4 Types of Surveys [A Complete Guide + Pros & Cons]

What do your customers think of your website, your products, or your service? A survey is the fastest way to find out, but the type you choose changes the answers you get. In this guide, we’ll compare four types of surveys for your website, with the pros, cons, and best use for each.

Approximate read time: 4 minutes

Surveys help you gather opinions, preferences, and feedback, and with the right survey questions, your customers’ answers can help you improve any product or business.

But not all surveys are created equal.

Different types of surveys have many different purposes, and choosing the right one makes all the difference. Some are great for quick feedback, while others dive deep into customer behavior and trends.

Let's dive in.

4 types of surveys for your website

1. Online surveys

Online surveys are popular because they're convenient.

They can be sent via email, social media, or websites. Plus, they're flexible and can include different question types. Multiple-choice, rating scales, ranking surveys, and open-ended questions are just a few that can get useful data.

Online surveys are also cheaper than other survey research methods and provide quick results. However, they can have low response rates. Since not everyone has internet access, some biases will always influence the survey.

Pros

• Convenient: Easy to take on any device with internet access.
• Cheap: Lower costs compared to traditional methods.
• Quick data: Gather and analyze survey results in real time.

Cons

• Lower response rates: Many people may ignore online survey invitations.
• Bias: Not everyone has internet access, which can skew results.
• Survey fatigue: People may get tired of frequent online surveys.

2. Mobile surveys

Mobile surveys are designed for smartphones and tablets.

They're convenient since most people have a phone, leading to higher response rates. These surveys are excellent for real-time feedback but can be limited. People without a phone, or with a very small screen, may not be able to take them.

Pros

• High response rates: People can answer in seconds, wherever they are.
• Fast feedback: Data can be gathered quickly.
• Wide reach: Most people have a smartphone or tablet.

Cons

• Screen limitations: Small screens can limit the survey length.
• Connectivity issues: Poor internet connections affect completion rates.
• Privacy: People may worry about data security.

3. Popup and embedded surveys

Popup surveys appear on websites or apps to capture feedback from visitors.

They can be effective because they're hard to miss. However, many people dislike pop-ups, so this survey type should be used wisely.

Embedded surveys stay on a web page permanently. While they have a lower chance of being seen compared to popups, they're also less annoying to users.

Pros

• Quick feedback: Gets responses in the moment.
• Easy to see: Pop-ups grab attention quickly.
• Beginner-friendly: Simple to add to websites or apps.

Cons

• Annoying: Some users find popups intrusive, which can hurt their view of your site.
• Low response rates: Embedded surveys might not be seen.
• Limited scope: Best suited for short and simple questions.

4. Social media surveys

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X are just a few popular social media platforms, and people worldwide use them.

They can reach a wide audience because they're easy to share, giving you a huge range of data from around the world. However, this data isn't always useful if you want feedback from a specific audience.

Pros

• Wide reach: Access to a large and diverse audience.
• Real-time feedback: Quick responses.
• Cost-effective: Often cheaper than other methods.

Cons

• Bias: May not represent the general population accurately.
• Privacy: People may worry about data security.
• Short attention spans: Users may not spend much time on responses.

How to choose the right type of survey

Even with just four options, picking the right one isn't always obvious.

A little planning up front makes the choice easier. Here are some key points to help:

• Set clear goals: Know what you want to find out. Is it detailed feedback or just quick opinions? The right goal helps choose the right survey type.
• Know the audience: Think about who will take the survey. A popup survey catches someone mid-visit, while a social media survey reaches people who already follow you.
• Consider timing: A popup or embedded survey can catch feedback the moment someone's on your site. A social media survey is better for gauging opinion before someone even visits.
• Think about reach and control: Online and mobile surveys give you the most control over who sees them and when. Social media surveys trade some of that control for a much wider, faster reach.

Following these tips at the beginning helps gather useful information to meet your objectives. But this is just the start.

Learn how to create a survey in WordPress

Now that you've learned about the different types of surveys, it's time to take things further.

And that’s learning how to create a survey with our step-by-step guide. Formidable Forms makes it easy to build online, mobile, popup, and embedded surveys, from a short popup to a detailed multi-page survey, and you can share any of them on social media. With the form and survey features in one plugin, you don’t need a separate survey tool. If you need a WordPress survey plugin for your website, it’s a great option.