Have you filled out surveys for panel companies and market research brands but your profile doesn’t get the right surveys? Or was your form rejected? Or do you think you can do much better in framing your answers to questions that need qualitative feedback? Then this post is for you.

Learn 7 tips you must follow to frame your words and offer constructive feedback as a panel member in online surveys.

7 Tips to Write Constructive Feedback in a Survey

1. Are You the Target Audience?

Before hitting an option in a market research study, please check if you’re really the intended recipient. Sometimes your name gets into the panel database with one wrong demographic field, and you start receiving surveys that aren’t related to your profile.

For instance, instead of professor as your job role, the database might have tagged you against a tutor. In such instances, it might mean the surveys you get are for a tutor. You end up wasting your time every few weeks by opening, checking, and ignoring a survey. Sometimes you might realize after you’ve already filled out the survey.

To rule out such hassles, do review your profile every few months. Twice a year is a good frequency. Also, let the panel company know you’re not interested in such surveys and the right reason.

You’d also save the market research company a lot of data inconsistencies by taking this proactive step.

2. Know the Survey’s Agenda

Once you’re sure the recipient list should have your name, read the email or the message on the mobile app survey. Learn the agenda of the survey.

It might be an NPS survey with only 2 to 3 questions that demand a few minutes—it could be about the brand itself or a product you recently bought. Sometimes the survey might ask you to sit for a CATI review or become a part of a focus group. You might get a request for a video review as well.

Know if you can participate in such varied processes, and take action accordingly.

Try to understand how your opinions will be used. As a promotional glimpse on social media or some review website? Will your words become a testimonial on the product’s website or be used as beta test feedback?

Also, as a stakeholder, you must learn about a survey taker’s security options.

3. Avoid Biasing

As a panel member, you must ignore hearsay and provide inputs only based on your personal experiences.

You might hear a lot of negative comments from a competitor’s users. And fans of the product might sugarcoat their experiences about the product in question. But you should fill out the survey based on only your personal usage history.

4. Be Honest, Precise, and Balanced

As a respondent, it is of utmost necessity that you be honest in your answers. Don’t say you’ve used the product in the past to impress the panel if you haven’t ever used it but something similar. The market research team will still seek your opinions despite your complaints. After all, the entire purpose of a survey is to gather the correct user sentiments for improvement.

Write your opinions with precision. “I like the product” might mean you’re a fan of the product, you prefer it over peers for the pricing, or you love two features out of so many. But it doesn’t express what exactly you like in the product and why. So, be precise, especially while writing qualitative feedback.

Balance your thoughts when answering open-ended questions. Constructive feedback is a well-rounded opinion where a respondent expresses their likings and areas for improvement.

Also, read 5 paid survey mistakes panelists make and their simple solutions.

5. Use Professional Language

You may feel the need to write a survey answer quickly using slang or texting lingos like shortcuts, acronyms, and smileys. If you had an unpleasant experience with the brand, your words might carry your emotions such as rudeness or profanities.

But remember that market research surveys are very professional and help a company develop a product that serves consumers like you in better ways. So, avoid crude language or harsh emotions because they help little with product refinement.

6. Proofread

Because of the above points, proofreading your answers is necessary. By proofreading, we mean reading your opinions once before you hit the submit button. Correct spelling mistakes, typos, and grammar mishaps. Such mistakes delay the data analysis and the market research process.

Also, check for the clarity of your sentences so that they convey your sentiments correctly.

7. Organize Your Time and Participation

Most surveys offer some remuneration in terms of cash, redeemable points, coupons, or gift cards. These benefits lure panel members to participate in many surveys at a time.

But your time is expensive. So, manage your days responsibly. Use mobile apps to fill out the surveys while you’re gymming, traveling, having some extra minutes at your doctor’s or accountant’s, or during non-working hours.

Revisit your profile every 6 months and fill in the optional profile questions so you get only those surveys you’re interested in. Never run after incentives but know how your opinions can change a brand’s offerings through legit surveys.

And if you’re looking for online surveys to make a few extra bucks…

Participate in Opinionest’s Free Surveys

Because Opinionest offers the best online surveys to their panel members. And if you’re a working professional or have a niche interest, you can even participate in highly rewarding CATI surveys.

Please register your profile for free with our panel and start your journey in market research as a participant today.