& What to Do About It
As a local government employee, you play a vital role in shaping your community. Whether you're working on a park project, developing new services, or managing community facilities, your goal is to create a better place to live. Yet, one of the biggest challenges you may face is getting residents engaged in the process. Despite your best intentions, many residents may not be aware of your work or interested enough to take part in a survey.
To overcome this challenge be deliberate about the design, promotion, timing, and content of your surveys. Keep reading for some tips on making your survey topics engaging for residents.
Survey Name & Description:
The name of your survey is the first thing that residents will see, and it can impact their decision to participate. Choose a name that is clear, memorable, and reflects the purpose of the survey.
When inviting residents to join, be clear about the purpose of the survey, how long it will be, and how their input will be used. We want residents to view participation as a fun and valuable experience!
Survey Design:
A well-designed survey is easy to understand and complete. When designing your survey, keep the following in mind:
Use simple, clear language that is easy for residents to understand
Break the survey into short, manageable sections
Provide clear instructions for each question
Use visuals, such as images, graphs, or charts, to illustrate complex information
Order questions in a way that flows well and encourages residents to keep going. For example, easy-to-answer questions should go at the beginning. More personal, demographic questions should go at the end.
Survey Promotion:
To get residents to take your survey, you need to channel your inner marketing-guru and promote it effectively. For starters, this can include:
Sending out regular reminders through your website, social media, and email.
Hosting community events and inviting residents to participate in the survey.
Providing incentives for completing the survey, like a gift card.
Survey Timing:
Timing is critical when it comes to getting residents to participate in your survey. Consider the following:
Schedule the survey for a time when residents are likely to participate.
Be aware of when other departments are conducting surveys, so you don’t overwhelm residents by asking for too much at once.
Schedule email reminders to send to residents who either haven’t started or decided to “save and continue”.
Key Take-Aways:
Making your survey enjoyable for residents requires careful planning and attention to detail. Consider the survey design, description, name, promotion, and timing to create surveys that are engaging and effective in capturing the perspectives of residents.
At the end of the day, your desk isn’t getting any bigger. If this seems like a lot to handle, our team of experts at The W Group are here to help! By working together, we can create stronger, more connected communities that reflect the needs and priorities of the people who live there.