Creating and using surveys are one of the most effective tools for gathering helpful insights about business operations. These insights can be used as foundational data to support and drive business success across industries. Research on the topic has found that survey creation and implementation can be as simple as four steps, and there are numerous services and helpful third parties that can help streamline the process.

The first step to meaningful survey creation is planning. During this stage, the purpose and audience of the survey is identified. This helps to narrow down the focus of the research to be most effective and relevant to the participants. This step is also crucial in preparing to create questions for the survey.

The next step is actually authoring the survey and defining what problems are to be solved or what the company wants to get out of implementing this survey. Experts advise to avoid leading or loaded questions. This is because these types of questions often pigeonhole a participant into answering one way or another, or they assume too much about the positioning and attitudes of the target audience. Double-barreled questions are also smart to avoid, as they can muddy the results and make the data more difficult to interpret. 

Next is the execution phase, where the completed survey is pushed to groups of the target audience to get a feel for its effectiveness and gather data. This step often starts with testing to make sure that the survey is acting as designed and there are no areas to be tweaked or altered before sending the final form. Once this testing is completed, the survey is launched in full to the public. This is a fairly simple step, as technology has made the process exponentially easier. 

Finally, reporting and analysis is considered as one of the most important aspects of the entire survey process. This is the step where raw data is converted into information that can then be used for a greater purpose. Although there are several ways to communicate these findings, it is generally recommended to use charts and tables. This method allows for people both inside and outside of the industry to understand the findings and find value in them.

No matter the subject or sector of business, surveys are a powerful tool used to gather data that can push companies forward towards their greater goals.