Here’s the two most common questions class programmers ask about surveys.
How often should we survey?
Conduct surveys as often as you can. But don’t survey everyone in each survey. Survey separately your top 7 audience segments. And tell those you survey the results of the survey, and what you will do to serve them better as a result of their response to your survey. When your customers know your survey results were useful in getting additional service, they will be glad to come back as soon and reply to another survey.
In reality, no class program surveys their customers too much. So don’t worry about surveying your customers too much; worry about surveying them too little. Again, the key to getting your customers to complete your survey again and again is to customize each survey to one of your top 7 best customer segments.
Should we survey when someone is registering?
Do not ask a survey question of a prospective customer before they register. When a participant is trying to register with you, do not ask them any questions not required by your institution. The more questions you ask before registration, the fewer registrations you will receive. Ask your questions after they register.
More information on conducting effective surveys that get high responses are available in “High Response Surveys,” the October 2026 issue of your LERN Print Newsletter. FREE of course to all 2,000 LERN members.
