A Survey Isn't Just a Survey

Why Social Media Marketers Must Get It Right.

We’ve all seen those half-baked surveys pop up on Instagram Stories or in a caption asking, “What content do you want to see more of?” with vague options like “More!” or “IDK 🤷‍♀️.” While these might seem harmless or even engaging at first glance, they often miss the mark when it comes to gathering actionable insights.

The truth is, not all surveys are created equal — and for social media marketers, a bad survey can be worse than no survey at all.

A good survey is intentional. It asks clear, unbiased questions, uses the right formats (polls, sliders, question boxes), and offers answer choices that lead to useful data. A bad one? It confuses your audience, leads to random results, and may even push followers away if it feels lazy or repetitive.

When running a campaign or building a content calendar, relying on inaccurate or shallow data can lead you down the wrong creative path — wasting time, budget, and audience trust.

At Sequoia Socials, we don’t just guess what your audience wants — we ask the right way. Whether it’s using Instagram’s native tools to gather feedback or designing targeted surveys through email campaigns, it all starts with good research practices. Because in social media, clarity = connection.

Takeaway: Don't throw up a quick poll and call it a day. Ask questions that matter, design surveys that make sense, and let your audience feel like they’re shaping your brand — because they are.