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  • Survey software 101: Answers to the most common questions about surveys

    Survey software 101: Answers to the most common questions about surveys


    Surveys are one of the most effective tools for collecting structured and unstructured feedback—and the right survey software makes it easier than ever to do so at scale.  

    Whether you’re measuring customer satisfaction, checking in with employees, or researching new markets, knowing how and when to use surveys can make all the difference. 

    In this quick guide, we’ll tackle the most frequently asked questions about surveys and survey tools, so that you can turn feedback into action with confidence. 

    What is the definition of a survey? 

    A survey is a method of collecting data from a defined group of people to gain information and insights on various topics, behaviors, opinions, or experiences. Surveys typically consist of structured questions and are delivered via online forms, email, mobile apps, or in person. 

    What is the purpose of using a survey? 

    The purpose of a survey is to gather accurate and actionable data that helps organizations make better decisions.  

    Whether you’re fine-tuning a product, leveling up the customer experience, boosting employee morale, or spotting your next big market move, surveys help you gather the data you need to make smarter, faster decisions. 

    A survey and feedback platform—like Alchemer—helps you design, distribute, and analyze surveys. A robust survey platform should be able to automate data collection, ensure data quality, and integrate results into your existing workflows or analytics platforms, making insights more actionable. 

    Why is it important to run surveys? 

    Surveys are essential because they give your audience a seat at the table. Whether it’s customers, employees, or partners, surveys capture perspectives you might not see in everyday operations. They help you measure how people really feel, uncover what’s not working, and confirm whether your instincts are on point. 

    When should surveys be used? 

    You would do a survey when you have a clear goal, audience, and set of questions designed to inform a decision. With Alchemer, it’s easy to capture insights exactly when and where they matter most. Common moments to launch a survey include: 

    • Right after a customer interaction—like completing a purchase or resolving a support ticket 
    • In the middle of product development or beta testing—to make smarter iterations, faster 
    • After an event or campaign—to measure impact and improve next time 
    • On a regular cadence—to track employee or customer sentiment over time and spot trends early 

    With the right timing and tools, surveys become a strategic advantage—not just a checkbox. 

    Where do I make a survey? 

    There are many feedback and survey platforms on the market, each offering different strengths, from quick poll builders to enterprise-level research tools. When evaluating your options, look for a solution that balances ease of use with the power to scale and integrate across your business. 

    The best survey software includes: 

    • Drag-and-drop builders for quick, intuitive survey creation 
    • Pre-built templates to help you start with best practices 
    • Advanced logic and branching for personalized respondent experiences 
    • Flexible distribution methods like web, email, SMS, or in-app 
    • Real-time analytics and reporting to uncover insights fast 

    What are the 3 types of a survey? 

    Most surveys fall into one of three categories, each serving a unique purpose depending on what you’re trying to learn: 

    • Descriptive Surveys: These are designed to capture the “what”—they describe characteristics of a group based on structured feedback. Think customer satisfaction scores, employee engagement levels, or demographic profiles. The goal is to get a clear snapshot of your audience at a specific point in time. 
    • Analytical Surveys: Analytical surveys go a step further, aiming to understand the “why.” They explore cause-and-effect relationships by looking at how different variables interact—such as whether satisfaction impacts loyalty, or how usability affects conversion. These surveys often blend structured data with deeper segmentation and statistical analysis. 
    • Exploratory Surveys: Used early in decision-making, exploratory surveys are all about gathering unstructured feedback—ideas, opinions, or open-ended input you might not have anticipated. They’re especially useful in product development, brand positioning, or when entering a new market. Modern survey platforms use open text analysis and AI-powered sentiment tools to help extract themes, trends, and meaning from unstructured responses. 

    Each type has its place. When used together, they give you a richer, more complete view of your audience—and the confidence to act on what you learn. 

    What is the survey method? 

    The survey method refers to the systematic approach of designing and distributing surveys to collect data. It involves selecting a sample, creating questions, choosing delivery channels (email, SMS, web, etc.), collecting responses, and analyzing results. 

    How does survey software work? 

    Survey software works by guiding users through the process of building a survey, distributing it to a selected audience, collecting responses in real time, and analyzing results through built-in dashboards and reports. Advanced tools also allow for automation, logic branching, integrations, and role-based access for collaboration across teams. 

    So, which software is best for surveys? 

    The best survey software helps you go beyond just collecting feedback by enabling you to take action quickly and confidently. While many tools focus on basic data collection, Alchemer stands out by combining ease of use, fast time-to-value, and robust omnichannel capabilities.  

    With intuitive survey builders, seamless integrations, and powerful automation, Alchemer empowers teams to embed feedback into workflows, surface insights in real time, and make smarter decisions—without the need for complex setup or months-long onboarding. 

    If you want a platform that delivers both speed and impact, Alchemer gives you everything you need to turn feedback into business results—fast. 

    Ready to take your survey strategy to the next level? 

    Surveys are just the start. To truly understand your audience and act on what they’re telling you, you need a feedback approach that works across every channel. 

    Download our free e-guide, Customer Feedback is Everywhere: The Ultimate Guide to Omnichannel Feedback Collection and learn how to: 

    • Collect insights from every touchpoint—digital, in-person, and everything in between 
    • Break down silos between feedback channels 
    • Build a unified strategy that turns customer input into real business results 

    Whether you’re just starting with surveys or scaling your feedback program, this guide will help you get more value from every response. 



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  • Waltz’s Use of Messaging Platform Raises New Security Questions

    Waltz’s Use of Messaging Platform Raises New Security Questions


    Michael Waltz got himself in trouble with the White House when, as national security adviser, he inadvertently added a journalist to a sensitive chat on Signal, a commercial messaging app.

    Now, as he leaves that job, he has raised a new set of questions about White House use of the encrypted app. A photograph of him looking at his phone on Wednesday during a cabinet meeting makes it clear that he is communicating with his colleagues — including the secretary of state and the director of national intelligence — using a platform originally designed by an Israeli company that collects and stores Signal messages.

    This discovery of the new system came when a Reuters photographer, standing just over Mr. Waltz’s left shoulder, snapped a photo of him checking his phone.

    He was not using a privacy screen, and when zoomed in, the photo shows a list of messages and calls from several senior officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Steve Witkoff, the special envoy who is negotiating on three fronts: the Israel-Hamas talks, the increasingly tense dance with Vladimir V. Putin about Ukraine and the Iran nuclear talks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, are also on his chat list.

    While the app that Mr. Waltz was seen using on Wednesday looks similar to Signal, it is actually a different platform from a company that advertises it as a way to archive messages for record-keeping purposes. That is critical, because one concern that came up when senior officials were using the app was whether it complied with federal record-keeping rules.

    One of Signal’s benefits is that it is both encrypted and can be set to automatically delete messages. But while that is a feature for users seeking secure communications, it is a problem for the National Archives, as it seeks to retain records.

    It is not clear if Mr. Waltz began using the alternative app when he became national security adviser or after a nonprofit watchdog group, American Oversight, sued the government for failing to comply with records laws by using Signal.

    While the real version of Signal gets constant security updates and messages are kept encrypted until they reach a user’s phone, security experts question how secure the alternative app is.

    “This is incredibly dumb,” said Senator Ron Wyden, the Oregon Democrat who is a longtime member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. “The government has no reason to use a counterfeit Signal knockoff that raises obvious counterintelligence concerns.”

    Cybersecurity experts said the platform that Mr. Waltz was using is known as TeleMessage, which retains copies of messages, a way of complying with the government rules. The screen in the photograph shows a request for him to verify his “TM SGNL PIN.” Time stamps indicate that the communications were as recent as the morning of the cabinet meeting.

    TeleMessage, founded in Israel, was purchased last year by Smarsh, a company based in Portland, Ore.

    The TeleMessage platform accepts messages sent through Signal, and captures and archives them.

    Security experts said the use of TeleMessage raised a number of questions. Some said it appeared that the company had in the past routed information through Israel, which is renowned for its electronic spying skills.

    But a Smarsh representative said data from American clients did not leave the United States. Tom Padgett, the president of Smarsh’s enterprise business, said the collected information was not routed through any mechanism that “could potentially violate our data residency commitments to our customers.”

    Mr. Padgett also said the information was not decrypted while being collected for record-keeping purposes or moved to its final archive. Security experts said that whenever information is de-encrypted, security vulnerabilities could be introduced. “We do not de-encrypt,” Mr. Padgett said.

    Smarsh representatives took issue with the idea that their platform was a modified version of the Signal app. They said their platform simply allowed financial institutions and governments to capture communications on various channels to comply with record-keeping regulations.

    But cybersecurity officials said questions remained about how the TeleMessage platform worked, and what vulnerabilities it could introduce into Signal communications.

    Signal is built on open-source code, which allows other organizations to make their own version that uses the same encryption. But Signal Messenger, the company that makes and controls the app, does not support alternative versions and actively tries to discourage their use.

    Mr. Waltz’s use of TeleMessage was reported earlier by the publication 404 Media. According to the publication, the U.S. government contracted with TeleMessage in December 2024 to archive Signal and WhatsApp messages. Smarsh representatives said they have worked with the federal government for a decade but declined to discuss specific contracts.

    It is not clear if the U.S. government audited TeleMessage to determine how it handles the messages and whether it might break or damage the end-to-end security of Signal. Representatives of the National Security Council staff did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Smarsh representative said they allowed security audits.

    Mr. Wyden said the U.S. government and the Navy had developed secure communications tools that comply with record-keeping rules. Using the modified version of Signal is far less secure, he said.

    “Trump and his national security team might as well post American battle plans on X at this rate,” Mr. Wyden said.

    In response to reports of the photo, Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, said in a social media post that “Signal is an approved app that is loaded onto our government phones.”

    As part of the lawsuit filed by American Oversight, government officials have submitted statements saying that the Signal messages from the chat Mr. Waltz created to discuss strikes on the Houthi militia in Yemen are no longer retrievable.

    Chioma Chukwu, the interim executive director of American Oversight, said she had concerns about the use of the modified app.

    “The use of a modified Signal app may suggest an attempt to appear compliant with federal record-keeping laws, but it actually underscores a dangerous reliance on unofficial tools that threaten national security and put our service members at risk,” she said. “Americans have a right to transparency and to know their leaders are following the law, not hiding behind unauthorized workarounds.”



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