Are you tired of spending hours sorting through survey data and trying to make sense of it all? Look no further, because this article will teach you how to create effective surveys in Smartsheet. With the rise in online surveys, it’s important to know how to create a well-designed and user-friendly survey that will give you valuable insights. Let’s get started!
What Is Smartsheet?
Smartsheet is a cloud-based platform that enables individuals and teams to effectively collaborate, manage projects, and organize data in a centralized manner. It offers a variety of features, including customizable templates, automated workflows, and real-time updates.
With Smartsheet, users have the ability to create and share surveys, track responses, and analyze data to gain valuable insights. The platform is user-friendly and accessible, making it suitable for individuals and organizations of all sizes. Smartsheet streamlines processes and fosters collaboration, ultimately enhancing productivity and facilitating efficient project management.
Overall, Smartsheet is a versatile tool that empowers users to effectively manage projects and data in a collaborative and organized manner.
In 2005, Brent Frei and Ben Connelly founded Smartsheet with the goal of revolutionizing project management and collaboration. Initially, the platform was a spreadsheet-like tool with additional features. Over the years, it has evolved into a robust project management platform with a wide range of capabilities. Today, Smartsheet is trusted by millions of users worldwide and continues to innovate and improve its offerings to meet the ever-changing needs of businesses and individuals. Its user-friendly interface, powerful features, and seamless integration capabilities have solidified its reputation as a top choice for project management and data organization.
Why Use Smartsheet for Surveys?
Are you looking for a user-friendly and efficient way to create surveys? Look no further than Smartsheet. In this section, we will discuss the advantages of using Smartsheet as your go-to platform for creating surveys. From its easy-to-use interface to its real-time collaboration capabilities and customizable templates, Smartsheet offers numerous benefits for anyone looking to conduct surveys with ease and efficiency. Let’s dive into the details of why Smartsheet is the perfect tool for your survey needs.
1. Easy to Use Interface
The user-friendly interface of Smartsheet makes creating surveys a breeze. Here are the steps to create a survey in Smartsheet:
- Create a new sheet: Start by opening a new sheet in Smartsheet.
- Add survey questions: Customize your survey by adding multiple choice, rating scale, text/comment box, checkbox, dropdown, and date questions.
- Customize survey settings: Set up your survey preferences, such as allowing multiple responses or requiring responses for specific questions.
- Share and collect responses: Share your survey with participants via email or a direct link, and collect their responses in real-time.
With its easy-to-use interface, Smartsheet simplifies the process of creating surveys and collecting data.
2. Real-time Collaboration
Real-time collaboration is a key feature of utilizing Smartsheet for surveys. To effectively use this feature, follow these steps:
- Create a new sheet in Smartsheet for your survey.
- Add survey questions, specifying the type of response needed.
- Customize survey settings, such as privacy options and access permissions.
- Share the survey with collaborators and participants, allowing them to provide real-time input.
To optimize your collaboration experience, consider these suggestions:
- Ensure clear communication with collaborators by utilizing comments and notifications.
- Assign tasks to team members to keep track of progress and deadlines.
- Regularly review and update the survey in real-time, incorporating feedback and making improvements.
3. Customizable Templates
Creating surveys in Smartsheet is made easier with its customizable templates, which allow users to save time and effort in designing surveys. Here are the steps to create a survey using customizable templates in Smartsheet:
- Choose a customizable template that best suits your survey needs.
- Open the template and customize it by adding your own survey questions.
- Personalize the survey settings, including the title, description, and response options.
- Share the survey with your desired respondents by sending them the survey link or inviting them via email.
- Collect responses in real-time as respondents fill out the survey.
By utilizing customizable templates, you can ensure that your survey is tailored to your specific requirements while still taking advantage of the ease and convenience offered by Smartsheet’s survey functionality.
How to Create a Survey in Smartsheet?
Are you looking for a simple and efficient way to gather data and feedback from your audience? Look no further than Smartsheet, a popular project management and collaboration tool. In this section, we will walk you through the steps of creating a survey in Smartsheet. From setting up a new sheet to sharing and collecting responses, we will cover everything you need to know to create a comprehensive and effective survey. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Create a New Sheet
To create a new sheet in Smartsheet, follow these steps:
- Log in to your Smartsheet account and navigate to the Sheets page.
- Click on the “+ New” button to create a new sheet.
- Choose a template or start with a blank sheet.
- Enter a name for your sheet and provide a brief description if needed.
- Customize the sheet settings, such as the sheet type, sharing permissions, and notifications.
- Click on the “Create” button to create your new sheet.
For the best results, consider organizing your sheet with clear column headers and formatting options. You can also explore Smartsheet’s features, such as formulas, conditional formatting, and attachments, to further enhance your sheet.
Step 2: Add Survey Questions
Step 2: Adding survey questions is a crucial part of creating a survey in Smartsheet.
- Begin by clicking on the “Add Column” button to create a new column for each question.
- Select the appropriate question type from the dropdown menu, such as multiple choice, rating scale, or text box.
- Input the question in the column header and include any necessary instructions or answer options.
- Customize the column properties, such as required response or data validation, by clicking on the column header and choosing “Column Properties”.
- Continue adding questions by repeating these steps until all necessary survey questions have been included.
To ensure effective surveys in Smartsheet, it is important to keep questions concise, use logic and skip logic to personalize surveys, test the survey before sending, and offer incentives for responses.
Step 3: Customize Survey Settings
When creating a survey in Smartsheet, the third step involves customizing the survey settings to tailor the survey experience. Here are the key aspects to consider:
- Survey Title: Give your survey a clear and descriptive title.
- Survey Description: Provide additional information or instructions to participants.
- Survey Theme: Customize the survey’s appearance with different themes and colors.
- Question Order: Choose whether to display questions in a fixed order or randomize them.
- Required Questions: Specify which questions must be answered before participants can submit the survey.
- Response Format: Determine the format for responses, such as text, numbers, or dates.
- Validation: Set up validation rules to ensure the accuracy and consistency of responses.
- Survey Deadline: Set a deadline for participants to complete the survey.
Step 4: Share and Collect Responses
To share and collect responses in Smartsheet, follow these steps:
- Create your survey by adding questions and customizing settings.
- Once your survey is ready, click on the “Share” button in the top right corner of the sheet.
- Choose how you want to share your survey, either by generating a link or inviting specific people via email.
- Set the appropriate permissions for respondents, such as allowing them to edit or only view the survey.
- Send out the survey link or email invitations to participants.
- As responses come in, Smartsheet will automatically collect and organize them in the sheet.
- You can track and manage responses in real-time, collaborating with team members if needed.
- Step 4: Share and Collect Responses
What Are the Different Types of Questions You Can Add?
When creating a survey in Smartsheet, it’s important to understand the various types of questions you can add to your form. Each type of question serves a different purpose and can provide valuable insights from your survey respondents. In this section, we’ll go over the different types of questions available in Smartsheet, including multiple choice, rating scale, text/comment box, checkbox, dropdown, and date. By the end, you’ll have a better understanding of which question types will work best for your specific survey goals.
1. Multiple Choice
Creating a multiple-choice question in Smartsheet is a simple process. Follow these steps to add a multiple-choice question to your survey:
- Open your survey sheet in Smartsheet.
- Select the cell where you want to add the multiple-choice question.
- In the toolbar, click on the “Data” tab and select “Dropdown”.
- Enter the answer options for the multiple-choice question, each option in a separate cell.
- Format the cells to have a dropdown list by selecting the cells, right-clicking, and choosing “Format Cells”.
- In the “Format Cells” dialog box, select the “Dropdown” option and click “OK”.
- Save your changes and share the survey with respondents.
Pro-tip: Make sure to provide clear and concise answer options for your multiple-choice questions to ensure accurate and meaningful responses.
2. Rating Scale
A popular type of question used in surveys conducted through Smartsheet is the rating scale. This allows individuals to rate a statement or item on a predefined scale, typically ranging from 1 to 5 or 1 to 10. The rating scale question is particularly useful for gathering subjective data, such as opinions, attitudes, and satisfaction levels.
In Smartsheet, you can easily incorporate a rating scale question by adding a column with the various rating options, from “Very dissatisfied” to “Very satisfied”. Analyzing the results of surveys that include rating scale questions can provide valuable insights into the overall sentiment and perceptions of the respondents.
When creating rating scale questions, it is important to use clear and concise statements and to use a balanced scale.
3. Text/Comment Box
To incorporate a text/comment box into a survey using Smartsheet, follow these steps:
- Open Smartsheet and create a new sheet for your survey.
- Click on the “Add Column” button and select the “Text/Comment Box” option.
- Label the column and adjust the settings, such as the maximum character limit.
- Save the column and continue adding other survey questions.
- Customize the survey settings, including the title, description, and response options.
- Share the survey with participants and start collecting their responses.
Pro-tip: When using a text/comment box, it is helpful to provide clear instructions to guide respondents on how to provide their input effectively.
4. Checkbox
When creating a survey in Smartsheet, using checkbox questions can provide respondents with multiple answer options. Here are the steps to add checkbox questions in Smartsheet:
- Open the survey sheet in Smartsheet and select the cell where you want to add the checkbox question.
- In the toolbar at the top, click on the “Question Type” dropdown and select “Checkbox”.
- Add the answer options for the checkbox question by typing them in separate cells in the same column.
- You can also specify if respondents can select multiple options or only one option from the checkbox question.
- Customize the appearance and formatting of the checkbox question using the options available.
- Repeat these steps to add more checkbox questions to your survey.
Remember to keep the checkbox questions clear and concise, and provide answer options that cover all possible choices. This will ensure accurate and meaningful responses to your survey.
5. Dropdown
Dropdown questions are a versatile option when creating surveys in Smartsheet. Here are the steps to add dropdown questions:
- Create a new sheet in Smartsheet.
- Click on the “Survey” tab and then select the “Dropdown” question type.
- Add the question and provide a list of answer options.
- Customize the question settings, such as making it a required field or allowing multiple selections.
- Share the survey and collect responses from participants.
To make your dropdown questions more effective, consider these suggestions:
- Keep the list of answer options concise and relevant.
- Use logic and skip logic to show or hide certain answer options based on previous responses.
- Test your survey before sending it out to ensure a seamless experience for participants.
- Consider offering incentives for responses to boost participation rates.
6. Date
To include a “Date” question in a survey using Smartsheet, follow these steps:
- Create a new sheet in Smartsheet and select the “Forms” tab.
- Add a new question and choose “Date” as the question type.
- Customize the question by providing clear instructions and any necessary details.
- Specify the desired format for the date input, such as MM/DD/YYYY or DD/MM/YYYY.
- Indicate whether the question is required or optional for respondents to answer.
- Save the question and continue adding other questions to your survey.
Fact: Adding a “Date” question to your survey can be beneficial for gathering time-sensitive information or tracking trends over time.
How to Analyze Survey Results in Smartsheet?
After creating a survey in Smartsheet, the next step is to analyze the results. Smartsheet provides various tools and features to help you make sense of your survey data. In this section, we will discuss three ways to analyze survey results in Smartsheet: using charts and graphs, filtering and sorting responses, and exporting data to Excel for further analysis. Each method offers unique advantages and can provide valuable insights into your survey data.
1. Use Charts and Graphs
Incorporating charts and graphs is a valuable method for analyzing survey results in Smartsheet. Follow these steps to effectively utilize them:
- Identify the key data points you wish to visualize.
- Select the appropriate type of chart or graph, such as bar, pie, or line chart.
- Choose the data range and apply filters or sorting options.
- Customize the appearance of the chart or graph, including colors, labels, and legends.
- Insert the chart or graph into your Smartsheet survey analysis or share it with stakeholders.
By utilizing charts and graphs, you can easily present survey insights and trends, making it easier for others to comprehend and interpret the data.
In 1804, William Playfair, a Scottish engineer, introduced the bar chart, line graph, and pie chart, revolutionizing data visualization and paving the way for their use in analyzing surveys and other forms of data.
2. Filter and Sort Responses
To filter and sort responses in Smartsheet, follow these steps:
- Open your survey sheet in Smartsheet.
- Click on the filter icon in the column header to open the filter options.
- Select the criteria you want to filter by, such as specific answers or date ranges.
- Apply the filter, and the sheet will display only the responses that meet the selected criteria.
- To sort responses, click on the sort icon in the column header and choose the sorting order.
Pro-tip: By utilizing the filtering and sorting features, you can easily analyze and organize survey data, making it simpler to identify patterns and key insights.
3. Export Data to Excel
To export survey data from Smartsheet to Excel, follow these steps:
- Click on the “File” tab in the Smartsheet toolbar.
- Select the “Export” option from the drop-down menu.
- Choose “Export to Excel” from the list of available export options.
- Smartsheet will generate an Excel file with all the survey data.
- Open the exported Excel file to access and analyze the survey data.
Some suggestions for exporting data to Excel in Smartsheet:
- Ensure that the survey data is organized and structured correctly in Smartsheet before exporting.
- Double-check the compatibility of the exported Excel file with your version of Excel.
- Consider using Excel’s data analysis features to further analyze and visualize the survey results.
- Regularly back up your Smartsheet data and exported Excel files to avoid any potential data loss.
What Are Some Tips for Creating Effective Surveys in Smartsheet?
Surveys are a valuable tool for gathering information and insights from a targeted audience. In Smartsheet, creating surveys is a seamless process that can yield valuable results. However, to ensure the best response rates and accurate data, it’s important to approach survey creation with some key tips in mind. In this section, we will discuss four tips for creating effective surveys in Smartsheet that will help you gather the information you need with ease.
1. Keep it Simple and Concise
Creating simple and concise surveys in Smartsheet is essential for obtaining accurate and meaningful responses. Follow these steps to achieve this goal:
- Start with a clear objective: Define the purpose of your survey to keep it focused and relevant.
- Limit the number of questions: Ask only the necessary questions to avoid overwhelming respondents and ensure higher completion rates.
- Use clear and concise language: Keep your questions and response options simple, using plain and easily understandable wording.
- Avoid jargon and technical terms: Use language that the target audience can easily comprehend.
- Organize questions logically: Group related questions together to make the survey flow smoothly and maintain coherence.
- Provide clear instructions: Clearly explain how respondents should answer each question to minimize confusion.
- Use consistent formatting: Maintain a consistent structure throughout the survey to create a professional and polished appearance.
- Keep the survey length reasonable: Respect respondents’ time by ensuring the survey can be completed within a reasonable timeframe.
2. Use Logic and Skip Logic
Using logic and skip logic in surveys can help streamline the survey process and enhance the respondent experience. Follow these steps to utilize logic and skip logic in Smartsheet surveys:
- Create your survey questions in Smartsheet.
- Identify specific conditions or criteria that will trigger skip logic.
- Use the “Skip” option to define which questions should be skipped based on the respondent’s previous answers.
- Set up logical rules that determine which questions should be shown or hidden based on certain responses.
Pro-tip: Thoroughly test your survey to ensure that the logic and skip logic are functioning correctly, providing a seamless survey experience for respondents.
3. Test Your Survey Before Sending
Before sending out your survey in Smartsheet, it’s crucial to thoroughly test it for accuracy and effectiveness. Here are the steps to follow:
- Review the survey questions and options to check for any errors or inconsistencies.
- Preview the survey to see how it will appear to respondents and make any necessary adjustments.
- Send a test survey to a small group of individuals who can provide feedback on the clarity and ease of understanding.
- Analyze the test responses to identify any issues or areas for improvement.
- Make any necessary revisions based on the feedback received.
- Repeat the testing process if further adjustments are made.
- Once you are confident in the survey’s accuracy and effectiveness, you can proceed to send it out to your target audience.
In 1999, the Mars Climate Orbiter spacecraft was lost due to a simple mistake during testing. Engineers failed to convert metric to imperial units, causing a fatal navigation error. This serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough testing before launching any project.
4. Offer Incentives for Responses
Offering incentives for responses can greatly increase both the participation rate and quality of survey responses. If you are considering implementing incentives, here are some steps to keep in mind:
- Identify the type of incentive that will appeal to your target audience, such as gift cards, discounts, or exclusive content.
- Determine the criteria for receiving the incentive, such as completing the entire survey or providing detailed responses.
- At the beginning of the survey, promote the incentive to motivate participants to engage.
- Clearly communicate how and when the incentive will be provided.
- To ensure a fair and timely process, track and manage the distribution of incentives.