Create Your First Survey
Follow these six steps to go from an empty canvas to a live survey collecting responses.
Step-by-Step Guide
Log in or create an account
Visit surveyfill.com and sign in with your existing account, or click Get Started to create a new free account. No credit card is required. You will be taken to your dashboard once you are signed in.
Click "New Survey"
From the dashboard, click the New Survey button in the top-right corner. You can also start from a template if you prefer a head start. The survey editor opens with a blank canvas ready for your questions.
Add a title and description
Give your survey a clear, descriptive title so respondents understand the purpose. Add a short description that sets expectations about length, confidentiality, or incentives. Both fields appear at the top of the published survey.
Add questions using the question builder
Click Add Question to choose from multiple choice, text input, rating scale, dropdown, date, and more. Drag and drop to reorder. You can also click Generate with AI to have questions created automatically from a topic description.
Configure settings (theme, notifications)
Open the Settings panel to pick a theme, add your brand colors, and enable email notifications so you are alerted when new responses arrive. You can also set a response limit, schedule open and close dates, or add a custom thank-you message.
Click Publish and share your link
When everything looks good, click Publish. Your survey goes live instantly and you receive a unique shareable link. Send it via email, post it on social media, or embed the survey directly on your website with the provided embed code.
Pro Tips
- Keep surveys short. Aim for 5 to 10 questions to maximize completion rates. Respondents are more likely to finish a focused survey than a lengthy one.
- Use the Preview button before publishing. This lets you walk through the survey exactly as a respondent would, including skip logic and theming.
- Mix question types. Combine multiple choice for quick answers with open-ended text for deeper insights. Rating scales work well for satisfaction metrics.
- Test on mobile. Over half of respondents complete surveys on their phone. SurveyFill surveys are responsive by default, but always preview on a small screen.
Pick the Right Question Type
The question type shapes how people answer. Use the right type and you get cleaner data. Here is a quick guide.
Multiple choice (single)
Use when there is only one correct answer. Good for things like role, plan, or yes/no questions.
Multiple choice (multi-select)
Use when more than one option can apply. Good for "Which features do you use?" or "Which tools are in your stack?"
Rating scale
Use for satisfaction or agreement questions. The 1 to 5 scale is easy to read. The 1 to 10 scale gives more room for nuance.
NPS
A 0 to 10 scale that asks how likely they are to recommend you. The classic loyalty metric.
Open text
Use to gather words and ideas. Keep these short. One or two open questions per survey is enough.
Matrix grid
Use to rate many items on the same scale. Saves space, but can feel heavy on mobile.
Tips for Better Surveys
Keep it short
- Aim for 5 to 10 questions.
- People drop off after about 3 minutes.
- Cut any question that does not change a decision.
Write clear questions
- One idea per question. Avoid "and" or "or" in the same question.
- Use plain words. Skip jargon.
- Avoid leading words like "How great was..."
- Offer a "Not sure" option when it makes sense.
Test before you send
- Use the Preview button to walk through the survey.
- Send to 2 or 3 colleagues first.
- Check the survey on a phone.
- Make sure skip logic works as planned.
Boost response rates
- Tell people how long it will take.
- Explain how their answers will be used.
- Send a reminder 3 to 5 days after the first invite.
- Send invites on Tuesday or Wednesday morning. They get the highest open rates.
Common First-Survey Mistakes
Asking too many questions
Long surveys get less feedback, not more. Cut anything you would not act on.
Forgetting to publish
A draft survey returns an error to anyone who clicks the link. Always check the status badge says "Live".
Not setting an end date
An open survey can collect stale data for weeks. Set a close date so you know when to review results.
Skipping the test run
Typos and broken logic are easy to fix before you send. Hard to fix after.
Not following up
If you ask for feedback, share what you learned. People are more likely to fill in your next survey.
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Ready to create your survey?
Sign up for free and follow the steps above to have your first survey live in under 10 minutes.