Pop-up surveys: Your ultimate guide (tips & templates)

Surveys have always been important for understanding customer needs and preferences. They provide direct feedback that helps businesses make informed decisions. From improving products to enhancing user experience, surveys play a crucial role in shaping strategies based on real data.

In today’s digital age, tools like the pop-up survey on websites make this process even easier. With help from popular survey sites and the best pop-up forms, businesses can create engaging surveys using a simple survey template, ensuring they collect valuable feedback without disrupting the user experience.

Let’s start with the basics: What is a pop-up survey?

A pop-up survey is a short questionnaire that appears on a web page to gather immediate feedback from users.

These surveys are triggered by a specific action, like time spent on the site or after completing a task. They help businesses collect customer feedback through website pop-ups, offering quick insights without disrupting the browsing experience.

Why use pop-up surveys?

Pop-up surveys are a super easy way to collect direct feedback on your products or your services. They can appear while users are active on your site,  especially for leading to higher response rates. Some quick questions can give more detailed answers, making these surveys helpful for understanding customer needs.

💬 Gives quick feedback on products and services

📈 Have better response rates because they appear at the right time

💭 Lets users share detailed thoughts

📊 Great for market researchers to have fast and valuable insights

🚨 Helps spot customer preferences or problems right away

When to use pop-up surveys?

Pop-up surveys are most effective when used at the right moments and for the right people. It is important to time them well, like after users have spent enough time on the page or just as they leave it. This way, you can gather feedback without bothering the visitor.

1. The user who takes action

When users complete actions (for example, submitting a form or buying a product), such as returning visitors or high-value customers, these kinds of surveys help to get important detailed data into what keeps their users motivated and what improvements they might like, making it easier to retain them.

2. Right before leaving the page

When a user is about to leave the page, show a quick survey asking why they didn’t continue or what stopped them from purchasing. This gives insight into potential problems.

3. On landing pages

Surveys can help you understand if visitors found the page clear and helpful on important landing pages. After interacting with critical elements, you can ask if they found the needed information.

4. For a specific target audience

You can focus on a target audience, like returning visitors, to ask what they like or what could be better. It helps you gather ongoing feedback from loyal users.

5. Getting feedback about the user interface

When a user finishes a task, like submitting a form, you can ask for feedback on how easy it was. Since it’s fresh in their mind, you will have more straightforward feedback about the user interface.

12 Expert tips for your pop-up surveys

Pop-up surveys are a great way to gather feedback when appropriately used. You can improve user engagement and collect valuable insights by focusing on timing, design, and content. Whether you are selecting the best pop-up forms or using the right survey tools, these tips will help make your surveys effective. Below are 12 expert tips to maximize your results:

Pro tips for pop-up surveys

Tip 1: Define a specific action for

Timing is everything when it comes to pop-up surveys. Ensure the survey is triggered by a specific action, like time spent on a page or clicking a certain button. Surveys that appear randomly often feel intrusive and can be ignored.

Tip 2: Use well-designed pop-up forms

Choosing the best designs for pop-up forms helps motivate users. Your form should be simple, clean, and not overwhelming. Too many fields or complicated designs can scare people off. That’s why it’s best to stick to short, precise forms for more effective results.

Tip 3: Keep the questions short and relevant

Users don’t have time for long surveys. Focus on asking questions that provide valuable insights but can be answered quickly. Use multiple-choice or short-answer formats to encourage completion while still gathering useful data.

Tip 4: Personalize the survey

Personalizing the survey based on the user’s behavior or profile is always important. Tailoring your pop-up to the specific visitor makes the experience feel more relevant and can lead to higher completion rates. Personalization can be done through specific survey tools.

Tip 5: Offer an incentive

Offering a small reward, like a discount or a free download, can make people more likely to participate. It encourages responses and helps create a friendly and positive connection between your brand and the person.

Tip 6: Optimize for mobile

With more users browsing on mobile devices, your pop-up surveys must be mobile-friendly. Ensure that your survey is easy to complete on smaller screens and doesn’t obstruct the browsing experience, which is vital for keeping users engaged.

Tip 7: Use visual cues to grab attention

Adding visual elements like icons or animations can help grab attention. Just make sure it doesn’t overwhelm the user. A visually appealing pop-up survey is more likely to be noticed and completed, making it one of the best pop-up form practices.

Tip 8: Test different formats

It’s an excellent idea to A/B test different formats and survey tools to determine what works best. Try experimenting with other designs, triggers, and questions to see which combination gets the best response rates.

Tip 9: Analyze the feedback regularly

After gathering enough responses, take time to review and analyze the data regularly. These insights can help improve your surveys, enhance the user experience, and fine-tune your product offerings to meet customer needs better.

Tip 10: Limit the number of pop-ups

Too many pop-ups can overwhelm users, leading to frustration. Stick to one pop-up per visit to avoid being intrusive. This keeps the user experience positive and ensures your survey gets the attention it needs without annoying visitors.

Tip 11: Time your pop-up effectively

Show your pop-up at the right moment. Triggering it too early can frustrate users, while showing it too late may miss valuable feedback. Timing it after key interactions, like reading a blog or browsing a product, leads to better results.

Tip 12: Keep your pop-up unobtrusive

Make sure your pop-up catches attention without being too pushy. It should show up at the right moment without blocking important content or interrupting the user’s experience. A gentle, well-placed pop-up can smoothly collect feedback while keeping visitors comfortable and engaged on your site.

Pop-up survey examples

Businesses can quickly collect helpful feedback using simple survey templates and multiple-choice questions without disturbing users. Below are some real-world pop-up survey examples showing how companies use pop-up surveys to improve user experience and gather important data.

1. Lego’s feedback example

Lego's feedback example

In this example, Lego welcomes the website visitors with a very creative pop-up. When you head to the homepage, the pop-up presents you with two options: The shop page and the play zone. For those who want to have a good time by playing games or watching videos and more on the page, apart from checking the products, the pop-up is a great solution for the brand! 

2. Southwest’s visitor purpose example

Southwest's visitor purpose example

Southwest Airlines focuses on understanding the reason behind a visitor’s trip to the site. The survey collects data about travel preferences, habits, and goals without requiring personal information. This approach helps tailor future content and marketing efforts to the user’s needs and checks if the visitor found what they were looking for.

3. Samsung’s customer retention example

Samsung's customer retention example

Samsung’s pop-up survey aims to measure users' likelihood of recommending their website to others. Using a simple 1-10 rating scale, Samsung captures customer satisfaction and loyalty. Visitors are also invited to explain why they rated the site a certain way, which helps Samsung understand areas for improvement and customer retention strategies.

4. Neil Patel’s pop-up example

Neil Patel's pop-up example

The pop-up survey on Neil Patel’s website asks for a visitor’s URL in exchange for a personalized 7-week SEO plan. This approach not only gathers useful user data but also provides visitors with a tailored solution. It’s an effective way to convert website traffic into potential leads by offering something valuable in return.

5. Adidas feedback example

Adidas feedback example

Adidas collects feedback from visitors through a detailed pop-up survey about their shopping experience, product preferences, and thoughts on sustainability. The survey includes both ratings and open-ended questions, allowing Adidas to gather comprehensive data that helps improve the site and align with customer values.

How to create a pop-up survey

Creating a pop-up survey with forms.app is an easy way to gather feedback from your website visitors. With customizable pop-up forms, you can design surveys that match your brand. The whole process is fast and intuitive. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you get started.

1. Log in to forms.app

Open your forms.app account

You can just start by logging into your forms.app account. If you don't have one yet, signing up is fast, and you’ll be ready to create your survey in no time.

2. Choose your survey starting point

Open your forms.app account

After logging into forms.app, click on Create Form. You will have four options: Generate with AI for a quick form, Start from scratch to build your own, Select a template from pre-made designs, or Import a form from a file or URL. You can choose the best option for your needs.

💡 You will find some well-deserving feedback surveys if you want to walk with templates. Depending on your needs, you can pick one and jump to edit.

3. Add your survey questions

Add questions to your pop-up survey

Think about which kind of information you need from your website visitors. You can create pop-up survey questions based on specific goals, like measuring conversion rates or understanding user preferences. If unsure, simply ask about the visitor’s purpose on your site to gather valuable insights.

4. Customize your pop-up survey

Style your survey

Here’s where you can get creative! Use forms.app's customization options to match the survey with your brand. Adjust colors, fonts, and themes, and even add your logo to ensure the pop-up blends seamlessly with your website.

💡 You can also set up conditions and actions between questions to create a dynamic survey, making it more personalized and providing more accurate information. Click the Logic button to explore the options and tailor the survey flow based on your needs.

5. Embed the survey on your website

Customize the embed options

After creating your form, the last step is to embed it on your site. Embedding means adding the form directly to your website. You can choose options like Standard, Full-page, Chatbox layout, Side tab, Pop-up, or Slider. Each option lets you customize the form's size, placement, and appearance.

You can also personalize it even more. You can change the button text, colors, and alignment to make the form blend seamlessly into your site and catch visitors' attention at the right moment. Just select how you want it to appear, adjust the settings, and it will appear smoothly on your site without distracting users.

Key points to take away

This guide shows you how to create a pop-up survey, covering everything from the basics to more advanced tips. You’ve learned about timing, selecting the right survey templates, personalizing questions, and collecting valuable feedback. These strategies will help you design effective pop-up surveys that capture user insights and improve the experience on your website.

With forms.app, building pop-up surveys is not only quick but also fully customizable. Whether starting from scratch or using a template, you can easily create surveys that reflect your brand. Ready to gather meaningful feedback? Get started with forms.app and design your ideal pop-up survey in just a few clicks!