Using an online survey tool is an easy and inexpensive way to gather feedback about your business or program. Rather than trying to read the minds of your customers, a survey allows them to share their opinion with your directly, which you can use to better your business. Here are some tips for getting the most out of online surveys and a few perks of using them.Know What You Want to Find OutBefore you make and post your online survey, figure out what you hope to achieve by using a survey. If you want to hear feedback specifically about the business' customer service, the questions should allow the customer to rate your service and share their experience or opinion. Tailoring your survey in this way will give you the most direct and clear feedback. Keep It ShortShorter surveys are not only more direct, but they're also more likely to get completed. At the beginning of the survey, let the participant know how the the survey should take them, what it's about and how you plan on using their feedback. Keep your survey limited to one topic with around five or six questions, and keep the wording short and simple. Use Multiple Question FormatsThere are several types of questions you can choose from when creating a survey, including multiple-choice, rating-scale or open-ended questions. Try to include a few different types of question formats in your survey. For example, if your survey is about customer service satisfaction, have the customer rate their experience on a rating scale and then use an open-ended question so they can tell you about the experience. Where to Distribute the SurveyHow you distribute the survey is just as important as what it asks. The most effective way to distribute a survey is directly after interaction with your business. For example, if the customer just bought an item on your website, link them to the survey right after the transaction. They'll be more likely to take it, and any feedback will still be on their mind. You can also email your survey or post a link on your website; however, posting the survey on your website may be less effective because anyone, even those who aren't existing customers, can take it. Act On the FeedbackWhat's the point of creating a survey if you don't use the feedback to help your business become better? If you listen to your customers carefully and use their feedback to implement changes within your business, your business will grow and the customers enjoy excellent service. As you decide to implement changes, post an update or send an email to let customers know their feedback truly matters.