Configure Survey Audience and Triggers (Web)

Overview

The success of a survey or a feedback campaign depends on asking the right questions to the right users at the right time. VWO surveys provide robust targeting and triggering options to ensure your survey appears exactly where and when it is most relevant, without disrupting the user experience.

This article covers the initial survey configuration phase, which involves defining the URL(s) on which you want the survey to run, URL rules, audience segments, and activation triggers.

Define the Survey URL

On the Configure page of the survey builder, in the URL section, specify the exact pages where the survey must appear. You can create granular rules to include or exclude specific pages.

To define a survey URL:

1. Select a URL pattern type from the dropdown.
   
   VWO provides flexible match types to handle various URL structures. For more information, see Using URL Patterns in VWO.
2. Enter the corresponding URL, pattern, or regular expression of the web page(s) you want to include or exclude from the survey.
3. [Optional] Click Include URL and enter the URL(s) where you want the survey to appear.
4. [Optional] Click Exclude URL and enter the URL(s) where the survey should never appear (for example, login pages, sensitive account pages), even if they match an Include rule.

5. Set up the preview URL.
   
   In the Enter URL of the page for which you want to preview field, enter the full URL of the page you want to use for previewing the survey. Ensure the full URL of the specific page matches the URL pattern type you selected (for example, https://example.com/products/red-sneakers).

   Note: When you select URL matches as the pattern type above, the preview URL field is automatically populated based on the URL you entered. You can update it if you want to preview a different matching page.

   VWO uses this URL to generate the survey’s design preview. When generating the preview, it loads this specific page in the background so you can see exactly how your survey widget looks overlaid on your actual content.

6. Next, define the survey audience.

Define the Survey Audience

In the Audience and Traffic section, define which set of visitors should see the survey.

1. Select an Audience Segment: To target specific groups (for example, only referral traffic or returning visitors), use the available segmentation options to replace the default configuration.
   
   You can choose from the following options:
   1. Standard Segments: Select from VWO’s pre-defined segments lists, such as Traffic Source, Device Type, Visitor Type, or Operating System. For more information, see Using Standard Segments in VWO.
   2. My Segments: Choose a segment you have previously saved in your VWO account. For more information, see Working with Segments in VWO.
   3. Custom Segments: Click Custom Segment to build a new rule using the Segment Gallery. You can combine conditions like location, device type, and cookie values. For more information, see Defining Custom Visitor Segments in VWO.
   4. VWO Copilot: For a faster setup, click Copilot. Type a prompt describing your target audience (for example, Users from France using an iPhone), and VWO Copilot will automatically build the segment conditions for you. For more information, see Using Copilot for Segments and Triggers in VWO.
2. Set the Traffic Percentage: By default, the survey is set to show to 100% of visitors who match your URL conditions. If you wish to limit the sample size, drag the slider or enter a specific percentage to show the survey to only a fraction of your traffic.

3. Configure Segment Settings: Click Settings to control how VWO validates your audience. This allows you to decide if VWO checks the segment condition only once when the page loads or continuously throughout the session. For more information, see Configuring the Segment Settings in VWO.

   Note: This setting is not applicable to the All Traffic segment.
4. Next, define the survey trigger.

Define the Survey Trigger

Triggers determine the precise moment the survey appears during a visitor's session. Choosing the right trigger is crucial for response rates and user experience.

1. Select a Trigger Category: In the Trigger Conditions section, choose one of the following options to define when your survey activates:
   1. Standard Triggers: Select from VWO’s most common activation logic.
   2. My Triggers: Select a previously saved trigger configuration in your VWO account to maintain consistency across campaigns.
   3. Custom Trigger: Select this option to build advanced trigger logic. You can combine visitor events such as clicks, page scroll, and form submissions with time periods for additional granularity.

   4. VWO Copilot: Click Copilot to generate a trigger using AI. Type a prompt like Show survey when a user tries to leave after reading half the page, and the system will configure the settings for you. For more information, see Using Copilot for Segments and Triggers in VWO.

      Tip: For more information on all trigger types and their usage, refer to Working with Triggers in VWO.
2. Configure Trigger Settings: Click Settings to configure how VWO evaluates your trigger conditions. This allows you to specify whether the system checks the condition only once when the page loads or continuously monitors for changes (useful for Single Page Applications or dynamic variables).
   
   From here, you can also build an advanced custom trigger. For more information, see Adding Custom Triggers for Surveys.
3. Click Next.

Next Steps

Now that you have established where the survey runs, who is eligible to see it, and when it triggers, the next step is to design the survey’s content. Proceed to Add and Configure Survey Questions to learn how to add question types, logic, and translations.

Need more help?

For further assistance or more information, contact VWO Support.