Creating Surveys on iPhone Apps

Dana Stanley reviews an iPhone app for creating surveys in this article. Follow the process of creating and posting a survey and learn insights into possibilities for its use in market research.

A new iPhone application for creating surveys recently appeared in the App Store. I decided to give it a try and report my experience here.

QpixL’s tagline is “questions are more fun with pictures.” From their website: “Snap a pic and ask a question. Real time answers from your social network of friends. Take a pic with your iPhone and ask a question. Question is published to your Facebook profile and displayed in your Facebook friends feed and/or sent to your Twitter followers for an answer. No registration. No Logon. Just quick answers.”

One picture, one question - open ended questions only - nothing precoded.

So what to ask? Well, I recently grew a goatee for the first time, so I decided it would be fun to ask my Twitter followers and Facebook friends their opinions on my new look.

QpixL surveys can only be launched from the iPhone, not the website. I went ahead and downloaded the app. Here it is on my phone (arrow added):

Once I launched the application, I was given the opportunity to log in using my Facebook and Twitter accounts, which I promptly did:

As you can see from the screenshot above, QpixL gives users two ways to load a picture. “Pics” allows you to select a photo already on your phone, while “Snap” gives you a chance to take a picture within the application (using iPhone’s camera).

I initially attempted to use the “Pics” option. However, there were two problems. First, I was not able to reformat the picture I selected, an option which is presented under the “Snap” option. Second, and more importantly, when I posted my first question to Facebook and Twitter, my photo suddenly flipped left 90 degrees and I was pictured sideways! I quickly deleted those links and tried again using “Snap.”

This time it worked. Here’s how my question appeared on Twitter:

Clicking the link brings you to a simple web-based interface. On the iPhone it’s Safari; on a computer it’s whatever browser you’re using. And they all pretty much look the same. The respondent is presented with an interface for providing an answer, which looks like this:

And now for the results! I’ll let the first two answers I received speak for themselves:

Obviously, QpixL is not going to be replacing fully interactive online surveys anytime soon. But researchers should think creatively about using this and other innovative technologies to help their clients collect data.

One example: I could see value in a company posting a QpixL survey to its corporate Facebook page and Twitter feed which garners quick qualitative feedback from a customer conference or a new product launch.

By recommending these types of innovative methods, “traditional” market researchers not only help clients gather useful qualitative information, but also help them increase social media interaction with key constituencies and communicate that their opinions are valued.

And by the way, for the record, Queen’s Brian May is welcome to contact me at dana@operandigroup.com. I’ll be waiting.

-October 2009

This content was provided by The Operandi Group. Visit their website at www.operandigroup.com.

Custom Online Panels Explained

by Dana Stanley, President, The Operandi Group

Custom online panels provide an efficient way of gathering survey feedback from a regular group of participants. This article looks at the what, why and how of creating custom online panels. Read Article »

Jumping to Conclusions about Twitter

by Dana Stanley, President, The Operandi Group

A research report on Twitter found that the platform would fail as a marketing medium, according to a survey of social media users. This article critiques the questions presented to survey takers and the validity of the report's resolution. Read Article »

Interview: Recruiting via Social Media with Simon Chadwick

by Dana Stanley, President, The Operandi Group

This is a video interview with Simon Chadwick, CEO of Peanut Labs. At a 2009 conference he presented on recruiting for online surveys through social media networks. Learn how one firm recruits and maintains their online communities. Read Article »

Interview: Mobile Surveys with Heidi Dickert of Mobile Compass

by Dana Stanley, President, The Operandi Group

This is a video interview with Mobile Compass co-founder Heidi Dickert regarding surveys on mobile devices: their advantages and possible problems as well as design, technical and technological implications. Read Article »

Interview: Technology Adoption Among Market Researchers Globally

by Dana Stanley, President, The Operandi Group

This is a video interview from the CASRO Technology Conference based on a study of 200 research companies worldwide. The study covered technology trends and providers and the explosion of online qualitative research. Dana Stanley of The Operandi Group interviews Tim Macer from meaning ltd. and Patrick Molloy from Confirmit. Read Article »

Interview: Technology Investment in a Recession

by Dana Stanley, President, The Operandi Group

This video interview is based on a presentation at the CASRO Technology Conference in 2009. Dana Stanley of The Operandi Group interviews Hugh Davis of Greenfield Online who provides examples of ways technology services help cut costs and change business models. Read Article »

Interview: Automating Analytical Protocols in Market Research

by Dana Stanley, President, The Operandi Group

This video interview with David Cosaro covers ways of using technology to convert raw survey data into visual presentations quickly and accurately. It is based on his presentation at CASRO Technology Conference in 2009. Read Article »

Interview: Online Qualitative With Jim Longo of iTracks

by Dana Stanley, President, The Operandi Group

This video interview covers the transition to online qualitative research including initial concerns and discovered advantages. Jim Longo of iTracks details specific ways research companies approach the online space. Read Article »

Interview: Rich Media Surveys

by Dana Stanley, President, The Operandi Group

This video interview discusses preferences of survey takers regarding plain text versus rich media flash-based surveys. The study looked at specific demographics and found interesting results. Read Article »

Animate Your Data

by Dana Stanley, President, The Operandi Group

Dana Stanley of The Operandi Group shares his insights on making your data stand out. PowerPoint presentations can be tedious and boring. This article recommends other types of technology you can use for data reporting. Read Article »

Research Industry Taxonomy

by Dana Stanley, President, The Operandi Group

This is a guide to the basic types of research companies and how they work together. Read Article »

Interview: Kathryn Korostoff, founder of Research Rockstar

by Dana Stanley, President, The Operandi Group

Research Rockstar is an online training company that shares education on marketing research topics. This interview with the founder conducted by Dana Stanley shares insights on the most popular classes, including how to hire the right agency or which research method to use. Read Article »

Interview: Communispace CEO Diane Hessan

by Dana Stanley, President, The Operandi Group

Dana Stanley interviews the CEO of Communispace - a company that uses online communities to find consumer insights. This interview describes the differences between online communities and custom panels, addresses positive bias, engagement, community size and more. Read Article »

Interview: Tom Anderson on Data Mining and Social Media

by Dana Stanley, President, The Operandi Group

This interview with Tom Anderson conducted by Dana Stanley covers the basics of data mining, approaches to making connections on social media sites, and where the research industry is headed. Read Article »

Take Control of Your Global Online Sample

by Dana Stanley, President, The Operandi Group

Common concerns among global tracking studies include unexpected changes in your tracking data resulting in inconsistent samples. Recent work being done by researchers provides a new way of conceptualizing online sample consistency globally: analyzing purchase intent. Learn more in this article from The Operandi Group. Read Article »

Market Research in the Social Media Age

by Dana Stanley, President, The Operandi Group

This video is of Dana Stanley presenting to the Maine Marketing Association. Targeted at a marketing audience, this presentation covers the evolution of social media and its relation to market research, including revolutionary technology tools and forward thinking. Read Article »

Possibilities for Market Research: GPS Apps

by Dana Stanley, The Operandi Group

Dana Stanley reviews Foursquare, a mobile phone app that uses GPS to note your location and allows you to leave comments and connect with friends. This technology creates new ways for market researchers to connect with consumers in the moment of their purchase. Read Article »

Interview: Online Qualitative Research

by Dana Stanley, President, The Operandi Group

An interview with Jen Mason Drolet, Vice President of Client and Moderating Services at iModerate Research Technologies, about online qualitative research. Read Article »