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Last Updated: Wed, Apr 19, 2023

7 Steps to Creating an Effective Automated Phone Survey

We've created a step-by-step process on how to perform an effective automated phone survey. Get started today!

What is an automated telephone survey?

Automated phone surveys are a great way to gather information quickly and efficiently. They're also a great tool for market research, customer satisfaction surveys, and other types of surveys that require a large number of responses. Below are several tips that will help you get the most responses possible using automated voice broadcasting.

1. The Voice

The voice used can make a difference positively or negatively. It's important to use a professional-sounding voice that speaks clearly. Alternatively, Sigma Voice offers a free text-to-speech voice that can be used as an alternative.

2. Calling Times

There's not a perfect time of day to do a survey. Usually, our customers, send out the campaign between 6pm to 8pm local time. In the event, the expected number of respondents was not reached, another campaign can be sent the next day at a different time of day.

3. An Inbound Option

In some cases, an outbound-only automated survey in not enough. That's when it's important to offer an inbound phone number to your constituents. The phone number can be a local phone number or a toll-free phone number. Either way, they'll be able to call back and take the survey and you'll get the results. 

Having an inbound option can greatly increase the number of respondents because an outbound calling campaign is limited to the people who answer their phones. Obviously, the calls that go to answering machines or voicemail can't answer survey questions.

4. Survey Introduction

A good automated phone survey script should explain why the respondent was selected for the survey and provide them with a clear understanding of what will happen next. It's also helpful to give respondents some idea of how much time they'll need to complete the survey.

5. Questions & Answers

After the introductory greeting, it's time to get into the questions and the answer choices. The question should be stated clearly along with the possible answer choices. Below is a simple example.

"Question 1. What's your favorite color? Press 1 for red. Press 2 for green. Press blue."

The next question can start with "Thanks. Ok, on to question 2..."

6. Advanced Branching

In many cases, a linear-based survey is what's needed. One question is asked and then the next question and then the next for all respondents.

An advanced survey is different in that a response to a question can lead to a different follow-up question. 

Back to the colors example, let's say the respondent, presses 3 for blue.

Their next question could be something like this. 

"Great! Thanks. What shade of blue do you like the most? Press 1 for navy blue. Press 2 for midnight blue. Press 3 for royal blue."

7. Reporting

During and after the survey, easy-to-read charts are available as well as a detailed spreadsheet. The best part of an automated phone survey is the results are almost immediate and are a fraction of the cost of a live survey.

Using the reports, you'll know where you stand and you can segment the appropriate groups for follow-up campaigns.

Sigma Voice Poll is an easy-to-use automated telephone survey application that can be used for inbound and/or outbound calling campaigns.

AUTOMATED PHONE SURVEYS FAQ

Some frequently asked questions.

Follow these simple steps below. Sigma Voice support is also available to answer any questions.

  1. Create your survey recordings. The necessary recordings are the 'greeting', the 'questions with the answer choices' and finally the 'bye' recording.
  2. Enter your organization's phone number as the Caller ID.
  3. Upload the phone list(s) of your contacts. Duplicate phone numbers will be automatically removed as well as any phone numbers in your call block list.
  4. Make test calls. It's important to make test calls to ensure everything is set up the way you want.
  5. Schedule your outbound survey to start right away or schedule it for a future date and time.
  6. Review the results. The reports are in real-time and are very easy to interpret. You'll see how many respondents there are as well as which answers were the most popular and much more.

There are many benefits to an automated phone survey.

Response rates. Telephone surveys can generate a 25% to 50% response rate.

Accessibility. Over 90% of people in the US and Canada 1 or more phones.

Cost. Automated surveys are much cheaper than live callers.

Speed. An automated outbound phone survey of 1,000 phone numbers can be completed within 1 hour.

Telephone surveys are much less expensive than using live agents to call phone numbers 1 at a time. However, email surveys are even cheaper but the open rates on email campaigns are very low. Email open rates are around 25%.

There are several ways. Here are 3 tips that can help. First, be upfront and tell the person how many questions there are and/or how many minutes the survey will take. Second, say 'thank you' after receiving each response. Third, use a professional voice for the recordings.

We're Seeing Stars

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Mark Hamilton

Nonprofit Organization

Sigma Voice exceeded our expectations for our call out needs. When we needed changes made they were happy to do so and performed changes in a timely manner. I highly recommend Sigma Voice.

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Pedro Hernandez

Medical Offices

This service is fantastic. Setting up automated calls is super easy and affordable. I highly recommend it.

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Emma Otto

Retail Store

We have used SigmaVoice for our business for a few years now, and it has been a very good experience. The website is simple, straightforward, and easy to navigate. Customer service is excellent; professional and prompt.

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Haith Johnson

Retail Store

Absolutely LOVE THIS SERVICE!!! I recommend using Sigma Voice for any growing business!! We have got great responds & is a good way to stay in touch with your customers base! Helps us to turn customers to Loyal Customers to VIP Customers!!!

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Ken Doke

Nonprofit Organization

I have been using Sigma Voice for a few years now on a number of campaigns. They have always been reliable and competitive. Their customer service is phenomenal. I highly recommend.

Kristin Taylor profile picture Verified Customer

Kristin Taylor

Senior Living

Sigma Voice was so easy to set up. I needed to get an immediate message out to my 60+ family members. It’s affordable, the reports are amazing, and the customer service is beyond what I expected on a Sunday afternoon. Highly recommended!

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