How To Create A Survey in Microsoft Forms (Free Templates)

As an online marketer, you’re well aware that understanding your audience is the key to driving successful campaigns.

Surveys are a powerful tool to gain valuable insights into your customers’ preferences, pain points, and expectations.

Microsoft Forms offers a user-friendly platform to create compelling surveys that empower you to make data-driven marketing decisions.

In this step-by-step guide, I’ll walk you through every step of harnessing the potential of Microsoft Forms and creating surveys that resonate with your audience.

Summarized: How to Create a Survey in Microsoft Forms

1. Access Microsoft Forms:
   • Sign in to your Microsoft account or create one for free.
   • Navigate to the Microsoft Forms dashboard.
2. Start a New Survey:
   • Choose to create a new survey from scratch or use pre-designed templates.
3. Design and Customize the Survey:
   • Choose a theme, colors, and background images that match your brand.
   • Add a custom title, logo, and description to personalize the survey.
4. Add Questions:
   • Select from various question types, such as multiple-choice, open-ended, or rating.
   • Customize each question according to the survey’s purpose.
5. Implement Advanced Features (Optional):
   • Use branching and skip logic to personalize the survey based on respondents’ answers.
   • Assign scores to questions for quizzes and assessments (if applicable).
6. Collaborate with Team Members (Optional):
   • Invite team members to collaborate on survey creation.
   • Assign roles and permissions to ensure effective teamwork.
7. Share the Survey:
   • Share the survey via email invitations, social media, or QR codes.
   • Use different sharing options to reach your target audience.
8. Collect Responses:
   • Monitor real-time response progress using the analytics dashboard.
   • Analyze survey data and gain valuable insights from respondents.
9. Customize the Thank-You Page:
   • Personalize the thank-you page with a gratitude message or relevant links.
10. Adjust Survey Settings:

• Set response limits or deadlines to manage survey participation.
• Configure notifications to receive updates on response activity.

Table Chart: Key Features of Microsoft Forms

Table Chart: Key Features of Microsoft Forms

Getting Started with Microsoft Forms

Before we dive into the world of surveys, let’s familiarize ourselves with Microsoft Forms and its capabilities.

This intuitive platform is designed to simplify the survey creation process, ensuring that even those without technical expertise can create impactful surveys.

Accessing Microsoft Forms:

Getting started is a breeze. Sign in to your Microsoft account, or create one for free. Once you’re in, head to the Microsoft Forms dashboard, where you’ll find a clean and user-friendly interface, ready for your survey creation journey.

Creating a New Survey:

The first step is to start a new survey. Microsoft Forms offers two options: creating one from scratch or using pre-designed templates.

If you’re pressed for time, explore the templates library and choose one that aligns with your survey’s objectives. From customer feedback to event registrations, there’s a template for every need.

Designing and Customizing the Survey

Your survey’s design plays a pivotal role in engaging participants and encouraging honest responses. Microsoft Forms provides a range of customization options to elevate the aesthetics and reflect your brand’s identity.

Survey Design:

Think of your survey as an extension of your brand’s personality. Choose a theme that aligns with your brand colors and vibe.

If you have a brand logo, upload it to create a personalized touch. Consider using background images that resonate with your audience, reinforcing your survey’s theme.

Personalizing the Survey:

Capture your respondents’ attention from the get-go with a captivating custom title and introduction.

Craft a warm and inviting description that sets the tone for the survey and explains its purpose. A well-crafted introduction can increase participation rates and foster a sense of connection with your audience.

Advanced Question Options

As you dive deeper into survey creation, explore the advanced features offered by Microsoft Forms to make your surveys more interactive and insightful.

Branching and Skip Logic:

Embrace the power of branching and skip logic to tailor the survey experience based on each respondent’s answers.

For instance, if a participant indicates that they are interested in product A, you can automatically skip irrelevant questions about product B. This creates a personalized journey for each respondent, enhancing engagement and data accuracy.

Question Scoring and Grading:

If your survey doubles as a quiz or assessment, leverage the question scoring and grading feature. Assign scores to questions, and Microsoft Forms will automatically calculate the final scores for each respondent.

This capability is particularly valuable for educational institutions, training programs, or knowledge assessment purposes.

Collaboration and Sharing

Survey creation doesn’t have to be a solo endeavor. Microsoft Forms offers collaboration features that facilitate teamwork and ensure your survey represents your brand’s collective vision.

Collaboration Features:

Invite team members to collaborate on the survey creation process. Assign roles, such as “Editor” or “Viewer,” to ensure that everyone contributes effectively while maintaining control over the survey.

Collaborators can provide valuable insights, helping you craft a well-rounded and impactful survey.

Sharing the Survey:

Once your survey is ready, it’s time to share it with your target audience. Microsoft Forms offers various sharing options to suit your preferences and reach.

• Email Invitations: Send personalized survey links directly to your audience’s email inboxes. This approach is ideal for targeted campaigns and collecting responses from specific groups.
• Social Media: Leverage your brand’s social media presence to share the survey with a broader audience. Encourage followers to participate and share the survey with their networks, exponentially expanding your reach.
• QR Codes: Print QR codes and display them at events or physical locations. Attendees can quickly scan the code and access the survey, making it convenient and hassle-free for them to participate.

Collecting Responses

Now comes the moment of truth-collecting responses. Microsoft Forms streamlines the process, making it easy to gather valuable data from your audience.

Response Collection Methods:

Choose the method that aligns with your survey’s objectives and the preferences of your audience.

• Email Invitations: Send personalized email invitations to your target audience with the survey link embedded. Consider segmenting your email list to tailor the invitations based on each group’s interests or demographics.
• Social Media Promotions: Craft engaging posts to announce the survey on your brand’s social media channels. Consider using visuals, such as graphics or videos, to capture attention and encourage participation.
• QR Codes at Events: At in-person events, display QR codes on posters or booths, encouraging attendees to scan and participate in the survey. Offer incentives like exclusive discounts or giveaways to boost participation rates.

Response Tracking and Analytics:

Keep a close eye on the response progress and gather valuable insights through Microsoft Forms’ analytics dashboard.

• Real-Time Monitoring: The dashboard provides real-time updates on response rates, allowing you to track the survey’s performance and make informed decisions in a timely manner.
• Visual Representations: Microsoft Forms offers visual representations of data, including charts and graphs, making it easy to understand and analyze the survey results at a glance.

Survey Security and Privacy

As an online marketer, safeguarding your respondents’ data is of utmost importance. Microsoft Forms ensures data protection and privacy, instilling confidence in both you and your audience.

Data Protection and Privacy:

Microsoft Forms complies with data protection regulations, ensuring that your respondents’ information is secure and confidential. All data is stored on Microsoft’s secure servers, protecting it from unauthorized access.

Anonymous Responses:

For sensitive topics or when you want to encourage candid feedback, consider enabling anonymous responses. This feature allows participants to answer the survey without revealing their identities, fostering honest and uninhibited feedback.

The journey doesn’t end with collecting responses. Microsoft Forms integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft apps, and you can export data for further analysis and reporting.

Integrations with Other Microsoft Apps:

Leverage the integration capabilities with Microsoft Excel, SharePoint, and Teams to optimize your survey data.

• Microsoft Excel: Export survey responses to Excel to perform in-depth analysis, create pivot tables, and generate charts that provide actionable insights.
• SharePoint: Share survey results with your team through SharePoint, facilitating collaborative decision-making and discussions.
• Microsoft Teams: Integrate with Teams to discuss survey results, brainstorm strategies, and plan campaigns, all in one collaborative workspace.

Survey Settings and Customization

Microsoft Forms puts you in control of your survey settings, allowing you to fine-tune the survey experience for your audience.

Survey Settings:

Configure survey settings to manage participation efficiently and ensure a smooth survey experience.

• Response Limits: Set a response limit to cap the number of survey responses you want to collect. This helps avoid overwhelming response numbers and allows you to focus on analyzing the data received.
• Deadline: If your survey is time-sensitive, specify a deadline to close the survey after a particular date. This creates a sense of urgency among participants and encourages timely responses.
• Notifications: Set up email notifications to receive real-time updates when respondents complete the survey.

Having email notifications set up allows you to stay on top of response activity without having to constantly check the survey dashboard. You can promptly follow up with respondents or address any urgent issues that may arise.

Customizing the Thank-You Page:

The thank-you page is your final chance to leave a lasting impression on survey participants.

Take advantage of this opportunity by customizing the thank-you message with a heartfelt expression of gratitude.

Additionally, consider adding links to relevant resources or a call-to-action that encourages respondents to explore more of what your brand has to offer.

This thoughtful touch can reinforce your brand’s credibility and foster a positive relationship with your audience.

Troubleshooting and Support

Even with a user-friendly platform like Microsoft Forms, encountering a glitch or challenge is not uncommon. Thankfully, Microsoft offers a robust support system to assist you along the way.

Troubleshooting Common Issues:

Should you encounter any roadblocks during the survey creation process, don’t panic. Microsoft Forms provides a comprehensive support center where you can find troubleshooting guides, FAQs, and step-by-step solutions to common issues.

Additionally, there’s an active community forum where you can seek help from fellow users who may have faced similar challenges.

Remember that every setback is an opportunity to learn and grow. Embrace the challenge, and you’ll come out on the other side with newfound knowledge and confidence in creating surveys with Microsoft Forms.

Table Chart: Microsoft Forms Alternative

This table chart compares SurveyMonkey and Microsoft Forms for creating surveys:

Case Studies and Success Stories

Case Study #1: E-commerce Growth with Surveys – Company X

Stashhub, an e-commerce retailer specializing in fashion and accessories, sought to understand its customers better and improve their shopping experience. They turned to Microsoft Forms to create a comprehensive post-purchase survey, aiming to gather feedback on their products, website usability, and overall customer satisfaction.

Step 1: Designing the Survey

Stashhub designed a visually appealing survey using Microsoft Forms’ customization options. They used their brand colors, added the company logo, and crafted a warm introduction to encourage respondents to participate.

Step 2: Collecting Responses

After an online purchase, customers received personalized email invitations with the survey link. Company X also shared the survey on social media, enticing customers to participate with a chance to win gift cards.

Step 3: Analyzing Results

Using Microsoft Forms’ real-time analytics dashboard, Company X monitored response progress and quickly identified trends.

They discovered that customers highly valued the quality of their products but had some concerns about shipping times.

Step 4: Taking Action

Armed with valuable insights, Company X took immediate action to address the shipping concerns.

They partnered with a new logistics provider, which significantly improved delivery times. They also used positive feedback on product quality to strengthen their marketing efforts.

Results:

The survey data-driven improvements led to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Stashhub saw a 25% increase in repeat purchases and a 15% rise in positive online reviews. The customer-centric approach gained them a competitive edge, propelling their e-commerce growth to new heights.

Case Study #2: Enhancing Employee Engagement – Company Y

WinFab, a tech startup, recognized the importance of employee engagement for company productivity and growth. To better understand their employees’ needs and concerns, they utilized Microsoft Forms to conduct an employee satisfaction survey.

Step 1: Crafting the Survey

WinFab designed a comprehensive survey, covering aspects such as workplace culture, communication, career growth, and job satisfaction. They ensured the survey was anonymous, encouraging honest feedback from their employees.

Step 2: Survey Distribution

To engage all employees, Company Y shared the survey link via email and placed QR codes in common areas within the office. They also set a deadline for responses to ensure timely feedback.

Step 3: Analyzing the Data

With Microsoft Forms’ real-time analytics, Company Y gained immediate access to survey results. They identified areas where employees expressed concerns, such as communication channels and work-life balance.

Step 4: Implementing Changes

Armed with employee feedback, Company Y implemented several changes to enhance workplace satisfaction. They introduced regular team meetings to foster communication and organized work-life balance workshops.

Results:

The employee satisfaction survey led to a notable increase in employee engagement and morale.

WinFab experienced a 20% decrease in employee turnover and a 30% increase in productivity.

The positive work environment and employee-centric approach contributed significantly to the company’s success and ability to attract top talent.

Creating Surveys with Microsoft Forms: Takeaway

Survey creation is not just a routine task; it’s an opportunity to connect with your audience, understand their pain points, and shape your marketing strategies accordingly.

Embrace creativity, personalize your surveys, and leverage the advanced features of Microsoft Forms to engage your audience effectively.

Remember that surveys are not a one-time endeavor. Continuously collect feedback and adapt your approach to meet the changing needs of your audience.

Through ongoing survey initiatives, you will strengthen your brand-customer relationship and build a loyal and engaged customer base.