Small business owners are always looking for an edge over the competition. While market research surveys are a great way to get information, they can be expensive and time-consuming. Surveys using matrix questions can help you start increasing sales and improving your strategy with empirical data without taking too much of your time or money. If this sounds like something you might be interested in, join us as we take a closer look at the role of matrix questions in small businesses.
What are matrix questions?
Matrix questions sound more complex than they are. In a nutshell, they’re a group of multiple-choice questions that are most often presented in a grid with rows and columns. Matrix questions are closed-ended questions, which means that respondents are given a set of answer choices to choose from.
Matrix questions aim to ask customers to evaluate one or more row items using the same criteria in the columns provided. Answer choices are frequently presented on a scale. This eases the burden for customers because it allows them to quickly scan the matrix question and answer in a matter of seconds. Check out some of the perks of matrix questions:
- Quicker, easier surveys: Matrix questions save space, which allows you to ask your customers the most important questions easily.
- Speed: Data collection is faster with matrix questions because respondents don’t have to answer multiple individual questions about each row item in the table. This saves time for small business owners and helps them compile data faster.
- Ease of analysis: Analyzing matrix questions take little effort since all the data is contained in a table. This makes it easy to spot trends and correlations that would have been difficult to see if you were looking at individual questions-helping you generate leads that much quicker.
While matrix questions are helpful for small businesses, there are a few things you need to be aware of before using them in your surveys:
- Matrix questions can be confusing for some respondents: Not everyone is familiar with the grid style of matrix questions, which can lead to confusion. The impact of the matrix question can be reduced if respondents spend more time trying to understand the question than answering it.
- Straight-lining: This is when respondents give the same response to each question without paying attention to what each row is asking them, resulting in data unreliability. Avoid this by being clear about what you want your respondents to answer.
Role of matrix questions in small businesses
Now that we know what matrix questions are, let’s take a look at the role they play in small businesses. Small business owners can use matrix questions in a variety of ways, but we’ll focus on three key applications: customer feedback, product testing, and market research.
- Customer feedback: One of the best ways to use matrix questions is for customer feedback. Matrix questions can help you understand what your customers like and don’t like about your products or services. You can also use them to find out what new products or services your customers would be interested in.
- Product testing: Matrix questions are a great way to test new products. You can use them to find out how customers would rate new products in terms of features, design, price, and more.
- Market research: Matrix questions are an essential tool for market research. They help you understand your target market better and learn more about your competition. If you’re interested in marketing automation, matrix questions can help you gather the required data to start.
In addition to the three applications, we’ve mentioned above, small business owners can use matrix questions for a variety of other purposes, including needs assessment, customer segmentation, and more. As you dive deeper and become more familiar with matrix questions, you’ll find countless other ways to use them in your business.
How to design effective matrix questions for small businesses
When designing matrix questions for your business, there are a few best practices to keep in mind:
- Group similar concepts together: When creating your matrix, group similar concepts together. This will make it easier for respondents to answer the questions and help them understand what you’re asking them.
- Keep rows and columns to a minimum: The fewer rows and columns you have, the easier it will be for respondents to answer the questions. This also makes the matrix less confusing and helps you avoid straight-lining. We recommend not exceeding more than five options for your columns and rows.
- Include an opt-out category: Make sure to include an opt-out option for each row and column of your matrix. This will give respondents the ability to choose not to answer a certain question or group of questions if they feel like it doesn’t apply to them.
- Avoid very long questions: Matrix questions should be short, simple, and easy to understand.
Wrapping up
Matrix questions might sound intimidating, but they’re actually quite simple once you get the hang of them. They are an essential tool for small businesses looking to gain a competitive edge. The key is to keep things simple and easy for respondents. By grouping similar concepts together and keeping rows and columns to a minimum, you can create surveys that are easy to understand and answer – providing you with rich data to make informed decisions about your business and launch the next stage of your company’s growth.
