Sep 4, 2024 
Online forms are the start of any data collection, they can look like surveys, feedback forms, registration forms, polls, quizzes, the list is infinite! In the world of online forms Microsoft Forms is very well known especially if you already belong to the MS universe. It’s been around for sometime and is easy to use. So today, let’s go through 7 easy steps to creating surveys using Microsoft Forms.
Create Surveys in Microsoft Forms in 7 Steps!
First, to create a new form using Microsoft Forms, you’ll need a Microsoft account (such as a Microsoft 365 or Outlook account). Many features are available even without a paid subscription, but it’s better to purchase a plan to get access to more of the advanced features based on your needs.
Once you’re logged in, go to Microsoft Forms and follow these steps.
Step 1: Select the New Form Option
Select the New Form option. You’ll find this at the top of the page.
Step 2: Name Your Survey and Add a Description
If you are familiar with Microsoft Office, you’ll find the interface quite similar, allowing you to easily switch between tools. Next, click on the Untitled form section to name your new survey and add a brief description for your form. If you want to provide any directions for the reader filling out your survey, you can do so under the description section.
Step 3: Customize Your Survey’s Appearance
If you want your survey to align with your brand identity, you can customize it by clicking the Style in the upper right. Here, you can choose the accurate customizable themes and palettes for your survey. You can also create polls or quizzes by selecting the appropriate question type under the multiple-choice option.
Step 4: Add Sections to Improve User Experience
Next, add sections to your survey to improve user experience. You can do this by clicking +Create on your first question button and then clicking Section to add a new section and subtitle.
Tip: Using multiple choice questions can help streamline responses, especially when collecting large data sets that will be exported into an Excel sheet later.
Step 5: Add New Questions to Your Survey
If you want to add a new question, then click on +Add new question under your title or first section heading. Next, you can select any one of the available question types like, text, choice, rating and then add your question content.
Step 6: Preview and Test Your Survey
Lastly, go through your form a few times before publishing it. Double-check is a must! You can click preview at the top of the screen to see previews of your form on both- your mobile device and desktop layouts of your form.
Tip: Test your form yourself by answering your survey questions and then go back to your form to see how responses will be recorded under the Responses tab. Make sure to delete your response if you do not want your response to be recorded and affect your results.
Step 7: Share Your Survey and Collect Responses
For the final step, click the Collect Responses button in the top right to share the form through a link. This can be in the form of an email invitation, a post on X or Facebook, or a QR code. You can also embed it on a web page to share your survey with the people you want to hear from, and then review the survey responses in the Responses tab. If you’re exporting data to an Excel sheet, it ensures easy compatibility for analysis.
Microsoft Forms’ Pros and Cons
MS Forms works as a great tool for creating effective forms. It’s easy to use and works well with other Microsoft tools. Being part of the Microsoft Office suite adds an additional layer of convenience for users already in that ecosystem. However, like any other software, it has its pros and cons.
Pros of Microsoft Forms:
- Easy Integration: MS Forms works well with other Microsoft tools like Word, Excel sheets, and PowerPoint. This is a convenient choice for businesses and individuals who already use these tools.
- Easy to Use: The simple interface and straightforward design make Microsoft accessible to a wide range of users. It’s designed to be easy to use, even for people who aren’t tech experts.
- Conditional Logic and Branching: MS Forms lets you create effective forms that adapt based on the respondent’s answers. This makes the surveys more personal and helps you collect better data.
- Drag-and-Drop Functionality: The user-friendly drag-and-drop interface simplifies the process of creating custom surveys, saving you time and effort.
However, creating polls or forms with more complex needs may require you to look into other tools that offer more advanced features.
Cons of Microsoft Forms:
- Limited Customization: While you can create custom surveys on Microsoft, these options are still basic and not suitable for those seeking highly branded or visually complex surveys.
- Integration Challenges: Integrating MS Forms with third-party software can sometimes be difficult. This limits its flexibility for businesses that may even require third-party apps for smoother operations like Slack, Asana or Salesforce.
- Question Type Constraints: MS Forms provides a decent range of question types, but it still falls short of offering more specialized options required for certain surveys, such as matrix questions.
- Offline Limitations: Microsoft Forms is an online tool, requiring an internet connection for creation, editing, and data collection. This can limit users from working offline or in areas with unreliable internet connectivity.
What makes MakeForms a Suitable Alternative to Microsoft Forms?
Microsoft Forms are useful in creating forms that require basic functionalities. But if you’re looking for more robust and complex needs fulfilled, then it’s we’d like to put ourselves in the running!
We’ve built MakeForms – an online form builder powered by AI- with advanced customizable themes, payment integration, file uploads, offline editing, team collaboration, and the highest security features.
What does this mean? These features make it a great choice for people who need more from their forms, if you’re running a healthcare organization you need compliances – we’ve got them. If you’re a large enterprise working remotely, creating forms to survey employees, we’re here to help collect responses and easily export answers to your database. Need team collaboration features? We’ve got them too. If you’re an organization collecting customer feedback surveys that need to be streamlined and analyzed quickly – we integrate with most business tools and have detailed business intelligence! Additionally, you can access automatically generated reports with detailed analytics and instantly visualize response data!
FAQs
You don’t necessarily need a Microsoft 365 subscription to use Microsoft Forms. Many features are available for free with a Microsoft or Outlook account. However, subscribing to Microsoft 365 will unlock additional premium features that may be useful for more advanced needs.
Yes, you can customize the design of your survey by selecting different color palettes and themes under the “Style” option. However, customization is somewhat limited, and you might find fewer branding options compared to other form builders.
After creating your new survey, click the “Collect Responses” button. You can then share the survey via a link, email, social media, or generate a QR code. You also have the option to embed the survey directly into a website or share it through platforms like Microsoft Teams for easy distribution.
