Phone Surveys vs. Online Surveys

Surveys are a crucial tool in the research process. They are one of the only ways to get actionable data, and the only way to ask targeted questions to customers, potential customers, and the market at large. There is also more than one way to run a survey.

Phone surveys used to be the most popular, but now that the Internet has essentially taken over the way businesses operate, more and more companies rely on online surveys to get the data they need. So which is better? Below, we compare the two survey options: phone surveys, and online surveys.

Clarification: The greatest benefit to phone surveys is that someone is on the other end of the line to explain or clarify. If the person taking the survey isn’t certain about the question being asked, they’ll be able to ask someone easily and then provide their feedback. Push to Completion: Once someone starts a phone survey, they rarely stop.

That can be beneficial for reducing the dropout rate of surveys, which is a common problem – especially with longer or more personal surveys. Control: When you use a phone survey, you have some degree of control. You know exactly who is being called, when, whether or not they’re going to complete the survey, and more.

You can “launch” online surveys, but whether the person completes it is up to them.

Cost: Phone surveys are very expensive to operate, because you have to pay at least one person to ask questions. While online surveys can run on their own through online survey software, phone surveys always need a human being at the other end to ask questions to respondents. Biases: Numerous studies have shown that when a respondent talks to a person, they may not be as honest, or their opinions may be biased by the tone of the surveyor.

That can negate some of the value that these surveys are supposed to have. Length of Time: Phone surveys tend to take longer than online surveys because the participant cannot take shortcuts as easily. With an online survey, the participant can move at their own pace, and read faster and more clearly than most interviewers can do.

There is also the issue of response rate and sample, as nowadays people have become harder to reach by phone and less willing to perform phone surveys. In the next article, we’ll compare online surveys to phone surveys to see the difference for business owners.