Surveys are a valuable tool for gathering feedback and insights from various stakeholders, whether it’s customers, employees, or other groups. However, getting people to take the time to complete a survey can be a challenge, especially when there are so many competing demands for their attention. One way to increase participation rates and ensure accurate results is by offering research incentives.

Survey incentives come in many forms, from monetary rewards and gift cards to free products or services.

Craft a strong value proposition that speaks to the specific motivations of the audience you are surveying. Whether you’re looking to improve customer satisfaction, gather employee feedback, or gain insights from a particular demographic, a compelling value proposition can help you stand out from the competition and convince people to take your survey.

Why should you use survey incentives?

As a business owner, you want to ensure that you’re getting the most accurate and insightful feedback possible. Survey incentives can help you achieve this goal by increasing response rates and improving data quality. Incentives provide an added motivation for people to take the time to complete your survey, which can be especially important if your survey is lengthy or covers sensitive topics.

There are several reasons why survey incentives should be used. Let us explain:

1. Increase response rates: Offering an incentive is a proven way to increase response rates. People are more inclined to take the time to complete the survey when they can see that there is something in it for them. This implies that you’ll receive more information, which may help in your ability to draw trustworthy and accurate conclusions.
2. Improve data quality: People are more likely to give meaningful and honest comments when given the incentive to complete a survey. As a result, you will receive data of higher quality, which will enable you to make better decisions and enhance the quality of your products and services.
3. Enhance the survey experience: Giving participants an incentive shows your gratitude for their time and effort and offers them a cause to feel good about participating in the survey. This could improve the survey experience overall and give respondents a positive impression of your business.
4. Differentiate yourself from the competition: Offering an incentive can help you stand out from the competition in today’s market. It demonstrates your appreciation for client feedback and your dedication to giving them the greatest experience possible.
5. Increase customer loyalty: Offering an incentive can help increase customer loyalty by showing your customers that you appreciate their feedback and are committed to meeting their needs. This can strengthen your relationships with clients and raise their level of satisfaction with your business as a whole.

Overall, survey incentives should be used because they help improve response rates, data quality, and the overall survey experience. They also show your appreciation for your participants, help differentiate you from the competition, and can increase customer loyalty. By using incentives effectively, you can ensure that you get the best possible results from your surveys and make more informed decisions for your organization. Consumer incentives are equally important since they are designed to encourage and motivate people to take a particular action. Your business can attract new customers, retain existing ones, and even increase sales and revenue. If you are interested in increasing your revenue, check out our article on consumer incentives.

Join thousands of organizations using our rewards & incentives in research

When should you use incentives?

Incentives should be used when you want to achieve a higher response rate, obtain more accurate and meaningful data, and enhance the overall survey experience for participants. Additionally, if you want to differentiate yourself from competitors and increase customer loyalty, offering incentives is a great option. Incentives are particularly useful for longer surveys, sensitive topics, or if you are targeting a hard-to-reach audience. Essentially, if you want to maximize the value of your survey data and show appreciation for your participants, using incentives is a smart choice.

Here are some scenarios when survey incentives are particularly effective:

1. Low response rates: Offering an incentive can be a wonderful method to boost participation rates if you’ve tried conducting a survey in the past but had problems getting people to reply. In this case, the incentive should be prominently advertised as part of the survey invitation to encourage people to take part.
2. High-value surveys: If you’re conducting a survey that requires a significant time investment from the participant, such as a customer satisfaction survey or an employee engagement survey, offering an incentive can help show your appreciation for their time and effort. This may make it more likely that participants will offer meaningful, thorough responses.
3. Targeted audiences: Offering an incentive could help ensure that you get a representative sample if you’re surveying a certain audience, such as a particular demographic or set of clients. In this situation, the incentive needs to be customized to the preferences and motivations of the audience you are surveying.
4. Competitive landscape: If your industry is highly competitive, offering an incentive can help differentiate your organization from others and show that you value your customers’ opinions. This can help build brand loyalty and improve customer satisfaction.

Generally, survey incentives should be used strategically to help achieve your research goals and ensure the best possible results. By considering the audience, survey type, and competitive landscape, you can determine when offering an incentive is the most effective approach.

How should you use them?

When it comes to using study gift cards, there are a few best practices to keep in mind to ensure that you get the most out of your investment. Here are some tips on how to use survey incentives effectively:

1. Determine the appropriate incentive: Before deciding on an incentive, consider the audience you are surveying and what would motivate them to participate. For example, cash rewards may be more effective for a general population survey, while a discount on products or services may be more appealing for a customer satisfaction survey.
2. Advertise the incentive: Make sure the incentive is prominently advertised as part of the survey invitation to encourage participation. This can include mentioning the incentive in the subject line of the invitation email, on the survey landing page, and in any follow-up reminders.
3. Ensure transparency: Be upfront about the incentive and the conditions for receiving it. Make sure participants understand what they need to do to qualify for the incentive and when they can expect to receive it.
4. Offer a range of incentives: Offering a range of incentives can help appeal to different preferences and motivations. For example, offering a choice of several different gift cards can help ensure that participants are motivated by the specific reward they receive. online incentives offer the freedom of choice and are a recipient’s favorite!
5. Monitor and adjust: Monitor the response rates and data quality to determine if the incentive is having the desired effect. If the response rates are not meeting your goals, consider adjusting the incentive or the way it is advertised to better motivate participants.

Let’s get into some survey incentives examples.

Survey Incentives Ideas

Now you know why you should survey incentives, but you might be wondering how to incentivize survey respondents. Here are some survey incentive ideas to consider, ranging from cash rewards and discount codes to early access and charitable donations. By carefully selecting the right incentive for your audience and survey goals, you can increase participation, improve data quality, and ensure the best possible results from your survey.

1. Sweepstakes: Sweepstakes are a popular type of survey incentive that can help increase participation rates. Participants are entered into a drawing for a chance to win a prize, usually a gift card or cash reward. Sweepstakes can motivate participants who are interested in the chance to win a prize, even if their chances of winning are low. When using sweepstakes as an incentive, make sure to clearly communicate the rules and odds of winning to promote transparency and trust.
2. Monetary rewards: Offer a financial reward or prize draw for completing the survey. This is a popular incentive that can be effective for many types of surveys.
3. Discount codes or coupons: Offer participants a discount code or coupon for your products or services in exchange for completing the survey. This online incentive is cost-effective and is a great incentive idea to achieve customer satisfaction, especially if they enjoy your products and services.
4. Gift cards: Offer a gift card to a popular retailer or online store as a reward for completing the survey. This can be a great way to appeal to a broad range of participants. With Huuray, you can send gift cards to over 100 countries and choose from more than 5000 loved brands and merchants.
5. Loyalty points: Offer loyalty points or rewards for completing the survey, which can be redeemed for products or services in the future. If you want to learn more about loyalty and loyalty programs, check out our article.
6. Charitable donations: Offer to make a charitable donation on behalf of the participant for completing the survey. This can be a great incentive for socially conscious participants. Let your gift become a gift with our charity donations.

Here are some of the reasons why you should choose gift cards as your online incentives:

1. Wide appeal: Gift cards are a versatile incentive that can appeal to a broad range of participants. They can be used for a variety of products and services, from retail stores and restaurants to online retailers and streaming services. According to a survey conducted by Blackhawk Network, 81% of consumers say they have purchased or received a gift card in the past year, indicating their widespread appeal.
2. Convenience: Gift cards are easy to administer and distribute. They can be purchased in bulk and delivered electronically, which can save time and resources compared to other types of incentives. Participants can also easily redeem them online or in-store, which can improve the satisfaction and perception of the incentive.
3. Cost-effective: Compared to cash rewards or other types of incentives, gift cards can be a cost-effective option for many organizations. They can be purchased at a discount from retailers, which can help organizations save money while still providing an attractive incentive for participants.

How much is good data worth?

Good data is priceless. High-quality data can mean the difference between success and failure for organizations. Surveys are one of the most effective ways to collect data, but getting participants to complete surveys can be challenging. That’s where survey incentives come in.

Investing in survey incentives can be a game-changer for organizations. By offering the right incentive, organizations can motivate participants to provide thoughtful and honest feedback, resulting in higher-quality data that can be used to inform critical decisions. But how much is good data worth?

The answer is: it depends. The value of good data can vary widely depending on the organization, the industry, and the specific goals of the survey. However, one thing is certain: good data can be worth its weight in gold. A study by Yu et al., (2017) showed that monetary incentives are effective in improving survey response rates.

Consider the benefits of good data: it can help organizations make informed decisions, identify opportunities for growth and improvement, and gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. By investing in survey incentives, organizations can increase participation rates and improve the quality of data collected, leading to better outcomes and a greater return on investment.

But more doesn’t always mean better. Research done by Jamshid S Kalantar shows that response rates did not grow exponentially when the prize size was increased. Then you might be asking yourself, what is the ideal value to use on survey incentives?

What’s the best survey incentive value?

Well, Health Service found that:

A $5 incentive resulted in a higher response rate among a community patient sample with one mailing than did a $2 incentive. However, the response rates in the $2 condition approached the level of the $5 incentive, and costs were significantly lower when the full follow-up protocol was completed.

However, we believe that the ideal value for survey incentives depends on the length and complexity of the survey.

For short surveys, incentives in the range of $1 to $5 can be sufficient, while longer and more complex surveys may require incentives in the range of $10 to $20. It’s important to strike a balance between offering a valuable incentive and not overspending on incentives that may not be necessary.

At Huuray, we offer a variety of survey incentive options, including gift cards, vouchers, and charitable donations. Our gift cards can be customized to fit your organization’s unique needs and can be redeemed for a wide range of products and services. We believe that gift cards are the best option for survey incentives because they offer a tangible reward that participants can use and enjoy long after the survey is completed.

Get started with your survey today

Incentivize your staff, your customers, or business partners. We provide survey incentives and rewards, and you get valuable and insightful data from your respondents. We found this guide to creating a survey to help you get started.

Related: Top 15 Student Gift Card Ideas to Inspire and Motivate

FAQ