14 Survey Email Templates for Better Response Rates [2024]

You send out a survey to recent buyers to collect information about their experience with your brand. You wait for a few days, check out how the email performed, and start getting disappointed. Open and click-through rates are low, and survey responses are limited.

This is a rather common scenario for marketers who conduct regular surveys to refine their products and services. Considering how packed customers’ schedules are, it’s hard to convince them to spare a few minutes to fill out a survey that, at first glance, won’t bring much value to them.

But the good news is that with the right copy and email practices, you can flip the story. And to make it even better, we did some of the work on your behalf. Find 14 premade survey email templates and customize them based on your needs. Plus, learn how to create a successful survey email to boost your metrics.

The Anatomy of an Email Survey

Let’s start with the must-have elements of a successful email survey:

• Subject line: The email subject line should grab your subscribers’ attention and reflect the email content.
• Email body: It should include the purpose of the email, the benefits of completing the survey and a hint on how long it will take.
• Survey link: Share the link or add the embedded code at a place that’s easy to spot. Plus, make sure that the environment they land in (e.g., Google forms) doesn’t look spammy.
• Call-to-action: It’s usually the survey link in the form of a CTA button. Some businesses share extra promotional activities they’d like to highlight.
• Visuals: Add a relevant image or GIF to make your email interactive and engaging.
• Logo/Company name: Put a name on the survey by adding your logo and an email sign-off with the sender’s name.

14 Survey Email Templates for Different Purposes with Examples

Copy this document and customize one of the templates below based on your needs. You’ll also find some survey email examples from notable brands to get inspired:

1. Customer satisfaction survey email template

Want to know what customers think of your brand and how happy they are with it? Share a brief survey to collect customer feedback and unveil potential blockers to face them as soon as possible.

Tailor this template as you wish:

Subject line: [Recipient’s name], we want to make you happy!

Dear [Recipient’s name],

Thanks for the trust you’ve shown with your recent purchases. As a company, we are committed to providing top experiences to our customers, and we’d love to receive your sincere feedback.

Our survey is completely anonymous, so feel free to express as much as you like–it’s a safe space.

And worry not, it will take less than 1 minute! All you need is to click on the link below:

[CTA button with link]

Kind regards,

[Your name] from [Your Company]

Campaign Example

Here’s an amazing example by Lonely Planet:

Subject line: Help Lonely Planet map our next chapter 🗺️

Why it works:

• The subject line makes the reader feel they’re chosen to be a part of a unique project.
• The copy is inviting, emphasizing how valuable customers’ feedback is.
• The CTA button is written in actionable language.

Want to build a similar survey? Choose one of Moosend’s premade templates, tweak the copy and images, and send it out. You can personalize them as much as you like with our user-friendly features.

Try Moosend

2. Net promoter score (NPS) email template

Word-of mouth is at the core of a successful marketing strategy. Learn how likely customers are to refer you to family and friends and understand how satisfied customers are with your brand in general.

In this case, it will be better to embed the survey in the form of a rating scale inside your email campaign, if possible.

Check out this template:

Subject line: [Recipient’s name], just a quick favor!

Hi [Recipient’s name],

We’re happy you opened this email because we’d love to have your feedback.

So, here’s a simple question for you: On a scale from 1 to 10, how likely are you to recommend us to someone you like? Just check your honest answer below!

[Insert rating scale]

Thank you for taking that time—it means the world!

Warm regards,

[Your name] from [Company name]

3. Customer survey email with incentive template

Many businesses share incentives with their target audiences, such as gift cards and vouchers to boost their survey response rates. This is a great tactic, especially if the survey is longer than five minutes and demands more energy and time to complete.

Here is a relevant email survey template:

Subject line: Get rewarded by taking part in our survey

Dear [Recipient’s name],

Thank you for being a valuable member of our community. We knew we could count on you!

We’d really value your feedback on the new service we launched–[name of service]. Complete this survey and enter the draw to win a $100 [e.g., Amazon] gift card. The survey lasts approximately 7 minutes.

Ready? Click on the link below, and fill in the questionnaire to enter the draw:

[CTA button]

Looking forward to learning what you think and gaining more actionable insights.

Kind regards,

[Your name] from [Company name]

4. Customer feedback survey email template

Do you want to gather feedback about a product, service, or a certain process? Send a quick survey email to find out. For instance, request information from loyal customers before launching a new service to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Here’s a customer feedback template aiming to collect data on a beta service before launching it for good:

Subject line: [Recipient’s name], what do think about [Product name]?

Hey [Recipient’s name],

We hope you’re doing great! We saw you’ve already tried our new product [Add name], and we’d love your feedback to make it even better.

This survey will only take a few minutes of your time. Just click on the link below and answer our quick questions:

[Add link]

Thanks in advance!

Kind regards,

[Your name] from [Company name]

Campaign Example

Check out this example by Netflix:

Subject line: Netflix Values Your Opinion

Source

Why it works:

• They’ve personalized the email greeting to add a personal touch.
• The email copy is short and to the point.
• The email sign off creates a warm, friendly tone.

5. Onboarding feedback email template

Onboarding is crucial for customer success. It helps customers gather all information needed to head off to a great start. As part of your onboarding email sequences, send a brief survey to new customers to spot potential hazards.

Here’s an onboarding survey email template:

Subject line: [Recipient’s name], how did it go?

Hi [Recipient’s name],

You’re now all set up with our service—well done! We’d like to know how the onboarding was to help new members like you make the most of it.

Here’s a quick survey to fill out:

[Insert link]

Kind regards,

[Your name] from [Company name]

Campaign Example

Bellroy created this survey as part of an onboarding sequence:

Subject line: Day 30. What’s happened so far?

Why it works:

• They created a quick survey in the form of an NPS score to gain more time.
• They embedded their survey in the email.
• They added a star rating image to hint readers on what they should do next.

6. Post-event survey email template

Did you recently host an event or webinar and want to know the participants’ thoughts? Send them a quick survey with questions about the event, from the subscription process to the topics covered. This way, you show them that their opinion matters, and you gather important data for future events.

Send it within one day to get as many responses as possible. Here’s a relevant survey email template:

Subject line: [Recipient’s name], thanks for joining [Event name]!

Hi [Recipient’s name],

Thank you for joining our event [Add name] on [Date]. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did, and we look forward to seeing you again in the future.

Can you please share your experience in this quick survey to help us improve our next gigs? It will take only a few minutes.

[CTA button]

Thank you again! It was a blast!

Kind regards,

[Your name] from [Company name]

7. Follow-up survey email template

Convincing your recipients to answer your survey can be challenging. That’s why you usually need to set up a follow-up reminder email to increase your response rates. Mention why it’s important to collect the required information and the benefits they’ll reap if they spare a few minutes.

Plus, consider sharing an incentive to make it more enticing if your budget allows it. You can also add words such as “last call” in the email subject line to create a sense of urgency.

Check out this template:

Subject line: Ding dong—last call for an amazing reward!

Hi [Recipient’s name],

Did you get the chance to complete our quick survey and get in line to get an amazing discount for your next purchase? If not, this is your last chance to do so.

Complete the survey by [Date and time] and get rewarded for sharing your feedback!

You can find the link below:

[CTA button]

Kind regards,

[Your name]

Campaign Example

Here’s a great example by Anthropologie:

Subject line: Just a friendly reminder to complete our survey.

Why it works:

• The email subject line reflects the purpose of the campaign.
• The head title “We’re listening” creates an empathetic tone.
• They offered 20% off the next purchase to incentivize respondents.

8. Research survey invitation email template

Some businesses run original research to gain insights on industry and market trends and improve products and services based on new data. They usually develop dedicated content marketing resources that enhance brand awareness.

You can also run similar surveys internally to improve employee experience. Here’s a template to customize:

Subject line: Let’s discover something new together!

Dear [Recipient’s name],

Want to help us stay ahead of the curve? We’re conducting research on [Topic] and we need your valuable input. The results will help us spot what’s ahead of us and unveil market blind spots to build better [products/services].

The survey lasts approximately [X] minutes and respondents will enter the draw to win a [Brand name] gift card of $100.

Click on the link below and make us wiser:

[Add link]

Thank you for taking that time!

Kind regards,

[Your name]

9. Research survey email with results template

If you conducted research recently as part of your content marketing strategy, share the results with the audience to be transparent. The best way is to send a thorough report and highlight some of the key findings inside the email.

Here’s a template to help you out:

Subject line: The [Research name] results are ready!

Dear [Recipient’s name]

One month ago, we asked for your input on [Topic], and you kindly enlightened us. Here are the key findings of our research:

• [Result 1]
• [Result 2]
• [Result 3]

You can find all the insights in our comprehensive report below:

[Add link]

Thanks once again for participating—it means the world!

Warm regards,

[Your name]

Campaign Example

Revolution Tea found a quick way to portray their NPS score to respondents after running a relevant survey:

Subject line: Thanks for helping us

Why it works:

• They offered a 10% discount to thank customers for participating.
• They added testimonials of satisfied customers for social proof.
• They expressed their gratitude through the subject line.

10. Loyalty survey email template

Loyal and consistent customers mean the world to businesses, and they should do their best to keep them on board. Learn what makes them happy and what you need to improve in time to avoid losing them. You can use email list segmentation to send tailored surveys to those customers, and even share a few premium incentives to show them your gratitude.

Tailor this template based on your needs:

Subject line: [Recipient’s name], we value your opinion!

Dear [Recipient’s name],

We’re so thankful to have you as part of our community. We wouldn’t have done it without you!

Help us understand what we’re doing right and what we need to work on to keep you on board.

All you need is to take this quick survey to ensure that your experience with our brand stays stellar. By completing our questionnaire, you’ll earn [X] loyalty points.

[Add link]

Thank you for your time!

Kind regards,

[Your name]

Campaign Example

Here’s an example by Ritual:

Subject line: A couple of questions for you…

Why it works:

• The copy is short and straightforward.
• The CTA button stands out from the rest of the text.
• They added a clever email sign-off that creates a personal tone.

11. Churn customers survey email template

You’ll inevitably lose customers down the line. However, it’s good to know what caused that shift to ensure that you don’t repel customers for minor mistakes. Find inactive or churn customers and share a quick survey with them, showing them that you’re committed to improving as a brand.

Check out this sample to get inspired:

Subject line: A goodbye before you go…

Dear [Recipient’s name],

We saw that you didn’t renew your [Brand name] subscription. We’re sad to see you go but hope it’s for your best.

Before we wave you goodbye, here’s a brief survey that’ll help us grasp why you moved on and build a better brand. It lasts less than two minutes.

Here’ the link:

[Add button]

Thank you for your time and wishing you all the best. And if you change your mind, you know where to find us!

Warm regards,

[Your name]

12. Built-in email questionnaire template

Some businesses choose a simpler way to display their surveys via attaching them on the email. Give them some options and track their responses using UTM parameters or similar techniques. Even though HTML emails look fancier at first sight, these surveys perform well as they allow readers to respond on the spot.

Here’s a sample for you:

Subject line: Your opinion matters

Dear [Recipient’s name],

We’re always hunting for new ways to perfect our [products/services]. We can’t trust anyone more than our customers for feedback to keep building products that make a difference.

Just check the answers closer to your heart below:

[Question 1 – rating scale]

[Question 2 – multiple choice]

That’s all folks! Thank you for sharing your valuable feedback.

Kind regards,

[Your name]

13. Customer support survey email template

How can you ensure that customers and prospects who connect with the support team receive a hazard-free user experience? Send a quick survey and learn how satisfied they are to gather important data that will help you create a powerful support engine.

You can either include a simple rating scale or ask a few questions concerning response times, available resources, etc.

Check out this template:

Subject line: How was your experience with [Brand name]?

Dear [Recipient’s name],

You recently contacted our support team at [Brand name]. We’d love to know more about your experience to see how we can improve in the future.

Just click on the link below and complete a high-speed survey:

[Add link]

And of course, be as honest as possible–no hard feelings attached.

Thank you in advance!

Kind regards,

[Your name]

Campaign Example

Here’s how Dropbox did it:

Subject line: Dropbox Support: tell us how we did

Why it works:

• They embedded the rating scale inside the email to save time.
• The subject line reflects the goal of the email campaign.
• They created a personalized email greeting to make the reader feel unique.

14. Trial satisfaction survey email template

Finally, if you have a subscription-based model and offer a free trial to prospects, it’s essential to request related feedback. Your trial plays a key role in customer acquisition and needs to run smoothly. So, share a survey with your trial users to see how satisfied they were through the entire process and what was possibly missing.

Here’s a template:

Subject line: Oh my, what a trial!

Dear [Recipient’s name],

We’re so happy that you requested a [Brand name] trial. We hope you’ve found value in our [product/service], and you’ve started to reap some benefits already.

We want to make our trial as spot-on as possible, and you can help with this by sparing one minute of your time.

You’ll find our survey link below:

[Add link]

Thank you for taking that time.

Warm regards,

[Your name]

5 Best Practices for Creating Effective Survey Emails

Here are some quick tips to elevate your survey email marketing strategy and boost your response rates:

1. Master your subject line

Survey email subject lines need to make a great first impression to yield high open rates. One of the easiest ways to achieve that is by adding the recipient’s name through custom fields.

Your subject line should include a hint of what’s inside the email, inviting readers to open it. Moreover, it should be up to 50 characters to be responsive for all devices. Here are some examples:

• Take our survey and earn up to 40% off
• Help us improve [Product/service], [Recipient’s name]
• How was your stay at [Hotel name]?
• Your opinion matters to us!
• Want to share a word with us?

You can also use a free subject line tester like Refine to create a better version of your existing subject line based on your niche and the number of subscribers in your list.

2. Personalize your email

The rise of marketing tech over the last few years has put personalization as a priority. The more personalized a message is, the more likely for readers to pay attention to it.

As with the subject line, you can use custom fields to add the recipient’s name inside the email. Or use dynamic content to deliver different versions to different personas. Finally, use email segmentation to tailor your content to different audience subgroups based on their needs.

Email marketing services like Moosend or Mailchimp offer a plethora of those tools. If you want to give Moosend’s user-friendly features a try, sign up for an account or request a free trial and start experimenting.

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3. Keep it short and clear

When someone is scrolling through their mailbox, they usually don’t have much time to spare. Hence, it’s best to share short surveys with them, maximum two minutes. Plus, mention how long it will take you to help them manage their time wisely.

It’s not always easy to create a prompt survey, especially if you’re conducting market research. In this case, consider sharing an incentive with recipients to make it more attractive.

The survey questions should be clear and firm. There should be no time for second-guessing–if recipients start losing their attention the response rates will start to decline.

4. Mention the benefits and results

When sending surveys to customers and prospects you need to be transparent from start to finish. Clarify the purpose of the research, how you’ll treat the results, and how respondents will benefit from conducting this survey in the future.

If you’re running long-form research, send the results to recipients highlighting the key findings or send a report to them. With the latter, you can also invite them to share the resource with people who would be interested in this research to boost brand awareness.

5. Offer incentives and rewards

Finally, considering how hectic our lives are today, people will need an incentive to spend their time on a task off their agenda. This could be a gift card, a discount, or a coupon. If you cannot share them with all respondents, you can also run a draw.

Motivation doesn’t always have to be external. If you lack the budget for the above, you can also trigger their intrinsic reward system by expressing your gratitude and how they’ll help by completing your survey.

Survey Email Templates to Save Time

Hopefully, the above templates will let you draft your first survey emails and reach your maximum response potential. Follow our best practices and watch the performance of your emails regularly to stay on the right track.

And if you need a cost-effective email marketing platform with stellar capabilities, Moosend is an excellent choice. Sign up for an account today, create a template and use all the futures needed to receive high responses.

FAQs

Here are some quick answers to frequently asked questions around our topic:

1. What is a survey email?

Survey emails aim to collect information, opinions or feedback from customers and subscribers on several topics, such as customer satisfaction and experience to optimize several business functions.

2. What are the benefits of sending survey emails?

It’s a cost-effective way to collect customers’ feedback to improve business processes, products and services and boost customer retention and satisfaction.

3. How do you embed a survey in an email?

You can create the survey using Google Forms or platforms, such as Survey Monkey and share the link or embed the code inside the email.

4. How do you ask people to fill out a survey in an email?

Explain the purpose of the survey, the benefits they’ll reap if they complete it, and express your gratitude in advance for the time they’ll take to fill it.