What is a good survey response rate?

The response rate is an important factor to consider when conducting a survey because it determines the representativeness and reliability of the data collected.
A high response rate increases the likelihood of obtaining a more accurate result. Therefore, it is important to strive for a high response rate when conducting a survey by using effective survey design and distribution methods, offering incentives, and ensuring that the survey is relevant and engaging for the target audience.

How to calculate Survey response rate?

The average survey response rate (or a survey completion rate) shows how successful you were in getting people to take your survey. It represents the number of people who completed the survey compared to the number who received it, expressed in percentage.
This is how to calculate survey response rate: Take the number of completed surveys and divide it by the total number of people you sent the survey to. Multiply this by 100 to get the questionnaire response rate expressed as a percentage.
For example, if you send your online survey to 2,000 email addresses and get 600 responses. Your average survey response rate is 30%.
The question that often arises is, what is a good and acceptable survey response rate? One that can guarantee accurate results.
In this blog post, we'll explore the answer to that question as well as the factors that impact survey response rates.

What is a Good survey response rate?

A typical survey response rate goes from 5 percent to 30 percent, while a response rate of 50 percent or higher is considered excellent. However, based on how you make and distribute your survey, you can expect the rate to fall anywhere between the high and the low end of this scale.
Despite the given rate above, it's important to understand that there is no magic number that represents a good survey response rate. The ideal response rate varies depending on the type of survey, the population being surveyed, and the purpose of the survey. Also, some surveys may have lower response rates due to the nature of the questions being asked or the population being surveyed. For example, surveys about sensitive topics such as sexual behavior or drug use may have lower response rates. Similarly, surveys of healthcare providers may have lower response rates due to their busy schedules and heavy workloads. To fully understand how we can influence repose rates to our favor, we need to know the factors that affect response rates.

Factors that affect survey response rates

Here are a few factors that determine the rate of response on your surveys
1. Length of the Survey:
Surveys that are too long may result in respondent fatigue, causing them to abandon the survey before completion. Keeping surveys short and to the point can help improve response rates.
2. Timing of the Survey:
Sending the survey at the right year, season, or even day can impact response rates. For example, sending a survey during the holidays or when people are on vacation may result in lower response rates.
3. Personalization:
If the survey questions are something the respondents can relate to or apply directly to them, respondents feel valued and more likely to participate in the survey which in turn increases the number of response a survey get.
4. Incentives:
Offering incentives such as gift cards or discounts can increase response rates by providing an added incentive for respondents to complete the survey.
5. Survey Design:
An easy-to-use and visually appealing survey design can help increase response rates. It's important to make sure that the survey is accessible and can be taken on a variety of devices to attract more respondents.

How can you improve your survey response rates?

1. Keep the survey short and to the point.
2. Time the survey so that it's not competing with other priorities for respondents.
3. Personalize the survey invitation.
4. Offer incentives.
5. Use a user-friendly and visually appealing survey design.

In conclusion, there is no single answer to the question of what is a good survey response rate. The ideal response rate varies depending on the type of survey, the population being surveyed, and the purpose of the survey. However, by keeping surveys short, timing them appropriately, personalizing them, offering incentives, and using a user-friendly survey design, you can improve your response rates and obtain the data you need to make informed decisions.