1. PRE PARE for High Returns on Industrial Surveys
Pre: Lay the ground work before the first survey is sent by calling ahead to major employers to confirm the address and get a contact name. (You probably will not be able to call everyone so select the largest employers and work from the top down.)
Pare: Pare down the survey to the essentials. Ask only for the information that you absolutely need.

2. Make responding easy
Include a short cover letter with clear instructions. Stress the importance of replying.
Personalize the form with basic information about the company. (A label can be used for this purpose.)
Send a copy of last year’s survey response. (This jogs the contact’s memory. It may help a new contact understand what’s required and let’s the contact know that it’s ok to reply without permission from a manager. The company has replied in the past.)

3. Make responding easy Short survey – one page front and back
Include an addressed return envelope, a fax number, and indicate how to access an
on-line form option.

4. Follow-up with Non-Responders
Instead of calling, consider faxing the follow-up request. Include a cover sheet, the original request letter and the survey. The fax often goes through the hands of someone else on the way to the contact person. (It doesn’t hurt to have a second party know that the survey has not been completed.)
Call or a day or two after the fax.
Select the largest employers and work from the top down for follow-up.

7. Mary Wiard
204 E. High Street
P.O. Box 70
Mount Vernon, OH 43050