As part of Member Appreciation Month, we wanted to recognize some of the Tellwutters who help make our community unique: our survey creators!

Tellwut has many creative members who submit surveys on all kinds of topics, from current events and history to entertainment, nature, everyday life, and personal opinions. Since there are so many wonderful contributors, we held a random draw from our survey creators and invited the selected members to answer a few questions about what inspires them, how they come up with ideas, and what they enjoy most about creating surveys for the Tellwut community.

Here is what they had to say!

Member: luvbugnmama1

What inspires you to create surveys on Tellwut?
I get inspiration from various things. Newsletters that I subscribe to, interesting news blurbs on my local adult contemporary radio station, articles that I read in online magazines and occasionally other members' surveys will give me an idea and even some comments.

Do you like reading the results or comments on your surveys?
Yes, I like to read them, because it makes me feel like I've been able to engage others, however briefly, with something interesting to me.

Have any member responses ever surprised you?
Yes, there's been some surprises from time to time. I generally try to keep my surveys interesting and positive and I'll occasionally see a negative or what I feel is a purposely obtuse comment. This can be discouraging after you've put a lot of time into creating a survey, the way that I and many other members do.

What do you enjoy most about being able to create surveys for the Tellwut community?
I actually enjoy learning new things myself and then being able to share it with others, in the hopes that they'll enjoy learning something new or different, too.

Do you have any tips for other members who may want to create their own surveys?
Yes, I do.

1. Try to not be too “wordy.” I've found that using an AI summarizer helps with this.
2. Pay attention to your spelling and grammar.
3. Don't ask complicated questions, just ask questions that can be answered with a simple Yes/No/Undecided/Not Applicable.
4. If using a video, be sure to check that it's not geo-locked and make sure that your question doesn't require people to actually have to view the video. Not everyone has the time, data, bandwidth, etc., to view videos. I use them just as an added “if you want to learn more” thing.
5. Still images make any survey better, as they're simply more engaging than just a block of text. Unless of course, it's just a simple poll and not a survey. Especially if asking if someone has heard of a product or remembers a fashion, etc. It's much easier to answer if you know what something looks like.
6. Post a comment after your survey is approved. This encourages engagement from other members.
7. Try to reply to a few comments on your surveys. It's important that members know that you've read them and that you appreciate them taking the time to comment.
8. And most importantly: Be sure to research your subject and list at least one resource for it, if any were used and be willing to admit when you've made a mistake. No one is perfect.

Member: scouthoward

How long have you been creating surveys on Tellwut?
On 12/20/2019 my first survey, of over 650 to date, was published on Tellwut.

What types of surveys do you enjoy creating most?
I have created surveys on a very diverse spectrum of subjects, but my favorite surveys are about nature; both flora and fauna.

How do you come up with your survey ideas?
I get my survey ideas from personal interests, the news and popular culture. The internet has almost unlimited verifiable information available.

What do you think makes a good opinion survey?
Opinions are not facts, but good opinions are based on real, verifiable facts. Opinion surveys are allowed but should be labeled as such in the heading to avoid misunderstandings.

Have you noticed that some survey topics get stronger reactions than others?
The more controversial your survey subject is, can and will determine how negative and lively the comments can and will get.

What do you enjoy most about Tellwut member-created surveys?
Most members are here to make money on external surveys, but the internal member created surveys are what make Tellwut a real community and differentiates it from any other survey platform.

Do you have any tips for other members who may want to create their own surveys?

1. Know your audience, which comprises their personal demographics and includes likes/dislikes of the members. You will have to read the completed survey results and comments to learn them over time. Sorry, no shortcuts.
2. Tellwut Support will help you with any issues you may encounter making surveys. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Their member support is world-class. They always reply very promptly.
3. I try to find a balance of clarity and brevity with survey content and size. If your survey subject is too long or complex to cover in a 3 to 4 question survey, then make a survey series.
4. If at all possible, I always try to include images/photos for every survey question. Finding the right visuals can be the most time-consuming element of survey creation, but they are always worth it for a higher quality finished survey.
5. I don't do videos in my surveys because they take too much time for the members to complete for 5 points, in my opinion.
6. Always edit your survey after it is completed. It's your responsibility to make sure that your survey doesn't have errors, not Tellwut Support. You may not see a mistake, but the members will.
7. Don't be thin-skinned because all survey creators will get constructive criticism. If a member personally insults you in your survey's comments, consider the source and report them to Tellwut Support. They are the only arbitrators for the forum and have final say on everything.
8. Last, but not least, always include a valid source for your survey in the heading to avoid plagiarism. Very few of our member surveys are totally original material, so give credit where credit is due.

Member: burgerlady

What inspires you to create surveys on Tellwut?
Creating surveys for Tellwut allows me to express my creativity.

How do you come up with your survey ideas?
I come up with my survey ideas by either thinking about subjects of which I would like to know the answer to from my fellow members' opinions, or from topics I know a lot about or that I find interesting.

What types of surveys do you enjoy creating most?
The surveys that I enjoy creating the most are surveys that I think might help other members because of the information they contain. For example, I once did a survey about online learning. I was hoping that some of the free course websites I mentioned would help other members find a place to learn something they were interested in learning.

Do you like reading the results or comments on your surveys?
I love reading the results and comments on my surveys. It makes me feel like I know the people who comment a bit better and the results answer the questions I have about “How many people have done this?” or “How many people are for or against this?”

Have any member responses ever surprised you?
Yes. Sometimes I am surprised by the wonderful comments I get about some of my surveys. I am grateful when several people enjoy one of them a lot.

What do you enjoy most about being able to create surveys for the Tellwut community?
I think that being able to create surveys and comment on surveys shows that Tellwut really cares about their members and I feel a part of a community.

Do you have any tips for other members who may want to create their own surveys?
Tip 1: Write about what you want to know or already know.
Tip 2: Write a survey about something you want to know more about, such as a topic you find interesting.
Tip 3: Your surveys will get better as you get more practice.

Member: sylviefb

What inspires you to create surveys on Tellwut?
I am such a fan of Tellwut, that coming up with ideas for surveys is usually in the back of my mind all the time.

How do you come up with your survey ideas?
Sometimes I'm inspired by wondering if the reactions of others mirror my own when I experience something. Or I read about a person or event that I find fascinating, and decide to share the info with Tellwut members in the hope they will be entertained as well.

Do you like reading the results or comments on your surveys?
Reading comments is one of my favorite things about the site. I enjoy getting the perspective of people from all over the US, and especially Canada. I find it broadening and informative.

Have any member responses ever surprised you?
I am impressed by the level of knowledge, writing ability, wit, and compassion displayed by many of our members.

What do you enjoy most about member-created surveys on Tellwut?
I don't evaluate a survey by who created it, but by its content. Keeping an open mind adds to my enjoyment.

Do you have any tips for other members who may want to create their own surveys?
Members who are pondering writing a survey should go for it. If they have concerns, they could ask a family member or friend to proofread their work before submitting it. If they have questions about the survey-writing process, they should contact Tellwut Support, who would graciously offer help.

It's great hearing from fresh contributors. The more voices, the merrier.

Thank You to Our Survey Creators

Thank you to luvbugnmama1, scouthoward, burgerlady, sylviefb, and all Tellwut members who take the time to create surveys, share ideas, and help keep the Tellwut community active and interesting.

Whether you create surveys often, comment on member surveys, or simply enjoy answering them, your participation helps make Tellwut more than just a survey site. It helps make it a community.