small businesses, would be ideal. Advanced Features: For advanced functionalities such as skip logic, randomized question ordering, and question piping, an enterprise-level survey software would be the most suitable. Pricing: If you're budget-conscious, you might want to start with basic or free survey software. However, if you're handling large respondent groups or complex survey needs, consider investing in enterprise-level software that offers more robust features. Data Security: When handling sensitive data, prioritize enterprise survey software known for its strong security measures and compliance with international data protection standards. Customer Support: A reliable and responsive customer support is crucial for large-scale or complex surveys, a feature more commonly associated with enterprise and professional survey software. Customizability: If you're looking for full control over survey design and branding, enterprise-level survey software is often equipped with advanced customization features. Multi-Language Support: To reach a global audience, you need software that supports multiple languages. This feature is typically found in professional and enterprise survey software, designed to cater to global organizations and universities. By evaluating these factors, you can pinpoint the survey software that best matches your requirements. The "best" survey software isn't a one-size-fits-all solution, but one that provides the right blend of usability, features, security, and affordability for your unique needs. Create your first survey now!It's as easy as squeezing a lime. Sign up   Create surveys in 40+ languages   Unlimited number of users   Ready-to-go survey templates   So much more... What does professional survey software cost? The cost of survey software varies widely, depending on the features, number of respondents, level of support, and more. Some software options are free but come with limitations, while others offer a range of pricing tiers to accommodate various needs. Survey software: Common use cases Survey software has wide-ranging applications, enabling various organizations and individuals to gain insights, measure satisfaction, and make informed decisions. Different organizations utilize survey software for various purposes. Let's examine a few common use cases: HR survey software/ Employee survey software Human Resource departments have a critical role in improving employee engagement, job satisfaction, and organizational culture. Using survey software, HR can conduct anonymous employee satisfaction surveys to gather feedback about work environment, management, benefits, and more. In-depth employee surveys can uncover unseen problems, gauge the effectiveness of HR policies, and provide direction for improvement strategies. Also, they are instrumental in exit interviews to understand why employees leave and how to improve retention. Customer satisfaction survey software Understanding customers' experiences and satisfaction levels is crucial for businesses to remain competitive. Survey software can help businesses conduct customer satisfaction surveys after a purchase or interaction, allowing them to gauge customers' feelings about products, services, and overall brand. This feedback aids in identifying what is working well and areas requiring improvement. It can lead to improved customer service, better products, and in the long run, increased customer loyalty and revenue. NPS survey software Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a popular metric used by businesses to measure customer loyalty and predict growth. NPS surveys ask one simple question: "On a scale of 0-10, how likely are you to recommend our company/product/service to a friend or colleague?" The results allow businesses to classify customers into promoters, passives, and detractors. By leveraging survey software for NPS, companies can easily track changes in customer sentiment over time, respond to feedback, and develop strategies to improve their score. Patient survey software Healthcare institutions, from hospitals to clinics, use survey software to assess patient satisfaction, understand patient needs, and enhance healthcare delivery. Patient surveys can provide feedback on various aspects, including quality of care, cleanliness, staff responsiveness, and communication. These insights can help healthcare providers ensure they meet patients' expectations, improve patient outcomes, and adhere to healthcare standards and best practices. Guest survey software Whether it's a hotel, a restaurant, or an event management company, gathering feedback from guests is essential for success in the hospitality industry. Guest surveys can help businesses understand their guests' experiences and preferences, measure their satisfaction, and improve their services accordingly. Positive guest experiences often translate to repeat visits and positive word-of-mouth referrals, significantly benefiting the business. Pulse survey software Pulse surveys are short, frequent surveys used by organizations to get quick insights from employees about various workplace topics. These could include understanding the impact of a recent change, measuring employee mood, or gathering feedback on specific initiatives. Survey software allows for the easy setup and administration of these surveys, helping organizations keep their finger on the pulse of employee sentiment. Feedback survey software Feedback surveys are used across different industries and for various purposes, from product development to educational course reviews. They provide a structured way for individuals or organizations to gather input from a specific audience about a particular topic. By using survey software, these surveys can be designed, distributed, and analyzed efficiently, enabling quick actions based on the feedback received. LimeSurvey: Benefits of a professional survey builder When you're looking for a survey tool that is robust, versatile, and user-friendly, LimeSurvey stands out. Here's why LimeSurvey is the professional survey builder of choice for many organizations: Unlimited Surveys and Questions: With LimeSurvey, you're not limited by the number of surveys you can create or the number of questions you can ask. Whether you need a simple, one-page questionnaire or an in-depth survey with hundreds of questions, LimeSurvey has got you covered. Diverse Question Types: LimeSurvey supports a wide range of question types, including multiple-choice, short text, ranking, and more, enabling you to collect diverse data. Customizable Survey Design: LimeSurvey lets you tailor your survey appearance to align with your brand or the specific survey purpose. Choose from various themes, customize them, or create your own – you have complete control over how your survey looks. Advanced Features: LimeSurvey provides a host of advanced features, like skip logic and branching, timed questions, randomization, and quota management, allowing you to create complex, dynamic surveys that suit your needs. Multilingual Support: LimeSurvey allows you to create surveys in multiple languages, making it the ideal tool for global surveys. Security and Privacy: LimeSurvey takes data security and privacy seriously. With strong data encryption, GDPR compliance, and secure data centers in Germany, your data is in safe hands. Scalability: Whether you're a small business or a large corporation, LimeSurvey's scalable architecture ensures the platform can handle your survey needs as you grow. Try our survey maker now Ready to dive into the world of online surveys with LimeSurvey? Don't wait – take our survey builder for a spin now. Create your account on LimeSurvey, and you can start designing your survey immediately. With our intuitive survey builder, you'll have your first survey ready to send out in no time. Need advanced features or expecting a large volume of responses? LimeSurvey has a range of plans to suit your needs. Check out our plans, or get in touch with our support team to discuss which would be the best fit for you. With LimeSurvey, you're not just getting a tool – you're joining a community. We have an active forum where users discuss best practices, share tips, and help each other out. Plus, our support team is always ready to assist you with any questions or issues. Harness the power of insights and make better decisions with LimeSurvey. Try our survey maker now – your first survey is just a few clicks away! Think one step ahead. Step into a bright future with our simple online survey tool Pricing & Plans Get started