Free tool for gathering info about your customer

If you’re interested in gathering information about your customers and have never heard of “Survey Monkey,” you may want to check it out.   Like many apps, Survey Monkey offers a free download and several advanced options as well.  To begin, I would stick with the free version because it’s enough to get you started.  Place your customized survey questions on your website, or social sites and responses are gathered for you…  If you like the results and see added value and benefit to your business, I’d encourage the “Select Option.” (At $26 per month, the “Select Option” is the next step up, and offers some important features, such as downloadable reports, that may be worth the small chunk of change.)  Be aware, packages can go upwards of $750 a month.  However, those options are not realistic to most small businesses.  (Go to bottom to find easy app download links.)  Here’s the skinny:

Basic free features of Survey Monkey:

• Easy Question Creation.  15 different choices regarding types of questions, (rating scales, multiple choice, etc.)  Option to use templates and certified questions from their question bank. The free version offers 10 questions per survey and up to 100 responses.
• Custom Landing Page URL.  This is pretty cool…you can create your own survey URL destination to use as a promotional landing page.  Get creative with the URL so that it’s picked up in search results & add it to your website and social media outlets.
• Response Collection & Reports.  Real-time survey results are sent right to your email, social site, weblink, or embed directly on to your website or blog.  (Easy viewing from any device.)  Or, login to Survey Monkey anytime to view them.  (Can’t download though.)
• Customer Support.  Email only.

Advanced “Pro” features include: 

• Custom Branding.  Add your logo, company info, color choices, etc.  More options depending upon the Pro Option you choose from.
• More Robust Reporting.   Real-time charts, graphs, and filters with cross tabs to download in a variety of export options.
• More Legitimate Answers:  Questions and response validation, random assignment (A/B testing) and randomization.
• Interactive Surveys & Downloads.  Use “skip logic” and question piping.  Download results in Excel or PDF format.
• Access to Millions of Respondents.  Choose from the Survey Monkey general U.S. population audience respondents, or narrow down more closely to your desired demographic or geographic areas.
• More Security.  Including SSL/HTTPS and HIPPA compliant features.
• Better Customer Support & “Thank You” Page.

One more thing…here is a quick little article regarding the significance of adding photos to your surveys.  Interesting!

Download free app from reputable locations:   

Mobile or Tablet:   mobile or tablet download

Google Apps Marketplace: http://www.google.com/enterprise/marketplace/viewListing?productListingId=3471+5802532910979132069&category=&query=survey+monkey

iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/surveymonkey/id723867634?mt=8