In order to maximize the results from your customer service survey, it is important to not overload the questionnaire. There are two main reasons for this: first, if you make the survey too complicated, customers will not answer it and second, if the survey is too complicated, making use of the data will be nearly impossible. Response data must be concise in order to analyze it. Try these tips to keep your survey simple.Limit the QuestionsKeeping the survey short increases the odds that a customer will be willing to actually take the time to answer the questions. If the customer sees that there are 15 questions, they most likely will not answer it. The maximum amount of questions should really be 10, though ideally surveys should only ask three to five questions, not including Demographics, such as age or location. Prioritize what is most important information for the business to gather and leave off the extras. Limit the AnswersIf you are using a sliding scale approach, otherwise known as the Likert-Scale, limit the scale to 1-7 or 1-5. Once a scale reaches higher than seven, the differences between numbers becomes too variable. Maintaining a small scale also helps with data analysis, offering more concrete results. Keep the Wording SimpleNo one wants to see a question on a survey that is either hard to understand or is too ambiguous. Phrase questions in a simple and direct manner. For example, ask "How satisfied were you with the service you received?" instead of "Overall, in considering your experience today with our customer service representative, how would you rate your satisfaction with the service you received?" Limit the Type of ResponseInstead of offering customers the option to fill in text boxes, stick with multiple choice, Likert-scales or yes/no question answers. One text box option is appropriate, though it is best to add a text box after you have already received either a yes or no or a Likert-scale response. Not everyone will answer open-ended questions because they take much more effort than a "pick an option" style answer. For example, ask the customer how likely they are to return, offering them a 1-5 scale. Then ask "why?" and give them space to answer. This way you get a sliding scale response even if they do not write in the text box. Remember, when creating a survey, it is important to keep your customer in mind. After you create your survey, ask yourself if you would want to fill it out. Ask your employees the same. Chances are, if you would not answer it and neither would your employees, your customers will not either.