Survey Installations vs Digital Surveys: What’s the Difference?
Surveys have come a long way over the years. In fact, the first recorded survey took place in England over 200 years ago and was only used to count the number of occupants in the area. Fast forward to today, surveys are used for everything from consumer feedback, census data, to evaluating an audience’s favorite ice cream.
The way surveys are carried out has also changed dramatically. Two increasingly popular survey formats today are survey installations and digital surveys. Let’s take a look at the benefits of each, how they can be used in a real-world solution, and which best fits your needs.
What is a survey installation?
Picture this: you’re at a community event and there is a vibrant booth near the entrance with a “Share Your Thoughts” sign displayed on the side. That’s a survey installation. These physical setups are used as both long-term and short-term survey solutions to capture feedback at a variety of events and locations. In fact, we covered 9 locations that are ideal for public survey installations!
What is a digital survey?
Digital surveys are just that - surveys you take digitally. You’ve likely seen them in the form of emailed surveys requesting feedback on an experience or product, but market research companies also use them to poll a large group of people for specific data. These surveys are distributed online, allowing respondents to participate at their convenience.
Pros and cons of digital surveys
There are plenty of advantages to using digital surveys. A few include:
Easy to distribute
Scalability.
Customization to fit design needs or specific branding
Low cost
Accessibility
Convenience
Despite the benefits of digital surveys, they do come with a few drawbacks. For instance, not everyone is online or tech-savvy.. This means you could be missing a huge swath of people and demographics that you won’t have data on or feedback. Additionally, with the influx in digital communications today, it’s easy for surveys to disappear in a crowded inbox. It’s also easier for survey fraud with fake respondents leading to corrupted data.
Pros and cons of survey installation
Survey installations take the survey experience into the real world. One of the biggest advantages of these installations is that they meet your target audience exactly where they are - whether that’s in the park, a gift shop, or conference. It enables people to provide feedback in the moment when it’s fresh in their minds.
Additionally, if you are looking for public feedback on a community project, a survey installation can capture feedback from a wide range of individuals and different backgrounds. If your goal is long-term feedback, you can leave an installation setup for as long as you like.
The drawback of a survey installation is that it can only be in one location at a time, so placing it strategically is important. Additionally, the survey needs to also be visually appealing to attract the attention of passersby.
Which survey solutions best fits your needs?
It’s decision time! Which are you going to choose, the digital survey or the installation? At the end of the day, it just depends on what you’re looking for.
If it’s customization and scalability - digital surveys are an excellent option. If you want to capture feedback from your target audience exactly where they are and create a fun and unique experience for visitors - then a survey installation is your ticket.
Fortunately, Tallymade can help you with both!
Blending the best of both worlds with Tallymade
With Tallymade, you can create digital surveys that are fun and engaging for your online-savvy crowd and designed to match your brand or campaign theme. If you are in the mood for an installation at an event or other public area, Tallymade can design a survey installation that fits your design and needs.
So, whether you're all about the digital vibes or you love the energy of in-person connections, Tallymade lets you strike the perfect balance. Are you ready to explore the possibilities? Get ready to embark on a survey journey that bridges the digital and physical realms.