Survey Tools Showdown: SurveyMonkey & Other Free Tools for Customer Feedback

Why Authors and Business Owners Should Use Feedback Platforms

If you’re a self-published author or small business owner, you might wonder, “Why would I need a survey tool?” You’re already juggling working, writing, marketing, selling, and everything in between. Isn’t it just another tech thing to manage? What’s the point?

Surveys take the guesswork out of marketing, product development, and content creation. Whether you’re writing a book or launching a new product line, gathering feedback gives you insight you simply won’t get from analytics alone. If you want to sell more books, products, and services, it helps to know why people bought your last one and what would make them buy again. It’s easier to build what people want if you ask them what they need. That’s why businesses conduct market research.

For Authors:

📚Find out what genre your audience wants next

📚Test potential book titles, taglines, or cover designs

📚Ask readers what they liked most or least about a book

📚Get testimonials to use in future promotions

📚Collect email addresses for future launches

📚Offer a free short story or bonus chapter to get feedback on your book while rewarding readers

For Business Owners:

💼Understand your customer’s top pain points

💼Discover new product or service ideas

💼Improve your checkout experience or customer support

💼Collect data for case studies or testimonials

💼Build trust and engagement by showing you care about their opinion

Surveys are not just about data. They’re about relationships. When people feel heard, they are more likely to trust you, buy from you, and tell others about you. Think of survey tools as conversations at scale. You can ask one question and get 50, 100, or 1,000 answers, all without scheduling a single meeting. That’s incredibly powerful for solo entrepreneurs or authors without big teams.

If you’re serious about growth, learning how to collect customer feedback online is one of the most valuable skills you can build. Whether you’re launching a product, writing a book, or deciding between cupcakes or cookies for your next event, the fastest way to make smart decisions is simple: ask your audience.

Surveys are one of the most underrated tools for growing a business, improving your content, and building stronger relationships with your community. From indie authors to coaches to product-based businesses, gathering feedback through tools like SurveyMonkey, Typeform, and Google Forms can be a game-changer. Let’s break down what these platforms do, why they matter, and how to choose the right one.

Why Surveys Matter for Creators and Business Owners

Surveys are more than just question boxes. When used strategically, they become a roadmap for improving your products or services, a way to gather glowing testimonials, a quick validation tool before investing time or money into an idea, a gateway to deeper audience insights and long-term customer loyalty, and even a lead-generation tool when you include an email request at the end.

Authors can use surveys to get feedback on their books, ask readers what they want next, get early feedback on a title or cover design, or collect reviews after a launch. Coaches and consultants can assess client needs, segment their audience, or improve their services. Product-based businesses can ask about pricing, preferences, packaging, or feature requests. The bottom line is simple. You make better decisions when you stop guessing and start asking.

SurveyMonkey: The Classic Choice

SurveyMonkey is one of the oldest and most robust platforms in the game. It’s built for everyone from solo entrepreneurs to full-scale enterprise teams.

Pros:

✅Wide range of templates and question types

✅Powerful analytics tools

✅Logic jumps and conditional formatting

✅Custom branding for a professional feel

Cons:

❌Free version is limited

❌Higher-tier plans can get expensive

❌Mobile interface could be better

If you want serious data and plan to use surveys regularly, SurveyMonkey is a trusted choice. It’s particularly good for business owners needing detailed insights and clean reporting.

Typeform: Modern and Conversational

Typeform made surveys feel fun. With a smooth interface that feels more like a chat than a form, it’s perfect for brands with a modern aesthetic.

Pros:

✅Beautiful, mobile-friendly design

✅One-question-at-a-time format encourages higher engagement

✅Custom branding and logic branching

Cons:

❌Not ideal for long, detailed surveys

❌Analytics are more basic

❌Paid plans are required for advanced features

Typeform is great for creators, digital marketers, and service-based businesses that want a polished user experience for conducting market research.

Google Forms: Free and Functional

If you just need something fast and simple, Google Forms gets the job done. It’s not flashy, but it’s easy and free.

Pros:

✅100% free

✅Easy to set up and share

✅Responses go directly into Google Sheets

Cons:

❌Limited customization

❌No logic branching

❌Not ideal for public-facing forms if you care about appearance

Google Forms is great for beta readers, quick polls, interest lists, and internal feedback. It is one of the best free survey tools for small business owners who need simple, fast, and effective feedback.

Jotform: The All-Around Business Tool

Jotform goes far beyond surveys. It’s a form-building platform with tools for payment processing, appointment booking, and client intake.

Pros:

✅Drag-and-drop builder

✅Dozens of integrations

✅HIPAA-compliant options

✅Built-in payment forms

Cons:

❌Learning curve

❌Might be more than you need for basic surveys

Jotform is ideal for coaches, wellness pros, and small business owners who want forms that do more than just collect answers.

Zoho Survey: Affordable and Scalable

If you’re already using Zoho tools, Zoho Survey is an easy add-on. Even on its own, it’s a solid and affordable option.

Pros:

✅Great value for small teams

✅Easy team collaboration

✅Strong analytics and reporting

✅Integrates with Zoho CRM

Cons:

❌Interface is less intuitive

❌Best for users already in the Zoho ecosystem

It’s great for growing teams or budget-conscious businesses that need a long-term tool.

So Which Tool Should You Use?

It depends on your goals. If you’re just starting out, exploring free survey tools for small business can be a great entry point. Best of all, there’s no risk and no cost, other than your time and effort. What do you need?

Free and fast? Google Forms.

Beautiful and modern? Typeform.

Going deep with data? SurveyMonkey.

Need booking or payment tools too? Jotform.

Already using Zoho? Stick with Zoho Survey.

Feedback is gold, and surveys help you mine it.

There are plenty of free survey tools for small business that don’t require a tech background, marketing team, or monthly subscription. If you’re not using surveys yet, start with just one. Ask your audience what they want more of, what they’re struggling with, or what they loved most about your last post or product. Then take action based on what they say.

Your next bestseller, product launch, or service upgrade might already be hiding in their answers. If you’re unsure what to write next, or why your last book didn’t hit, a quick survey can help you get feedback on your book directly from your audience. You just need to ask the right questions.

What’s your favorite feedback tool? Let me know in the comments.