Building Survey Questions That Get Answers Using Perplexity
Written by Fred Ferguson – GeezerWise on Substack at www.geezerwise.com #Perplexity
Most surveys don’t fail because nobody sees them.
They fail because nobody wants to finish them.
Too long.
Too boring.
Too much “what we want to know” and not enough “what they want to share.”
The result? Low response rates, half-baked answers, and data that’s barely useful.
Perplexity’s Secret to Better Surveys
Perplexity’s Predictive AI can help you design surveys that:
Ask about things people care about.
Keep them short enough to finish.
Use a tone and style that feels natural.
When you respect their time and attention, you get higher completion rates and better data.
1. Start With Topics They Love to Talk About
What do they already discuss in forums?
What questions spark debate?
What stories or opinions do they like to share?
2. Match the Length to Their Patience
Different audiences = different attention spans.
Find the sweet spot before boredom kicks in.
3. Incentives That Actually Work
Not every audience cares about discounts or gift cards.
Some value recognition, sneak peeks, or early access more.
4. Speak Their Language
Casual? Formal? Industry slang?
Get the tone right or risk losing them halfway through.
5. Respect Boundaries
Some questions are fine in conversation but invasive in a form.
Know where the line is — and don’t cross it.
6. Choose the Right Question Types
Multiple choice for speed.
Open-ended for depth.
Rating scales for quick insights.
Use the right tool for the right data.
7. Time It Right
Best day of the week.
Best time of day.
Avoiding survey “rush hours” when inboxes are already flooded.
8. Nail the Introduction
If the opening sounds dull, they’ll never click “Next.”
Lead with why it matters to them.
9. Get the Flow Right
Logical sequence. Smooth transitions.
Don’t make them jump from “What’s your favorite color?” to “Rate our customer support” without context.
10. Keep It Relevant
Tie every question back to their interests and experience.
11. Validate Your Data
Look for patterns that reveal inconsistent or “junk” responses.
12. Make It Worth Sharing
If they enjoyed it, they might pass it along. That’s free reach.
13. Show Value After the Survey
Share a quick report, thank them with something useful, or give them the results.
14. Avoid Leading Questions
Don’t bake your preferred answer into the wording.
15. Keep It Accessible
Design for all devices and all participants — especially mobile users.
16. Ask Actionable Questions
If you can’t act on the answer, don’t ask it.
17. Follow Up Wisely
Reminders should nudge, not nag.
18. Make It Mobile-Friendly
Small screens require short questions, simple inputs, and easy navigation.
19. Present the Results Well
The right charts, visuals, and summaries make your findings useful to others.
20. Make It Conversational
Surveys don’t have to feel like interrogations.
21. Test Before You Launch
A quick pilot run can catch confusing wording or tech hiccups.
22. Customize for Different Segments
One size doesn’t fit all — tailor for different demographics.
23. Build Trust Around Privacy
Be transparent about how data will be used and protected.
24. Benchmark & Improve
Track your own response rates over time to see what’s working.
25. Ask for Feedback on the Survey Itself
Yes — survey your survey.
The Bottom Line
A great survey isn’t about squeezing more answers out of people.
It’s about asking the right questions in the right way — so they want to answer.
Do that, and Perplexity can help you turn your surveys into a goldmine of honest, high-quality data.
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