When conducting a survey, it is essential to remember that people are busy and may forget to complete it. So, sending out reminders can be a helpful way to encourage participation. In addition to being a nudge, sending reminders can lead to increased response rates, improving the quality of the collected data.
Tips for effective reminders
1️⃣ Personalised message: if possible, personalize the message by addressing the recipient by name or referencing their previous participation. It can help create a sense of connection and increase the likelihood of participation.
2️⃣ Use multiple channels: consider using multiple channels to send out reminders, such as email, social media, or text messages. This will increase the chances of reaching people who missed the initial invitation.
3️⃣ Be clear and concise: in your reminder, make sure you are clear about the purpose of the survey and why it is important. Also, keep the message short and to the point, highlighting the key benefits of participation.
Dear Alex,
We recently sent you an invite to our [Survey_Link] to ask about your experience with our services.
The survey will take about 7 minutes to complete, and in return, we would like to offer you a $25 gift card.
Your feedback matters to us, and your response will help us improve the quality of our services.
Hi Jess,
you have been using our [insert product] for several months. We've reached out for some feedback. We know you are busy, but would you be willing to take a few minutes to give us feedback on how we can improve our product?
4️⃣ Be persuasive: use persuasive language in your reminder to encourage people to participate. For example, you could mention how their participation will contribute to necessary research or how it will help improve a particular product or service.
5️⃣ Deadline: including a deadline for survey completion can create a sense of urgency and encourage people to respond more quickly.
It might take a few follow-ups to get the response rate higher. A good rule of thumb is to keep the reminder short and send it out within the first 48-72h after the initial invitation. Try sending the later reminder at a different time than the original invitation; people tend to have the same habits around their working week. If they haven't replied, another time of the day might be more convenient.
If you are sending Intercom Emails, it is possible to configure follow-up emails by following this guide.
Conclusion
When sending reminder emails for a survey, it is essential to consider why people may have yet to participate. Every effort should be made to ensure that the reminder nudges them without putting any pressure, using polite and persuasive language throughout. Setting a deadline can also be a great way to boost response rates. Finally, leveraging different communication channels and personalizing messages can increase the chances of successful participation.