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I haven’t run a full-blown audience survey since 2020. Since then, so much has changed for me, for you, and for how we do business! And honestly? I wasn’t sure we needed to do one.
But Marisa, my right-hand and co-strategist, had a different perspective, and I’m so glad I listened. In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on how we created a survey that wasn’t just about collecting data. It was about reconnection, reorientation, and rebuilding from a place of listening.
And yes, we used AI to help… but only after WE set the vision. So if you’re feeling disconnected from your audience or unsure what to build next, I hope this gives you a few new tools and a little clarity.
And hey, you can still take the survey, and there’s a $500 gift card involved as a thank-you!
Taking a Pulse in a Season of Change
The last time we surveyed our audience was in 2020. At first that didn’t seem like too long ago, but then I realized five years have passed: a third of my journey as an entrepreneur.
Since then, we’ve launched a book, evolved our brand, and welcomed so many new faces into our community. The world has changed, and so have we.
Marisa saw the gap and gently pushed us to do something about it. We weren’t just collecting data for data’s sake. We needed to stop guessing and start listening. We needed to tune in and build from alignment, not assumption.
And with the extra bandwidth of summer (aka our non-launch season), it was the perfect time to make it happen.
Survey Resistance and What Shifted
I had all the hesitations. Who would take it? What if the data overwhelmed us? What if we didn’t know what to do with it? And most of all, how could we make it worth our audience’s time?
Marisa tackled every concern. She made the survey easy to complete, timing it at just over three minutes. We offered a universal incentive of a $500 Amazon gift card to make participation more accessible. And we designed the questions with intention, asking only what would lead to actionable insights, not just interesting tidbits.
For the first time, we also made every question optional. This small shift gave our audience the freedom to engage at their own pace and comfort level.
The result? Nearly 2,000 responses in 24 hours. I was floored. I still am.
Smart Tools and Strategic Thinking
Marisa used AI, not as a crutch, but as a smart co-pilot. She drafted questions, then brought in ChatGPT to help tighten the wording, find gaps, and eliminate redundancies.
On the backend, we’ll be using AI again to distill open-ended responses into usable insights without losing the nuance of our audience’s words.
We also made strategic tech decisions. Originally considering our quiz platform, Interact, we pivoted to Typeform for better data collection and analysis. And we’ll only keep the subscription as long as we need it—hello, scrappy business mindset!
Early Insights and What They’re Teaching Us
We’re still sifting through the responses, but a few things have already stood out. Most of our audience are still in the side hustle or solopreneur phase. Time, not money, is their biggest obstacle. And they crave reliable income, not seven-figure blueprints.
This changes how we show up. It grounds our content, our offers, and even our tone. It reminds me that the people I’m speaking to are juggling a lot, and they need simple, steady guidance. That’s something I can absolutely provide.
More than anything, this survey has reopened a two-way street in our marketing. We’re not just speaking to our audience; we’re listening. Responding. Evolving. And that shift is already making everything we do feel more connected and purposeful.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re shouting into the void with your content or second-guessing what your audience actually needs, let this be your nudge. Ask them. Whether it’s a 10-question survey or a single poll in your stories, open the door.
And if you want to see exactly what we asked and how we set it up, check out the survey here. Whether you’re taking notes or leaving your own feedback, we’d love to hear from you!
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