14 best practices for running NPS surveys

Discover the 14 best practices that will help you elevate your Net Promoter Score surveys, and get more of your customers to engage.

Did you know that a 5% increase in customer retention can boost profits by 25-95%? That's the incredible impact of prioritizing customer satisfaction. At the heart of understanding customer sentiment lies the Net Promoter Score (NPS) survey – an important survey tool for businesses to understand and boost customer engagement. 

To find out what customers really think about your business involves more than just ratings on a survey. While ratings matter, the real gold lies in the reasons behind them—the stories, the details, the "whys."

In this blog, we will deep dive into the world of NPS surveys, and understand their significance, benefits, and top-notch strategies to leverage their potential for business growth.


What Is an NPS Survey? Understanding the Score and Product Feedback

Bain & Company devised the Net Promoter Score and System to foster both customer loyalty and employee motivation.

The NPS survey gauges customer loyalty through a simple question:

"How likely are you to recommend our product/service to a friend on a scale from 0 to 10?" 


The NPS survey is divided into two parts.

Firstly, customers rate your business, product experiences, or service on a scale of 0 to 10. 

Secondly, there's an open-ended follow-up question asking why they gave that particular score. 

Based on responses, it sorts the survey respondents into Promoters, Passives, and Detractors, generating the NPS score.

  • Promoters (loyal customers giving 9 or 10) Happy customers who had a positive experience

  • Passives (less enthusiastic customers with a score of 7 or 8)

  • Detractors (rating between 0 and 6) unhappy customers who had a bad experience and give your product negative feedback

The Net Promoter Score calculates the percentage of promoter minus the percentage of detractors to gauge user experiences, customer loyalty and satisfaction.

NPS = Percentage of Promoters − Percentage of Detractors

Essentially, an NPS survey is a straightforward questionnaire designed to forecast if a customer will buy again from a company or recommend it.

It's a tool widely employed to assess customer success, satisfaction, and brand loyalty, tracking these dynamics over time.

Benefits of NPS - A Valuable Tool for Measuring Customer Satisfaction 

There are numerous reasons why NPS remains the preferred method for managing and enhancing your customer experience. They give us a clear picture of how satisfied customers are, making it easier to keep them around. 

Here are some key benefits of NPS:

  1. Drives return on investment

Studies show that 80% of future revenue typically comes from just 20% of existing customers.

Poor customer service experiences often lead to losing these valuable customers. NPS helps you grasp customer feelings to create exceptional experiences, setting your brand apart.

  1. Easy implementation

NPS surveys are brief and focused, ensuring high response rates and valuable feedback. They can be deployed at various touchpoints in the customer journey through different survey templates and methods like 1flow’s In-App NPS Surveys. 

  1. Action-oriented

Instant customer feedback empowers immediate action, reducing churn and fostering a positive relationship with customers. 


What Is a Good NPS Survey Response Rate?

Your understanding of how satisfied your customers are depends on whether they choose to respond or not.

This is especially true in the B2B realm - if you can't gather actionable feedback from your customer base, it becomes challenging to gauge their level of satisfaction. A good NPS survey response rate helps you gain accurate insights into customer sentiment.

While there isn't a universal benchmark, aiming for a response rate above 20% is generally considered beneficial.

Why this number?

More responses mean a better picture of what customers think about your brand. This helps dodge any bias from a small group.

But if you can get even more responses, that's a win! More accurate feedback means better info, leading to smarter decisions about fixing problems, making customers happier, and building brand loyalty.


14 Best Practices for Running NPS Surveys

Asking relevant questions in your NPS survey acts like tuning into a live conversation with your customers, allowing you to grasp their satisfaction levels accurately. Similar to chatting face-to-face, the way you ask a single question can make all the difference in the responses you receive. 


These methods include using different survey styles and timing them well. They're all about gathering valuable feedback and making real improvements.

Following these top NPS survey practices will fine-tune your promoter score surveys and ensure you get the most valuable insights. Let's dive in:



  1. Initiating NPS Surveys: Start Small, Progress Gradually

While it's essential to absorb best practices and establish a solid foundation, don't let the pursuit of perfection or budget constraints delay your start. 

Start small, gradually introducing NPS in stages, focusing on a limited customer segment initially. If resources are limited, adjust the survey cohort size accordingly. 

Start with the core of NPS – the relationship survey – and expand and refine your program as you gain experience.



  1. Choosing Survey Types: Relationship vs. Transactional

Choosing a survey type, between a relationship survey and transactional surveys depends on your business needs. 

Relationship surveys gauge overall customer service experience and satisfaction with a company, while transactional surveys focus on specific touchpoints within the customer journey. 


  1. Key NPS Questions

The quintessential NPS survey question remains: "On a scale of 0-10, how likely are you to recommend our brand/service to others?"

This one-question survey, developed by Fred Reichheld in 2003, is the cornerstone of the relationship survey. 

The scale's consistency from 0 to 10 is crucial for accurate benchmarking and understanding customer sentiments.

Transactional surveys should use tailored questions like customer effort scores to assess specific touchpoints effectively.


  1. Survey Length & Structure

There isn't a one-size-fits-all NPS survey template. An ideal NPS survey should ideally contain no more than six questions, with three being optimal. The focus is on uncovering customer loyalty drivers rather than evaluating satisfaction across every segment of the company. 

Short surveys garner higher response rates, combat survey fatigue, and provide immediately actionable data. Research suggests that three questions strike the right balance, enabling actionable insights and maintaining high response rates.


  1. Use Multiple Channels- In-App and Email

Sending NPS surveys through both in-app and email channels offers diverse 

advantages.

In-app surveys capture immediate user sentiments post-interaction, aiding in real-time feedback collection. On the other hand, email surveys reach users who might not frequently engage with the app, providing insights into their experiences with the customer support team or less frequent interactions.

Merging both methods creates a comprehensive understanding of user satisfaction across various touchpoints.


  1. Contextual Trigger

Time your surveys strategically after specific user actions or milestones to gather feedback when it's most relevant.

This approach ensures that users are prompted to give their input when it's most relevant, such as after using a key feature multiple times, completing onboarding, or upgrading their plan.

Balance the frequency of surveys to prevent survey fatigue and avoid bombarding users with too many requests for feedback.


  1. Frequent Surveys for Meaningful Insights

Conducting NPS surveys regularly allows you to track customer sentiment trends over time.

Larger organizations might benefit from quarterly surveys, while smaller ones could opt for biannual evaluations.

This practice helps in identifying evolving patterns, addressing issues promptly, and potentially preventing customer churn before it becomes a problem.


  1. Survey Throughout the User Journey

Tailoring surveys to different stages of the user journey allows for a comprehensive assessment of customer experiences.

By seeking feedback during onboarding, after achieving certain milestones, and at critical usage points, businesses can pinpoint areas where users might face challenges or experience friction. 


  1. Include Qualitative and Open-Ended Questions

Adding qualitative follow-up questions to the NPS survey provides depth to the numerical score by uncovering the reasons behind users' ratings.

Understanding the 'why' behind scores is essential for deeper insights. Asking customers about the reasons for their scores is imperative.

Provide predefined reasons for their scores, tailored differently for promoters, detractors, and passives. Additionally, include an open-ended comment box for additional qualitative feedback.

Analyzing these comments provides valuable insights, and offering customers the chance to be contacted displays your commitment to acting on their customer feedback survey.


  1. Personalize for User Segments

Customizing survey content based on different customer segments enhances engagement.

Personalizing survey emails with users' names or incorporating personalized messages fosters a stronger connection, potentially resulting in higher response rates. 


  1. Optimize Survey Design

Survey design matters as much as the questions asked. Pay attention to colors, fonts, images, and layout, tailoring them to your industry and target audience.

Designing visually appealing and user-friendly surveys is essential to encourage completion. Incorporating brand elements, maintaining a clean design, using familiar language, and including progress indicators create a seamless survey experience. 

This approach minimizes survey fatigue and maximizes user engagement.


  1. Localize Surveys

Translating surveys into users' native languages helps in breaking language barriers and encourages diverse users to participate.

Tools that automate the translation process streamline this task, making it easier to cater to a global audience and gather responses from a more representative sample. (1flow plug)


  1. Right-Sized Sampling

Context-driven surveys eliminate concerns about sample size, as the focus is on targeted feedback based on user actions or events.

This strategy allows for a more in-depth analysis of responses, leveraging product analytics to understand outcomes better.


  1. Consider Incentives

While incentives can boost response rates, it's essential to strike a balance to ensure the integrity of the feedback. Small, thoughtful incentives can encourage participation without skewing responses solely for the reward.


Optimizing NPS Survey Strategies with 1flow

Incorporating NPS into your product development streamlines your roadmap, allowing you to prioritize features that resonate with customers, and create a standout product.

Integrating NPS into post-interaction communications provides a direct avenue for customers to share real-time feedback. This loop enables swift issue resolution, showcasing your dedication to customer satisfaction.

1flow simplifies NPS measurement within your app, effortlessly gathering valuable customer insights.

  • Its user-friendly reporting and analytics dashboard empower you to track user behavior and campaign success seamlessly.

  • Leverage feedback from 1flow surveys to craft precise customer personas, deepening your understanding for better products, services, and support.

  • With customizable features like multi-language support, seamless integrations, personalized messaging, in-app ratings, and more, 1flow accelerates research, drives customer-focused enhancements, and maximizes NPS survey impact.


Join now to transform Detractors into Promoters and propel your business forward with 1flow. 



Did you know that a 5% increase in customer retention can boost profits by 25-95%? That's the incredible impact of prioritizing customer satisfaction. At the heart of understanding customer sentiment lies the Net Promoter Score (NPS) survey – an important survey tool for businesses to understand and boost customer engagement. 

To find out what customers really think about your business involves more than just ratings on a survey. While ratings matter, the real gold lies in the reasons behind them—the stories, the details, the "whys."

In this blog, we will deep dive into the world of NPS surveys, and understand their significance, benefits, and top-notch strategies to leverage their potential for business growth.


What Is an NPS Survey? Understanding the Score and Product Feedback

Bain & Company devised the Net Promoter Score and System to foster both customer loyalty and employee motivation.

The NPS survey gauges customer loyalty through a simple question:

"How likely are you to recommend our product/service to a friend on a scale from 0 to 10?" 


The NPS survey is divided into two parts.

Firstly, customers rate your business, product experiences, or service on a scale of 0 to 10. 

Secondly, there's an open-ended follow-up question asking why they gave that particular score. 

Based on responses, it sorts the survey respondents into Promoters, Passives, and Detractors, generating the NPS score.

  • Promoters (loyal customers giving 9 or 10) Happy customers who had a positive experience

  • Passives (less enthusiastic customers with a score of 7 or 8)

  • Detractors (rating between 0 and 6) unhappy customers who had a bad experience and give your product negative feedback

The Net Promoter Score calculates the percentage of promoter minus the percentage of detractors to gauge user experiences, customer loyalty and satisfaction.

NPS = Percentage of Promoters − Percentage of Detractors

Essentially, an NPS survey is a straightforward questionnaire designed to forecast if a customer will buy again from a company or recommend it.

It's a tool widely employed to assess customer success, satisfaction, and brand loyalty, tracking these dynamics over time.

Benefits of NPS - A Valuable Tool for Measuring Customer Satisfaction 

There are numerous reasons why NPS remains the preferred method for managing and enhancing your customer experience. They give us a clear picture of how satisfied customers are, making it easier to keep them around. 

Here are some key benefits of NPS:

  1. Drives return on investment

Studies show that 80% of future revenue typically comes from just 20% of existing customers.

Poor customer service experiences often lead to losing these valuable customers. NPS helps you grasp customer feelings to create exceptional experiences, setting your brand apart.

  1. Easy implementation

NPS surveys are brief and focused, ensuring high response rates and valuable feedback. They can be deployed at various touchpoints in the customer journey through different survey templates and methods like 1flow’s In-App NPS Surveys. 

  1. Action-oriented

Instant customer feedback empowers immediate action, reducing churn and fostering a positive relationship with customers. 


What Is a Good NPS Survey Response Rate?

Your understanding of how satisfied your customers are depends on whether they choose to respond or not.

This is especially true in the B2B realm - if you can't gather actionable feedback from your customer base, it becomes challenging to gauge their level of satisfaction. A good NPS survey response rate helps you gain accurate insights into customer sentiment.

While there isn't a universal benchmark, aiming for a response rate above 20% is generally considered beneficial.

Why this number?

More responses mean a better picture of what customers think about your brand. This helps dodge any bias from a small group.

But if you can get even more responses, that's a win! More accurate feedback means better info, leading to smarter decisions about fixing problems, making customers happier, and building brand loyalty.


14 Best Practices for Running NPS Surveys

Asking relevant questions in your NPS survey acts like tuning into a live conversation with your customers, allowing you to grasp their satisfaction levels accurately. Similar to chatting face-to-face, the way you ask a single question can make all the difference in the responses you receive. 


These methods include using different survey styles and timing them well. They're all about gathering valuable feedback and making real improvements.

Following these top NPS survey practices will fine-tune your promoter score surveys and ensure you get the most valuable insights. Let's dive in:



  1. Initiating NPS Surveys: Start Small, Progress Gradually

While it's essential to absorb best practices and establish a solid foundation, don't let the pursuit of perfection or budget constraints delay your start. 

Start small, gradually introducing NPS in stages, focusing on a limited customer segment initially. If resources are limited, adjust the survey cohort size accordingly. 

Start with the core of NPS – the relationship survey – and expand and refine your program as you gain experience.



  1. Choosing Survey Types: Relationship vs. Transactional

Choosing a survey type, between a relationship survey and transactional surveys depends on your business needs. 

Relationship surveys gauge overall customer service experience and satisfaction with a company, while transactional surveys focus on specific touchpoints within the customer journey. 


  1. Key NPS Questions

The quintessential NPS survey question remains: "On a scale of 0-10, how likely are you to recommend our brand/service to others?"

This one-question survey, developed by Fred Reichheld in 2003, is the cornerstone of the relationship survey. 

The scale's consistency from 0 to 10 is crucial for accurate benchmarking and understanding customer sentiments.

Transactional surveys should use tailored questions like customer effort scores to assess specific touchpoints effectively.


  1. Survey Length & Structure

There isn't a one-size-fits-all NPS survey template. An ideal NPS survey should ideally contain no more than six questions, with three being optimal. The focus is on uncovering customer loyalty drivers rather than evaluating satisfaction across every segment of the company. 

Short surveys garner higher response rates, combat survey fatigue, and provide immediately actionable data. Research suggests that three questions strike the right balance, enabling actionable insights and maintaining high response rates.


  1. Use Multiple Channels- In-App and Email

Sending NPS surveys through both in-app and email channels offers diverse 

advantages.

In-app surveys capture immediate user sentiments post-interaction, aiding in real-time feedback collection. On the other hand, email surveys reach users who might not frequently engage with the app, providing insights into their experiences with the customer support team or less frequent interactions.

Merging both methods creates a comprehensive understanding of user satisfaction across various touchpoints.


  1. Contextual Trigger

Time your surveys strategically after specific user actions or milestones to gather feedback when it's most relevant.

This approach ensures that users are prompted to give their input when it's most relevant, such as after using a key feature multiple times, completing onboarding, or upgrading their plan.

Balance the frequency of surveys to prevent survey fatigue and avoid bombarding users with too many requests for feedback.


  1. Frequent Surveys for Meaningful Insights

Conducting NPS surveys regularly allows you to track customer sentiment trends over time.

Larger organizations might benefit from quarterly surveys, while smaller ones could opt for biannual evaluations.

This practice helps in identifying evolving patterns, addressing issues promptly, and potentially preventing customer churn before it becomes a problem.


  1. Survey Throughout the User Journey

Tailoring surveys to different stages of the user journey allows for a comprehensive assessment of customer experiences.

By seeking feedback during onboarding, after achieving certain milestones, and at critical usage points, businesses can pinpoint areas where users might face challenges or experience friction. 


  1. Include Qualitative and Open-Ended Questions

Adding qualitative follow-up questions to the NPS survey provides depth to the numerical score by uncovering the reasons behind users' ratings.

Understanding the 'why' behind scores is essential for deeper insights. Asking customers about the reasons for their scores is imperative.

Provide predefined reasons for their scores, tailored differently for promoters, detractors, and passives. Additionally, include an open-ended comment box for additional qualitative feedback.

Analyzing these comments provides valuable insights, and offering customers the chance to be contacted displays your commitment to acting on their customer feedback survey.


  1. Personalize for User Segments

Customizing survey content based on different customer segments enhances engagement.

Personalizing survey emails with users' names or incorporating personalized messages fosters a stronger connection, potentially resulting in higher response rates. 


  1. Optimize Survey Design

Survey design matters as much as the questions asked. Pay attention to colors, fonts, images, and layout, tailoring them to your industry and target audience.

Designing visually appealing and user-friendly surveys is essential to encourage completion. Incorporating brand elements, maintaining a clean design, using familiar language, and including progress indicators create a seamless survey experience. 

This approach minimizes survey fatigue and maximizes user engagement.


  1. Localize Surveys

Translating surveys into users' native languages helps in breaking language barriers and encourages diverse users to participate.

Tools that automate the translation process streamline this task, making it easier to cater to a global audience and gather responses from a more representative sample. (1flow plug)


  1. Right-Sized Sampling

Context-driven surveys eliminate concerns about sample size, as the focus is on targeted feedback based on user actions or events.

This strategy allows for a more in-depth analysis of responses, leveraging product analytics to understand outcomes better.


  1. Consider Incentives

While incentives can boost response rates, it's essential to strike a balance to ensure the integrity of the feedback. Small, thoughtful incentives can encourage participation without skewing responses solely for the reward.


Optimizing NPS Survey Strategies with 1flow

Incorporating NPS into your product development streamlines your roadmap, allowing you to prioritize features that resonate with customers, and create a standout product.

Integrating NPS into post-interaction communications provides a direct avenue for customers to share real-time feedback. This loop enables swift issue resolution, showcasing your dedication to customer satisfaction.

1flow simplifies NPS measurement within your app, effortlessly gathering valuable customer insights.

  • Its user-friendly reporting and analytics dashboard empower you to track user behavior and campaign success seamlessly.

  • Leverage feedback from 1flow surveys to craft precise customer personas, deepening your understanding for better products, services, and support.

  • With customizable features like multi-language support, seamless integrations, personalized messaging, in-app ratings, and more, 1flow accelerates research, drives customer-focused enhancements, and maximizes NPS survey impact.


Join now to transform Detractors into Promoters and propel your business forward with 1flow. 



Did you know that a 5% increase in customer retention can boost profits by 25-95%? That's the incredible impact of prioritizing customer satisfaction. At the heart of understanding customer sentiment lies the Net Promoter Score (NPS) survey – an important survey tool for businesses to understand and boost customer engagement. 

To find out what customers really think about your business involves more than just ratings on a survey. While ratings matter, the real gold lies in the reasons behind them—the stories, the details, the "whys."

In this blog, we will deep dive into the world of NPS surveys, and understand their significance, benefits, and top-notch strategies to leverage their potential for business growth.


What Is an NPS Survey? Understanding the Score and Product Feedback

Bain & Company devised the Net Promoter Score and System to foster both customer loyalty and employee motivation.

The NPS survey gauges customer loyalty through a simple question:

"How likely are you to recommend our product/service to a friend on a scale from 0 to 10?" 


The NPS survey is divided into two parts.

Firstly, customers rate your business, product experiences, or service on a scale of 0 to 10. 

Secondly, there's an open-ended follow-up question asking why they gave that particular score. 

Based on responses, it sorts the survey respondents into Promoters, Passives, and Detractors, generating the NPS score.

  • Promoters (loyal customers giving 9 or 10) Happy customers who had a positive experience

  • Passives (less enthusiastic customers with a score of 7 or 8)

  • Detractors (rating between 0 and 6) unhappy customers who had a bad experience and give your product negative feedback

The Net Promoter Score calculates the percentage of promoter minus the percentage of detractors to gauge user experiences, customer loyalty and satisfaction.

NPS = Percentage of Promoters − Percentage of Detractors

Essentially, an NPS survey is a straightforward questionnaire designed to forecast if a customer will buy again from a company or recommend it.

It's a tool widely employed to assess customer success, satisfaction, and brand loyalty, tracking these dynamics over time.

Benefits of NPS - A Valuable Tool for Measuring Customer Satisfaction 

There are numerous reasons why NPS remains the preferred method for managing and enhancing your customer experience. They give us a clear picture of how satisfied customers are, making it easier to keep them around. 

Here are some key benefits of NPS:

  1. Drives return on investment

Studies show that 80% of future revenue typically comes from just 20% of existing customers.

Poor customer service experiences often lead to losing these valuable customers. NPS helps you grasp customer feelings to create exceptional experiences, setting your brand apart.

  1. Easy implementation

NPS surveys are brief and focused, ensuring high response rates and valuable feedback. They can be deployed at various touchpoints in the customer journey through different survey templates and methods like 1flow’s In-App NPS Surveys. 

  1. Action-oriented

Instant customer feedback empowers immediate action, reducing churn and fostering a positive relationship with customers. 


What Is a Good NPS Survey Response Rate?

Your understanding of how satisfied your customers are depends on whether they choose to respond or not.

This is especially true in the B2B realm - if you can't gather actionable feedback from your customer base, it becomes challenging to gauge their level of satisfaction. A good NPS survey response rate helps you gain accurate insights into customer sentiment.

While there isn't a universal benchmark, aiming for a response rate above 20% is generally considered beneficial.

Why this number?

More responses mean a better picture of what customers think about your brand. This helps dodge any bias from a small group.

But if you can get even more responses, that's a win! More accurate feedback means better info, leading to smarter decisions about fixing problems, making customers happier, and building brand loyalty.


14 Best Practices for Running NPS Surveys

Asking relevant questions in your NPS survey acts like tuning into a live conversation with your customers, allowing you to grasp their satisfaction levels accurately. Similar to chatting face-to-face, the way you ask a single question can make all the difference in the responses you receive. 


These methods include using different survey styles and timing them well. They're all about gathering valuable feedback and making real improvements.

Following these top NPS survey practices will fine-tune your promoter score surveys and ensure you get the most valuable insights. Let's dive in:



  1. Initiating NPS Surveys: Start Small, Progress Gradually

While it's essential to absorb best practices and establish a solid foundation, don't let the pursuit of perfection or budget constraints delay your start. 

Start small, gradually introducing NPS in stages, focusing on a limited customer segment initially. If resources are limited, adjust the survey cohort size accordingly. 

Start with the core of NPS – the relationship survey – and expand and refine your program as you gain experience.



  1. Choosing Survey Types: Relationship vs. Transactional

Choosing a survey type, between a relationship survey and transactional surveys depends on your business needs. 

Relationship surveys gauge overall customer service experience and satisfaction with a company, while transactional surveys focus on specific touchpoints within the customer journey. 


  1. Key NPS Questions

The quintessential NPS survey question remains: "On a scale of 0-10, how likely are you to recommend our brand/service to others?"

This one-question survey, developed by Fred Reichheld in 2003, is the cornerstone of the relationship survey. 

The scale's consistency from 0 to 10 is crucial for accurate benchmarking and understanding customer sentiments.

Transactional surveys should use tailored questions like customer effort scores to assess specific touchpoints effectively.


  1. Survey Length & Structure

There isn't a one-size-fits-all NPS survey template. An ideal NPS survey should ideally contain no more than six questions, with three being optimal. The focus is on uncovering customer loyalty drivers rather than evaluating satisfaction across every segment of the company. 

Short surveys garner higher response rates, combat survey fatigue, and provide immediately actionable data. Research suggests that three questions strike the right balance, enabling actionable insights and maintaining high response rates.


  1. Use Multiple Channels- In-App and Email

Sending NPS surveys through both in-app and email channels offers diverse 

advantages.

In-app surveys capture immediate user sentiments post-interaction, aiding in real-time feedback collection. On the other hand, email surveys reach users who might not frequently engage with the app, providing insights into their experiences with the customer support team or less frequent interactions.

Merging both methods creates a comprehensive understanding of user satisfaction across various touchpoints.


  1. Contextual Trigger

Time your surveys strategically after specific user actions or milestones to gather feedback when it's most relevant.

This approach ensures that users are prompted to give their input when it's most relevant, such as after using a key feature multiple times, completing onboarding, or upgrading their plan.

Balance the frequency of surveys to prevent survey fatigue and avoid bombarding users with too many requests for feedback.


  1. Frequent Surveys for Meaningful Insights

Conducting NPS surveys regularly allows you to track customer sentiment trends over time.

Larger organizations might benefit from quarterly surveys, while smaller ones could opt for biannual evaluations.

This practice helps in identifying evolving patterns, addressing issues promptly, and potentially preventing customer churn before it becomes a problem.


  1. Survey Throughout the User Journey

Tailoring surveys to different stages of the user journey allows for a comprehensive assessment of customer experiences.

By seeking feedback during onboarding, after achieving certain milestones, and at critical usage points, businesses can pinpoint areas where users might face challenges or experience friction. 


  1. Include Qualitative and Open-Ended Questions

Adding qualitative follow-up questions to the NPS survey provides depth to the numerical score by uncovering the reasons behind users' ratings.

Understanding the 'why' behind scores is essential for deeper insights. Asking customers about the reasons for their scores is imperative.

Provide predefined reasons for their scores, tailored differently for promoters, detractors, and passives. Additionally, include an open-ended comment box for additional qualitative feedback.

Analyzing these comments provides valuable insights, and offering customers the chance to be contacted displays your commitment to acting on their customer feedback survey.


  1. Personalize for User Segments

Customizing survey content based on different customer segments enhances engagement.

Personalizing survey emails with users' names or incorporating personalized messages fosters a stronger connection, potentially resulting in higher response rates. 


  1. Optimize Survey Design

Survey design matters as much as the questions asked. Pay attention to colors, fonts, images, and layout, tailoring them to your industry and target audience.

Designing visually appealing and user-friendly surveys is essential to encourage completion. Incorporating brand elements, maintaining a clean design, using familiar language, and including progress indicators create a seamless survey experience. 

This approach minimizes survey fatigue and maximizes user engagement.


  1. Localize Surveys

Translating surveys into users' native languages helps in breaking language barriers and encourages diverse users to participate.

Tools that automate the translation process streamline this task, making it easier to cater to a global audience and gather responses from a more representative sample. (1flow plug)


  1. Right-Sized Sampling

Context-driven surveys eliminate concerns about sample size, as the focus is on targeted feedback based on user actions or events.

This strategy allows for a more in-depth analysis of responses, leveraging product analytics to understand outcomes better.


  1. Consider Incentives

While incentives can boost response rates, it's essential to strike a balance to ensure the integrity of the feedback. Small, thoughtful incentives can encourage participation without skewing responses solely for the reward.


Optimizing NPS Survey Strategies with 1flow

Incorporating NPS into your product development streamlines your roadmap, allowing you to prioritize features that resonate with customers, and create a standout product.

Integrating NPS into post-interaction communications provides a direct avenue for customers to share real-time feedback. This loop enables swift issue resolution, showcasing your dedication to customer satisfaction.

1flow simplifies NPS measurement within your app, effortlessly gathering valuable customer insights.

  • Its user-friendly reporting and analytics dashboard empower you to track user behavior and campaign success seamlessly.

  • Leverage feedback from 1flow surveys to craft precise customer personas, deepening your understanding for better products, services, and support.

  • With customizable features like multi-language support, seamless integrations, personalized messaging, in-app ratings, and more, 1flow accelerates research, drives customer-focused enhancements, and maximizes NPS survey impact.


Join now to transform Detractors into Promoters and propel your business forward with 1flow. 



Did you know that a 5% increase in customer retention can boost profits by 25-95%? That's the incredible impact of prioritizing customer satisfaction. At the heart of understanding customer sentiment lies the Net Promoter Score (NPS) survey – an important survey tool for businesses to understand and boost customer engagement. 

To find out what customers really think about your business involves more than just ratings on a survey. While ratings matter, the real gold lies in the reasons behind them—the stories, the details, the "whys."

In this blog, we will deep dive into the world of NPS surveys, and understand their significance, benefits, and top-notch strategies to leverage their potential for business growth.


What Is an NPS Survey? Understanding the Score and Product Feedback

Bain & Company devised the Net Promoter Score and System to foster both customer loyalty and employee motivation.

The NPS survey gauges customer loyalty through a simple question:

"How likely are you to recommend our product/service to a friend on a scale from 0 to 10?" 


The NPS survey is divided into two parts.

Firstly, customers rate your business, product experiences, or service on a scale of 0 to 10. 

Secondly, there's an open-ended follow-up question asking why they gave that particular score. 

Based on responses, it sorts the survey respondents into Promoters, Passives, and Detractors, generating the NPS score.

  • Promoters (loyal customers giving 9 or 10) Happy customers who had a positive experience

  • Passives (less enthusiastic customers with a score of 7 or 8)

  • Detractors (rating between 0 and 6) unhappy customers who had a bad experience and give your product negative feedback

The Net Promoter Score calculates the percentage of promoter minus the percentage of detractors to gauge user experiences, customer loyalty and satisfaction.

NPS = Percentage of Promoters − Percentage of Detractors

Essentially, an NPS survey is a straightforward questionnaire designed to forecast if a customer will buy again from a company or recommend it.

It's a tool widely employed to assess customer success, satisfaction, and brand loyalty, tracking these dynamics over time.

Benefits of NPS - A Valuable Tool for Measuring Customer Satisfaction 

There are numerous reasons why NPS remains the preferred method for managing and enhancing your customer experience. They give us a clear picture of how satisfied customers are, making it easier to keep them around. 

Here are some key benefits of NPS:

  1. Drives return on investment

Studies show that 80% of future revenue typically comes from just 20% of existing customers.

Poor customer service experiences often lead to losing these valuable customers. NPS helps you grasp customer feelings to create exceptional experiences, setting your brand apart.

  1. Easy implementation

NPS surveys are brief and focused, ensuring high response rates and valuable feedback. They can be deployed at various touchpoints in the customer journey through different survey templates and methods like 1flow’s In-App NPS Surveys. 

  1. Action-oriented

Instant customer feedback empowers immediate action, reducing churn and fostering a positive relationship with customers. 


What Is a Good NPS Survey Response Rate?

Your understanding of how satisfied your customers are depends on whether they choose to respond or not.

This is especially true in the B2B realm - if you can't gather actionable feedback from your customer base, it becomes challenging to gauge their level of satisfaction. A good NPS survey response rate helps you gain accurate insights into customer sentiment.

While there isn't a universal benchmark, aiming for a response rate above 20% is generally considered beneficial.

Why this number?

More responses mean a better picture of what customers think about your brand. This helps dodge any bias from a small group.

But if you can get even more responses, that's a win! More accurate feedback means better info, leading to smarter decisions about fixing problems, making customers happier, and building brand loyalty.


14 Best Practices for Running NPS Surveys

Asking relevant questions in your NPS survey acts like tuning into a live conversation with your customers, allowing you to grasp their satisfaction levels accurately. Similar to chatting face-to-face, the way you ask a single question can make all the difference in the responses you receive. 


These methods include using different survey styles and timing them well. They're all about gathering valuable feedback and making real improvements.

Following these top NPS survey practices will fine-tune your promoter score surveys and ensure you get the most valuable insights. Let's dive in:



  1. Initiating NPS Surveys: Start Small, Progress Gradually

While it's essential to absorb best practices and establish a solid foundation, don't let the pursuit of perfection or budget constraints delay your start. 

Start small, gradually introducing NPS in stages, focusing on a limited customer segment initially. If resources are limited, adjust the survey cohort size accordingly. 

Start with the core of NPS – the relationship survey – and expand and refine your program as you gain experience.



  1. Choosing Survey Types: Relationship vs. Transactional

Choosing a survey type, between a relationship survey and transactional surveys depends on your business needs. 

Relationship surveys gauge overall customer service experience and satisfaction with a company, while transactional surveys focus on specific touchpoints within the customer journey. 


  1. Key NPS Questions

The quintessential NPS survey question remains: "On a scale of 0-10, how likely are you to recommend our brand/service to others?"

This one-question survey, developed by Fred Reichheld in 2003, is the cornerstone of the relationship survey. 

The scale's consistency from 0 to 10 is crucial for accurate benchmarking and understanding customer sentiments.

Transactional surveys should use tailored questions like customer effort scores to assess specific touchpoints effectively.


  1. Survey Length & Structure

There isn't a one-size-fits-all NPS survey template. An ideal NPS survey should ideally contain no more than six questions, with three being optimal. The focus is on uncovering customer loyalty drivers rather than evaluating satisfaction across every segment of the company. 

Short surveys garner higher response rates, combat survey fatigue, and provide immediately actionable data. Research suggests that three questions strike the right balance, enabling actionable insights and maintaining high response rates.


  1. Use Multiple Channels- In-App and Email

Sending NPS surveys through both in-app and email channels offers diverse 

advantages.

In-app surveys capture immediate user sentiments post-interaction, aiding in real-time feedback collection. On the other hand, email surveys reach users who might not frequently engage with the app, providing insights into their experiences with the customer support team or less frequent interactions.

Merging both methods creates a comprehensive understanding of user satisfaction across various touchpoints.


  1. Contextual Trigger

Time your surveys strategically after specific user actions or milestones to gather feedback when it's most relevant.

This approach ensures that users are prompted to give their input when it's most relevant, such as after using a key feature multiple times, completing onboarding, or upgrading their plan.

Balance the frequency of surveys to prevent survey fatigue and avoid bombarding users with too many requests for feedback.


  1. Frequent Surveys for Meaningful Insights

Conducting NPS surveys regularly allows you to track customer sentiment trends over time.

Larger organizations might benefit from quarterly surveys, while smaller ones could opt for biannual evaluations.

This practice helps in identifying evolving patterns, addressing issues promptly, and potentially preventing customer churn before it becomes a problem.


  1. Survey Throughout the User Journey

Tailoring surveys to different stages of the user journey allows for a comprehensive assessment of customer experiences.

By seeking feedback during onboarding, after achieving certain milestones, and at critical usage points, businesses can pinpoint areas where users might face challenges or experience friction. 


  1. Include Qualitative and Open-Ended Questions

Adding qualitative follow-up questions to the NPS survey provides depth to the numerical score by uncovering the reasons behind users' ratings.

Understanding the 'why' behind scores is essential for deeper insights. Asking customers about the reasons for their scores is imperative.

Provide predefined reasons for their scores, tailored differently for promoters, detractors, and passives. Additionally, include an open-ended comment box for additional qualitative feedback.

Analyzing these comments provides valuable insights, and offering customers the chance to be contacted displays your commitment to acting on their customer feedback survey.


  1. Personalize for User Segments

Customizing survey content based on different customer segments enhances engagement.

Personalizing survey emails with users' names or incorporating personalized messages fosters a stronger connection, potentially resulting in higher response rates. 


  1. Optimize Survey Design

Survey design matters as much as the questions asked. Pay attention to colors, fonts, images, and layout, tailoring them to your industry and target audience.

Designing visually appealing and user-friendly surveys is essential to encourage completion. Incorporating brand elements, maintaining a clean design, using familiar language, and including progress indicators create a seamless survey experience. 

This approach minimizes survey fatigue and maximizes user engagement.


  1. Localize Surveys

Translating surveys into users' native languages helps in breaking language barriers and encourages diverse users to participate.

Tools that automate the translation process streamline this task, making it easier to cater to a global audience and gather responses from a more representative sample. (1flow plug)


  1. Right-Sized Sampling

Context-driven surveys eliminate concerns about sample size, as the focus is on targeted feedback based on user actions or events.

This strategy allows for a more in-depth analysis of responses, leveraging product analytics to understand outcomes better.


  1. Consider Incentives

While incentives can boost response rates, it's essential to strike a balance to ensure the integrity of the feedback. Small, thoughtful incentives can encourage participation without skewing responses solely for the reward.


Optimizing NPS Survey Strategies with 1flow

Incorporating NPS into your product development streamlines your roadmap, allowing you to prioritize features that resonate with customers, and create a standout product.

Integrating NPS into post-interaction communications provides a direct avenue for customers to share real-time feedback. This loop enables swift issue resolution, showcasing your dedication to customer satisfaction.

1flow simplifies NPS measurement within your app, effortlessly gathering valuable customer insights.

  • Its user-friendly reporting and analytics dashboard empower you to track user behavior and campaign success seamlessly.

  • Leverage feedback from 1flow surveys to craft precise customer personas, deepening your understanding for better products, services, and support.

  • With customizable features like multi-language support, seamless integrations, personalized messaging, in-app ratings, and more, 1flow accelerates research, drives customer-focused enhancements, and maximizes NPS survey impact.


Join now to transform Detractors into Promoters and propel your business forward with 1flow. 



Improve your product with better customer insights

Analytics tools tell you what a user does, but not why they are doing it. Our customizable in-product microsurveys give you all the answers you need to make great product decisions.

Get started with a free trial

We offer a 14-day unlimited use free trial - no credit card required.