DIY Survey Setup

A DIY Guide to Survey Setup — Step-by-Step

Step 1: Define Your Purpose

Ask yourself:

  • What are you trying to learn?
  • Who do you want answers from?

Examples:

  • Customer feedback?
  • Market trends?
  • Product ideas?

Step 2: Write Down Your Questions

Keep them clear, short, and neutral.

Question Types:

  • Multiple choice
  • Yes/No
  • Rating scale (e.g., 1–5 or 1–10)
  • Open-ended (for opinions or ideas)
  • Dropdowns (to save space)

Pro Tips:

  • Start with easy questions (like name or age group)
  • Group similar topics together
  • Avoid “double-barreled” questions (asking two things at once)

Step 3: Test Your Survey on Paper or Word

Before using a tool, write it all out:

  • See if the flow makes sense
  • Ask a friend to take it
  • Fix anything confusing or repetitive

Step 4: Choose a Free Survey Tool

Pick a platform to build your digital version:

Step 5: Build the Survey

Steps for Google Forms:

  1. Go to forms.google.com
  2. Click Blank or choose a template
  3. Add your title and description
  4. Insert each question
  5. Choose the question type (dropdown, short answer, etc.)
  6. Turn on “Required” if needed
  7. Use Sections for long surveys

Step 6: Preview & Test

  • Click the eye icon to preview your survey
  • Try answering all the questions yourself
  • Check mobile view too

Step 7: Share Your Survey

Ways to share:

  • Email (send the link)
  • QR Code (great for in-store use)
  • Social media
  • Your website
  • Text message

Step 8: Collect Responses

  • Check the “Responses” tab on your survey platform
  • Export data (usually in Excel or Google Sheets)
  • Look for trends, common responses, or pain points

Step 9: Analyze & Take Action

Ask:

  • What did I learn?
  • What changes can I make?
  • Should I follow up with any participants?

Step 10: Say Thank You!

  • If you collected names/emails, send a thank-you message
  • Consider offering a discount, prize, or perk if it was a customer survey