If you want to stay in business for a while, you need to pay attention to the voice of your customers. You must know what they want, and your best shot at getting this information is to conduct a survey.
Sending customer feedback surveys is an excellent email marketing strategy that allows you to understand your customers’ needs. This will help you offer them an experience that matches or even exceeds their expectations and boosts satisfaction rates.
But even with so many benefits, conducting a survey might be challenging!
Most people need more time to respond to your questionnaires. Therefore, you must find a way to craft and send effective survey emails so you can collect helpful feedback from your mailing list.
If you are wondering how to get started, this article provides survey email template examples and best practices to inspire you. Let’s get into it!
Why Should You Send Email Surveys?
Email surveys have always been a reliable tool for marketers to gather valuable customer insights. You can use them to understand your audience better, personalize your offer, and become more relevant.
Surveys can even help you understand why people unsubscribe from your emails, the kind of content they like, and their preferences. Here are five reasons why email surveys are so helpful in marketing your business or brand:
- Cost-Effective. Sending an email survey barely costs anything when you have an email marketing solution. So, they are handy in conducting market research compared with other options.
- Easy to Setup and Analyze. Creating and sending an email survey takes just a few hours without any additional learning curve. You don’t need a clunky analytics dashboard or learn about the features of a third-party service to start sending surveys.
- Non-Intrusive and Imposing. It’s not an intrusion to ask the customers for their feedback. An email list with a double opt-in allows customers to respond to your email surveys at their will. Remember, in the age of GDPR and privacy, being non-intrusive matters greatly.
- Honest Response from Real Customers. People are keen to offer their opinions. In fact, 74% of shoppers write reviews for their experiences with a brand. Your subscribers have already subscribed to your email list, shown interest in your products or services, and are keen to hear from you and share their opinions. So why not gather data from your real customers?
Elements of a Good Survey Email
If gathering honest feedback appeals to you, you should start creating your first survey campaign immediately. In case you’re wondering what to write in a survey email, here are five must-have elements of best-performing emails:
- Email Subject Lines: Create attention-grabbing and scroll-stopping survey email subject lines that intrigue your subscribers to open the email.
- Email Preheader: Add a supporting preview text that explains the intent of your subject line.
- Accompanying Images: Always make your survey email scannable and attractive. Along with text, remember to add images and elements that make people want to click your link.
- Link to the survey: Make your intention of sending an email clear. Always add the link to the survey in a prominent place within your email.
- CTA: While the goal of a survey email is to make people fill out the survey, you should also add a complementing CTA or convert your survey link into a call-to-action button, too. Just remember this important element.
12 Survey Email Templates Copy You Can Steal
You will probably have to conduct different surveys, depending on the feedback you’re looking to gather from your clients. Here are some survey email examples for inspiration and a few sample email templates to send customer surveys. Feel free to use them for sending your email marketing questionnaire or email surveys to your customers.
Feedback Invitation Email
A feedback survey invitation email is one of the first emails you send to customers when you launch a survey. Insert a link to the feedback survey and request your users respond to this email’s questions. Here’s a template you can use:
Subject: Share your opinions about [Company Name]
Dear [Subscriber],
At [Company Name], we value your feedback. That’s why we would like to invite you to participate in a short survey about your recent experience.
Click on the link below to share your opinion.
Link to the survey: [Insert link]
You will be directed to the survey by clicking on the link, and it will only take a few minutes to complete.
We appreciate your time and effort in providing us with this valuable feedback.
Thank you for choosing [Company Name] and for your ongoing support. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
[Company Name]
Instead of naming your email campaign “SURVEY”, check out these 35+ Asking for customer feedback email subject lines.
No design and coding skills? No worries! With our drag-and-drop builder and responsive templates, creating an email takes a few clicks.
Survey Invitation Emails
A survey invitation email is designed to invite targeted respondents to participate in a survey. It doesn’t necessarily include the survey questions directly in the email.
However, it will always include information about the survey, its importance, and sometimes incentives for participation. The purpose of such emails is usually to invite and motivate customers to participate in a longer survey, increasing the response rate.
Subject: Help Us Improve – Take Our Survey
Dear [Recipient’s Name],
Your feedback matters! We invite you to participate in our Customer Feedback Survey to help us enhance our services. It will take around 15 minutes of your time and help us greatly.
[Take Survey Button]
Your responses are confidential, and your input is invaluable to us. As a token of our appreciation, [mention any incentives, if applicable].
Begin Survey [Take Survey Button]
Thank you for being a valued part of [Company Name]. Your insights make a difference!
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Customer Feedback Survey Email
Like the feedback invitation email, customer feedback survey also ask your users for feedback. But generally, this type of email can be sent anytime, instead of just after an event like a purchase or value date.
Think of such emails as a general ‘check-in’ with your customers about what they think about you. Here’s an email template you can use to send a survey to a customer who bought from you but is not been using your service for some time to understand their concerns:
Subject: Unlock the full potential of [Service Name] with your feedback
Dear [Subscriber],
We noticed that you have recently purchased our [Service Name] but have yet to have the chance to explore all of its features fully.
Your feedback will help us understand what is preventing you from using all the features of our [Service Name]. Your input is valuable to ensure you get the full value out of our service.
Click on the link below to share your valuable feedback. Link to the survey: [Insert link]
As a token of appreciation, you are entitled to a special discount on our [Service Name] once you complete the survey. Thank you for choosing [Company Name] and for your ongoing support. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Warm regards, [Your Name] [Company Name]
Survey Request Email Example
A survey request email is used to request that someone completes a survey and to increase response rates.
Such an email typically includes a personalized subject line, message content to motivate giving honest answers, and clear instructions on how to do it to collect responses.
Subject: [First Name], Your Feedback Matters
Dear [Recipient’s Name],
We value your opinion! Could you spare a moment for our brief survey? Your input helps us improve.
[Take Survey Button]
It’ll take just [X minutes] and is completely confidential. Plus, [mention any incentives, if applicable].
Start Survey [Take Survey Button]
Thank you for being a part of [Company Name]!
Best regards,
[Your Name]
With Sender’s workflow automation builder, you can send your survey emails automatically.
Set a behavioral trigger and a time gap between the trigger and email. Voila! Now just watch those reviews come in.
NPS Survey Email
NPS (Net Promoter Score) emails ask customers how likely they are to recommend you to their customers. Generally, the higher you rate on the NPS survey, the more satisfied your users are. These surveys ask users to respond by rating the likelihood on a scale of 0-10. It’s one of the metrics that measure the success of any business. Here’s a template for you to send an NPS survey:
Dear [Subscriber],
We value your feedback and want to ensure you get the best experience possible with [Company Name]. That’s why we would like your help by taking a quick one-question survey.
Please rate us between 0-10. Your input is very valuable to us, as it will help us understand how likely you’re to recommend [Company Name] to others.
It won’t take more than a minute. Just click on the link below:
Link to the survey: [Insert link]
We truly appreciate your time and support. Thank you for choosing [Company Name]
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Slack uses a friendly and uncomplicated approach to request their customers to rate their experience of using their platform. As a result, the survey is easy to respond to, resulting in a high number of survey responses.
Key Takeaways
- Never create a lengthy questionnaire for an NPS survey email;
- Add a responsive counter or scale to record the user response directly;
- Never ask if they like you. Instead, ask how likely they’re to recommend you to others.
Post-Event Survey Email
As an online business owner, you must be used to conducting many online events like webinars. A post-event survey email can be a great way to engage attendees and get feedback. Here’s a template you can use to send a post-event survey email:
Subject: How was [Webinar Name] for you? Share your feedback!
Dear [Subscriber],
We hope you enjoyed [Webinar Name] and would like to hear your feedback.
Take a quick survey about your experience during the [Webinar Name]. This will help us improve for our next events.
The survey will take no more than a few minutes. Rate us on a scale of 1-10 and provide feedback, if any.
Link to the survey: [Insert link]
Once again, thank you for attending [Webinar Name].
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
[Company Name]
Hotjar uses a survey that’s similar to an NPS survey to ask attendees about their experience at the event. The simple scale, with no other options, ensures the user is focused on sharing the feedback.
Key Takeaways
- Don’t overcomplicate. Just add a satisfaction feedback scorecard;
- Schedule the survey as a follow-up email after the event.
Participation Survey Invitation Emails
A participation survey invitation email is similar to a post-event email.
The only difference — you can send it to anyone, irrespective of the event. It can be sent to a store visitor, someone who participated in a marathon organized by you, or anyone who has been a part of offline activity. Here’s how you can write a participation survey invitation email:
Subject: Share your honest opinion about [Company/Service]
Dear [Subscriber],
We are so glad you participated in our [event/activity/store visit] hosted by [Company Name].
Our goal is to provide an enjoyable and valuable experience for all of our customers, and your feedback is crucial in helping us achieve that goal.
We’d like to invite you to take a quick survey about your experience with [Company Name]. We want to know how it was for you and how we can improve for future events/activities/store visits.
The survey is short and simple, and it will take no more than a few minutes of your time. You will be asked to rate your experience and provide some additional feedback.
By clicking on the link below, you will be directed to the survey. We truly appreciate your time and effort in providing us with this valuable feedback.
Link to the survey: [Insert link].
Thank you!
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
[Company Name]
“Nordstrom” sends a feedback email after a customer visits its store.
The CTA is clear and stands out from the rest of the email content prompting a user to act. It’s, therefore, easy for the reader to pick these essential details and take the necessary action.
Key Takeaways
- Use bold imagery and colors to grab the reader’s attention;
- Include a loud call-to-action button prompting them to participate in the survey;
- Use email personalization – telling them why you’re reaching out (like they did inform the reader about their last visit).
Research Survey Invitation
A research survey is sent to gather opinions from your existing target audience. Here’s how you can draft a research survey invitation email to your subscribers:
Subject: Your Opinion Matters – Help us improve with [Research Topic]
Hey [subscriber first name],
We’re always looking for ways to improve our offerings. That’s why we’re researching [Research Topic], and we’d love your opinion.
You’ll be answering a series of questions related to [Research Topic], which will take only a few minutes. It’s completely voluntary, and all responses will be kept confidential. Click the link below to start the survey.
Link to the survey: [Insert link]
Thanks in advance for your participation and support.
Best,
[Your Name]
[Company Name]
Mostly, these emails are sent by marketing companies and research organizations to ask users to provide specific information about their behaviors, interests, etc. But that doesn’t stop you from trying it out for your small business.
Here’s how 23andMe uses a personalized email to request the audience participate in an ongoing research survey:
The email allows the recipient to choose the number of questions they can answer.
With a clear CTA, the participants can start the survey and submit their responses in one click. A great example of a one-click email survey.
Key Takeaways
- Be specific about the survey and make it easy to respond;
- Provide a clear explanation as to why (and how) they should take part in the research;
- Use a persuasive subject line and survey copy to drive more responses.
Onboarding Feedback Email
An onboarding feedback email is sent to users who have just signed up and completed the onboarding sequence. In other words, an email asking for their experience just after they’ve joined your platform or service. Here’s how you can write the perfect onboarding feedback email to send to your customers:
Subject: How was your onboarding experience with [Company Name]?
Hi [First Name],
My name is [your name], and I want to welcome you to the [company name] family.
I hope you’re enjoying your new [Product/Service] and want to ensure that your onboarding experience was smooth and that you’re all set up and ready to go.
Everyone here wants to know what you liked, what you didn’t, and if there’s anything we can do to make it better for future users. We’re always looking for ways to improve our onboarding process, and your feedback will be incredibly valuable in helping us achieve that.
It would mean a lot to us if you could take a couple of minutes to answer a short survey by clicking the link below. Your thoughts and opinions are important and will help us continue improving our onboarding process for you and other users.
Link to the survey: [Insert link]
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us at [Contact Information]. We’re here to help.
Thank you for your support and for taking the time to provide your feedback. We’re looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Best,
[Your Name]
[Company Name]
Groove sends the following email to ask for feedback from their new customers:
The email feels like a personal note and asks for a reason for signing up. Such information is crucial to personalize the user experience.
Key Takeaways
- Greet and appreciate the subscriber for signing up;
- Make the email about the user (and not about yourself);
- Help users onboard by adding educational material (like the video link in the postscript of the above email).
Customer Satisfaction Survey
A customer satisfaction survey is another form of NPS survey. Still, instead of asking for the likelihood of recommendation, you ask directly if the customer is satisfied with your product or service. Think of it as a post-purchase email asking for a review or comment but in the form of a survey. Here’s a template to help you send a customer satisfaction survey to your customers:
Subject: How was your experience with us? Let us know!
Hey [Subscriber],
We hope all is well with you! At [Company Name], we strive to provide the best service and products for our customers. To ensure we’re meeting your expectations, we’d love to hear your thoughts on your recent experience with us.
We’ve put together a short survey to gather your feedback, and it would mean a lot to us if you could take a moment to complete it by clicking the link below. Your honest opinions will help us understand how we can improve.
Link to the survey: [Insert link]
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at [Contact Information]. We’re here to help. Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback.
Best,
[Your Name]
[Company Name]
Survey Invitation Reminder
Sometimes your users are willing to but still forget to answer the survey as something else occupies their minds. Don’t be afraid to send them a gentle push – send them a survey invitation reminder informing them they still have time.
Since the recipients already know the survey you’re talking about in the reminder email, keep the copy concise, friendly, and non-demanding. Put the survey link in focus and use a strong CTA to direct it there.
Subject: We are still eager to hear from you!
Hey [Subscriber],
We wanted to friendly remind you that the time to answer the survey questions is running out. If you’re still up for it, you can complete our [Survey name with survey link] survey until [date] [time]. It will take you only a few minutes.
Best,
[Your Name]
[Company Name]
Email Questionnaire Template
An email questionnaire typically contains more questions than a regular survey email aiming at a more detailed survey result, i.e. more in-depth information on a topic.
They often include a mix of multiple-choice questions, open-ended questions, rating scales, or checkboxes, allowing respondents to provide structured feedback.
While highly valuable, due to their size, email questionnaires often see worse survey response rates.
Subject: We Value Your Feedback
Dear [Recipient’s Name],
Your feedback is crucial to us. Please take a moment to complete our brief survey to help us improve.
Your insights are confidential, and your opinions shape our future. As a token of our appreciation, [mention any incentives, if applicable].
Survey Questions:
[Insert Question 1]
[Multiple-choice options]
[Insert Question 2]
[Rating scale]
[Insert Question 3]
[Open-ended text]
[Insert Question 4]
[Checkbox options]
[Add or remove questions as needed]
Your input matters. Thank you for being part of [Your Company Name]!
Best regards,
[Your Name]
6 Survey Email Template Design Examples
Searching for design inspiration for sending an email or survey message to customers? We’ve got some best survey email examples from brands all over the world to help you create the perfect survey email campaign:
Monica Vinader Survey Email
Monica Vinader is a jewelry brand that takes customer feedback very seriously. That’s probably why all its survey emails are personal, warm, and signed by the founder. Have a look at this survey email:
Subject Line: Get a chance to win $1000 for 5 minutes of your time
(Not the original campaign subject line)
The best thing about this email is that it emphasizes its desire to offer customers excellent services. Furthermore, it assures the reader that they will only need a few minutes to fill out the survey. As a result, it gives the recipients a reason to respond to the survey right away.
This customer satisfaction survey email gives the recipients a chance to win a grand prize after responding, enhancing a quick response. In addition, it has provided a functional link for easy access to the survey form.
Key Takeaways
- Incentivize participation in the survey by offering a freebie, giveaway, or a chance to win something;
- Make it as personal as possible. Add a personal note (and signature) whenever possible;
- Share a link to the privacy policy in the footer of the email.
Toluna Influencers Survey Email
Toluna is a popular survey company that sends survey requests to its subscribers and users. In fact, its emails are known to be simple yet quite effective in eliciting a response. Here, have a look at one of its survey emails:
Subject Line: We’re waiting to hear your opinion.
(Not the original campaign subject line)
This email reminds the recipient after failing to respond to a previous “invitation to complete a survey” email. It informs the reader that there’s still some time left to reply and that their opinion is important. The urgency factor is evident through the email copy and tone.
It also promises the client 2000 points as a reward for giving feedback. Finally, the email ends with a clear CTA that stands out from the rest of the email content.
Key Takeaways
- Be upfront about the rewards and the length of the survey;
- Add a clear CTA that stands out from the rest of the email.
Veeam Survey Email
Veeam is a business continuity and data protection solutions provider that needs the opinion of its subscribers from time to time. The company sends out regular survey emails to improve its understanding of the cybersecurity landscape and build efficient solutions. Here’s an example of a similar email:
Subject Line: Win AUD 10 for answering 10 simple questions!
(Not the original campaign subject line)
This feedback survey email is simple and straight to the point. It has color consistency enhancing recognizability by the audience. This email example encourages the recipients’ response by telling them that the questions are simple and will take a little of their time.
The step-by-step guide of the survey and the clear CTA make it easy for the recipients to participate in the survey. Additionally, the client receives a gift card code as a reward for answering the survey questions, which increases the chances of a response.
Key Takeaways
- Add step-by-step instructions in a visual format, like an infographic;
- Be clear and tell the benefits in the subject line;
- Remember to add T&C if you’re adding an incentive.
Mailchimp Survey Example
Mailchimp helps many small business owners to send customer surveys via email easily. You can use a survey email template or embed customer surveys within email using the drag-and-drop email builder like the one within Sender. Here’s an email sent by GetLumpa using MailChimp:
Subject: Help Us & Fill Our survey
The survey email is sent to early adopters and subscribers, asking them to participate in the MVP survey. This survey was done to ascertain the most useful features and customer feedback about them. The prominent MailChimp badge at the end of the email makes it clear that the company used MailChimp to send survey emails.
Key Takeaways
- Keep the survey invitation email short;
- Always clear out the goal and reason for reaching out to subscribers;
- Create an attractive CTA button.
Netflix Survey Example
Netflix is loved dearly by its subscribers and the whole of the internet, probably the whole generation. The reason why Netflix is loved so much is that it chooses to listen to its subscribers and customers. Here’s an example of a survey email sent by Netflix:
Subject Line: Netflix Values Your Opinion
The short email is personalized as it addresses the subscriber by their name. The two-line copy makes the user understand why Netflix has emailed them. Plus, the memorable logo and red-colored CTA are enough to make the user understand the context. The signing-off signature, ‘Your friends at Netflix’ ends the email on a warm note, appealing to the user’s inner urge to help a friend by filling out the survey.
Key Takeaways
- Keep the survey email really short;
- Never ignore your brand tone and colors;
- Be relatable by addressing users by their names and signing off as a friend.
Marshall Interactive Survey Request Email Sample
Once you’ve decided on your survey goal and crafted a compelling copy, consider making your survey request email even more irresistible to your recipients. One more unconventional but highly effective way is to turn it into an interactive email.
An interactive email is an email with interactive elements that allow the recipient to do some action, e.g., swipe through an image, scroll through a product catalog, or play a game without leaving his inbox.
Interactive survey request email provides the recipient with a better user experience since instead of clicking through to the website, they can complete the survey directly in the email. This, in return, grows the chances of your survey being completed.
Here’s an interactive survey request email sample from Marshall:
Key Takeaways:
- Stick to a scale rating and no more than two additional questions so as not to make the email too long;
- Don’t forget to inform your customer that his response was recorded, e.g., show an appreciation message after they click CTA;
- Since the in-built survey is self-explanatory, keep the copy straight to the point.
Did these examples excite you to start using email to reach out to your customers? Time to create your survey email!
Survey Email Best Practices
All these examples and templates might overwhelm anyone. Don’t worry; keep your calm, and remember to always look at survey emails as a way to gather responses for email marketing questionnaires from your customers. For your comfort, we’ve summarized what you need to do to get an adequate response for your survey emails:
1. Set Your Goal
Choosing an objective is essential in conducting a successful survey. It provides you with the required direction and helps in keeping track of your efforts’ progress.
That way, you can retain the best-performing elements of your survey and attend to those requiring improvement. Goal setting enables you to remain focused and enhance a positive survey experience.
2. Pick an Engaging Subject Line
The aim of sending survey invitation emails is to get your recipients to respond to the specific question(s). Hence, you should use a subject line that informs the reader to do precisely that!
You could also include the recipients’ details, like name and location, in your subject line. Personalization works wonders in boosting your emails’ open rate.
Consider also the length of your subject lines to accommodate smartphone users. For this reason, stick to less than 50 characters.
If you need some inspiration, here are 10 best survey email subject lines to make sure your survey email gets opened.
3. Keep It Short
When you keep your questionnaire brief, and to the point, you increase the chances of your audience giving a response. Avoid exceeding four questions per survey, and the recipients will appreciate your care for their precious time.
4. Include Deadlines
Sending questionnaires with no deadline gives room for procrastination. As a result, your recipient may forget about your “invitation to fill out a survey” email.
To curb this problem, create a sense of urgency by adding deadlines in your survey emails to enhance your review strategy. Remember to send reminder emails as the deadline approaches.
5. Consider the Time Factor
In email marketing, the time factor is vital! So carefully choose the right time for sending your feedback request email with the relevant objective in mind.
For example, if you want to get reviews on a customer experience, send a survey invitation email within the first few hours after the interaction, when memories are fresh.
Survey Email FAQs
How do I send a survey embedded in an email?
You can embed a survey element via a native feedback block within the drag& drop builder or using a custom HTML block within Sender. Just create your survey in a survey tool, copy its embed code, and add it directly to the email body within the custom HTML block.
What are NPS emails?
An NPS or net promoter score email asks how likely will the reader or customer recommend your business to another person. High likelihood and rating generally mean that your customers are really happy and satisfied with your product or service.
How do I send out an invitation to fill out a survey?
You can create an email campaign and add a link to the survey within the email body. There are many email templates for inviting customers to fill out the survey above that you can use and copy based on your goal and requirement.
Key Takeaways
- Write really intriguing and click-worthy subject lines for effective survey invitation emails;
- Incentivize survey responses wherever possible;
- Keep your survey emails short and direct. Add a link to the survey, always;
- Keep all your feedback survey data in a central place for future reference;
- Use a marketing automation tool to automate periodic survey scheduling for gathering customer feedback.
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