PostHog Hosted Surveys: An Update For Email Surveys Early Access

Hey everyone! We've got an exciting update for those of you who were eagerly awaiting email surveys in PostHog. While the email surveys feature isn't quite ready yet, we've launched something super cool in the meantime: hosted surveys! Let's dive into what this means for you and how you can start using it right away.

Context: Bridging the Gap to Email Surveys

For those of you who signed up for early access to email surveys, we wanted to keep you in the loop. We know you're keen to send surveys directly via email, and that's still on our radar. However, we didn't want to leave you hanging. We've been working hard on a fantastic alternative: hosted surveys. This feature allows you to create and share surveys using a simple URL, giving you a powerful way to gather feedback from your users.

We've decided not to flip the feature flag to beta just yet, because the specific functionality of sending surveys via email isn't available. But trust us, hosted surveys are a game-changer, and we think you'll love them!

Understanding the Nuances of Feature Flags and Beta Releases

Before we proceed, let's briefly touch on the concept of feature flags and beta releases in software development. A feature flag is a technique that allows developers to turn certain features on or off without deploying new code. This provides a flexible way to test features with a subset of users or roll them out gradually. When a feature is in beta, it means it's still under development and may have some rough edges. While hosted surveys are fully functional and ready for use, we're keeping the email surveys feature under wraps until it's polished to perfection. This approach helps us maintain a high level of quality and ensures that you have the best possible experience.

Goal: Driving Awareness and Usage of Hosted Surveys

Our primary goal here is to get the word out about hosted surveys. We want you, our early access users, to be among the first to try them out and see the value they bring. Specifically, we're aiming to:

• Boost Awareness: Make sure you know that hosted surveys are available and understand their capabilities.
• Encourage Usage: We want to see you creating and launching surveys to gather valuable insights from your users.
• Gather Feedback: Your feedback is crucial in helping us improve hosted surveys and shape the future of our survey features.

We believe that by focusing on these goals, we can empower you to collect more feedback, understand your users better, and ultimately build better products.

The Power of User Feedback in Product Development

User feedback is the cornerstone of any successful product development process. It provides invaluable insights into how users interact with a product, what they like, and what they find challenging. By actively seeking and analyzing user feedback, we can make informed decisions about product improvements, feature enhancements, and overall direction. Hosted surveys provide a powerful mechanism for gathering this feedback, enabling you to connect with your users on a deeper level and gain a more holistic understanding of their needs and expectations.

Format: A Personalized Email Just for You

To reach you effectively, we're using email as the communication channel. This allows us to deliver a personalized message directly to your inbox, ensuring you don't miss this important update. We've crafted an email that is clear, concise, and highlights the key benefits of hosted surveys.

Why Email Remains a Powerful Communication Tool

In today's digital age, email remains a robust and reliable communication channel, particularly for delivering important updates and announcements. It provides a direct line of communication with users, ensuring that messages are delivered in a timely and personalized manner. Unlike social media or other channels, email offers a more formal and professional means of communication, making it ideal for sharing significant product updates and engaging with users on a deeper level.

Audience/Targeting: Reaching Our Email Surveys Early Access List

This message is specifically targeted to those on our early access list for email surveys. You're the pioneers, the ones who showed early interest in this feature, and we want to make sure you're the first to know about hosted surveys. You can find the list we're using here.

The Importance of Targeted Communication

Targeted communication is essential for delivering the right message to the right audience. By segmenting our users and tailoring our communications to their specific interests and needs, we can ensure that our messages are relevant and engaging. In this case, we're focusing on users who have expressed interest in email surveys, as they are most likely to appreciate the value of hosted surveys as an alternative solution. This approach helps us maximize the impact of our communication efforts and foster stronger relationships with our users.

Resources, Timeline, Responsibilities: A Quick One-Time Message

This is a one-time messaging effort. Our goal is to inform you about hosted surveys, and we're not planning a series of follow-up emails on this topic. We want to respect your inbox and only send you relevant updates.

The Value of Concise and Timely Communication

In today's fast-paced world, concise and timely communication is crucial. Users are bombarded with information from various sources, making it essential to deliver messages that are clear, to the point, and relevant to their needs. By focusing on a one-time message, we can ensure that our communication is impactful without overwhelming users with unnecessary information. This approach respects their time and attention, fostering a more positive and engaging user experience.

Requested Input: Your Feedback Matters!

We'd love to get your feedback on the email body and subject line. Your input is invaluable in helping us craft the most effective message possible. Please take a look at the preview below and let us know what you think!

The Power of Collaborative Feedback in Communication

Collaborative feedback is a cornerstone of effective communication. By soliciting input from multiple stakeholders, we can gain a diverse range of perspectives and ensure that our message resonates with the intended audience. Your feedback on the email body and subject line will help us fine-tune our message, making it more engaging, informative, and ultimately more successful in achieving our goals. This collaborative approach reflects our commitment to transparency and user-centricity.

Previews: The Email You'll Receive

Here's a sneak peek at the email you'll be receiving:

Subject line: Hosted Surveys are here!

Body:

Hey [First name],

You’re on our early access list for Surveys for Emails, which is why we're reaching out.

Within PostHog Surveys, you're now able to create surveys hosted by PostHog that can be shared in a simple URL.

You can use all of the same tools you're already used to, like partial responses, multiple question types, and customization too. Plus, you get the same view for survey responses analysis.

Create your hosted survey right now →.

Thanks for being part of early access!

We think this email clearly communicates the availability of hosted surveys and encourages you to give them a try. What do you think?

Deconstructing the Email: Key Elements and Messaging

The email is structured to be clear, concise, and actionable. The subject line immediately grabs attention, highlighting the arrival of hosted surveys. The body of the email begins with a personalized greeting, followed by a clear explanation of why the recipient is receiving the message. It then introduces hosted surveys, emphasizing their key features and benefits. The call to action is clear and direct, encouraging users to create their hosted survey right away. Finally, the email expresses appreciation for the recipient's participation in the early access program. Each element of the email is carefully crafted to convey the message effectively and encourage user engagement.

Next Steps: Share Your Thoughts!

Please share your feedback on the email subject line and body. You can send your thoughts to [email protected]. We're eager to hear what you think and incorporate your suggestions.

The Importance of Feedback Loops in Product Development

Feedback loops are essential for continuous improvement in product development. By actively soliciting and incorporating feedback from users, we can ensure that our products are aligned with their needs and expectations. Your feedback on the email is a crucial part of this feedback loop, helping us refine our communication strategy and ensure that we're effectively reaching our users. This iterative approach to product development allows us to continuously improve our offerings and deliver the best possible user experience.

We're excited about hosted surveys and believe they'll be a valuable tool for you. Thanks for being part of the PostHog community!