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Best way to send a paper survey to people and make sure they will not throw it out.
Working with a professional organization to send out a survey. They want to make sure that people know it is important and not throw it away. What do you think is the best way to make sure people do not think it is just junk mail?
A large financial incentive is included, and we want to make sure people open the letter.
A large financial incentive is included, and we want to make sure people open the letter.
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Others have said it, I'll repeat it -- send a dollar or two. Cash. Not "we'll pay you on completion", not "here's something worth a dollar." Let them open up the letter and have a dollar bill fall out.
You will be amazed at the return you get. My first boss out of college taught me that. He showed me a survey that came in the mail with a dollar, and I laughed and said "Free dollar!" He explained that nono, he always made it a point to respond when somebody did that because a real person stuffed that dollar in that envelope, and that person's just trying to do their job and get some results back, and knowing that you're that lazy that you can take the money and not just fill out a piece of paper is not worth it.
You will be amazed at the return you get. My first boss out of college taught me that. He showed me a survey that came in the mail with a dollar, and I laughed and said "Free dollar!" He explained that nono, he always made it a point to respond when somebody did that because a real person stuffed that dollar in that envelope, and that person's just trying to do their job and get some results back, and knowing that you're that lazy that you can take the money and not just fill out a piece of paper is not worth it.
source(s):
Phil Townsend, General Manager of Walker Sonix, circa 1990.
Phil Townsend, General Manager of Walker Sonix, circa 1990.
Maybe integrate a coupon of some kind for a free drink or coffee or something in such a way that it would at least have the recipient take a look at the survey as they chop out the coupon.
Alternatively you could try to set up an online survey and provided the users take the survey to completion they'd get access to a coupon code or something similar.
Alternatively you could try to set up an online survey and provided the users take the survey to completion they'd get access to a coupon code or something similar.
This may not be quite feasible but I would be more willing to take the time to complete a survey if I knew I would be given a dollar or two upon completion.
Send them something free along with the survey, like a pen or notepad with the name of the organization. Attach to it a note that says "Enjoy your free gift as a thank you for completing our survey!" I can never resist opening mail when I know free things are inside.
In instructional design and development, getting information back about needs via surveys was REALLY difficult. If we got back 5% of them, we'd be very happy. Anywhere near 10% and we'd be truely amazed.
I found that the best way, as already answered, is by getting something once you send back the survey. They key is to find out what motivates the people you are surveying. We surveyed sales people and sales people typically LOVE competition, so we make the answering of surveys public and those who brought the most back, got a prize.
I found that the best way, as already answered, is by getting something once you send back the survey. They key is to find out what motivates the people you are surveying. We surveyed sales people and sales people typically LOVE competition, so we make the answering of surveys public and those who brought the most back, got a prize.
Oh! Oh! My old firm did this with amazing (80%) results.
We sent a two dollar bill and a self-addressed, stamped envelope with it. Everyone loved the two dollar bills!
We sent a two dollar bill and a self-addressed, stamped envelope with it. Everyone loved the two dollar bills!
Put a Free Recipe in the envelope and secure a company to provide a coupon in that recipe's construction. Note same on envelope. Good luck!!!
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