How Do You Send a Survey by Email?
Learn how to email a survey, choose between an embedded first question and a link, and improve response rates with a clear, tested invitation.
Send a survey by emailing a clear invitation with a survey link; some email campaign tools can also embed a clickable first question. Most full surveys still open in a browser, so test the email and survey before sending.
How do you send a survey by email, and can you embed it?
Create the survey, choose an email distribution method, and send a short invitation with a link; you can embed a first question in some campaign emails. First, decide who should receive it and what you need to learn, then write only questions you can use the answers to address. Send through your survey platform or email marketing service, and check that the link works on a phone and records responses as expected. If you need to identify respondents or follow up with nonrespondents, use a method that supports individual links and reminders.
“Embed” usually means placing a clickable first question in the email, not putting a whole interactive survey inside it. For example, Typeform says its email embed can start with a supported question, then open the rest of the survey in a browser; setting it up requires an email distribution tool such as Mailchimp or HubSpot, rather than a personal Gmail or Outlook message. (help.typeform.com)
When should you embed a survey versus link to it?
Embed a first question when you want a quick, low-effort response; link to the survey when you need broad compatibility or a longer questionnaire.
| Option | Choose it when | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Embed a first question | You’re sending through a campaign platform that supports the embed, and the first question is simple, such as a rating or yes/no. | It can reduce the initial click, but the full survey usually opens in a browser. The setup may depend on supported question types, and you may need to update the email code if the survey changes. (help.typeform.com) |
| Link to the survey | You want a straightforward setup, have multiple or complex questions, or need to send from an ordinary email account. | People must click through before answering, but the survey runs on its own page and is easier to maintain across email tools. |
A link is usually the safer choice if you cannot test how an embed appears in recipients’ email apps. Embedding is not a shortcut for placing the entire survey inside the message: email systems commonly restrict the scripts needed for a fully interactive form. (help.typeform.com)
How can you improve email survey response rates?
Make the survey relevant, quick to understand, and easy to finish, then send a restrained reminder to people who have not responded. Invite people who have actually experienced the topic you are asking about; avoid repeatedly surveying the same audience. Explain why you want their feedback, give an honest time estimate, and remove questions whose answers you do not plan to use. Qualtrics’ XM Institute likewise recommends targeting the right audience, keeping surveys short, and setting expectations in the invitation. (qualtrics.com)
Use a recognizable sender name and a subject line that says what the survey is about. Test the email on mobile, keep the call to action visible, and thank respondents afterward. A reminder can reach people who missed the first email, but send it only to nonrespondents; survey platforms such as Qualtrics support reminders for incomplete responses. (qualtrics.com)
If you’re asking your own customers, Zigpoll is one option for ecommerce and Shopify brands that want to run email and other customer-feedback surveys. As of November 15, 2026, its Lite plan includes 50 responses per month; paid plans start at $39 monthly or $29 monthly with annual billing. (docs.zigpoll.com)
