Your best employees are already thinking about leaving. The right employee satisfaction survey questions reveal problems before resignation letters hit your desk. Gallup research shows that only 32% of U.S….
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You are spending money on Google ads, social media campaigns, and email marketing. But which channel actually brings customers through the door?
A how did you hear about us template answers that question in seconds.
This simple survey form collects marketing attribution data directly from customers. No guessing. No complicated analytics dashboards.
Just ask where they found you and let the responses guide your budget.
This guide covers everything you need to build an effective customer acquisition survey. You will learn which questions to ask, where to place the form, and how to turn responses into smarter marketing decisions.
What is a How Did You Hear About Us Template
A how did you hear about us template is a pre-built survey form that asks customers where they first discovered your business.
It collects marketing attribution data through multiple choice questions about referral sources, advertising channels, and customer touchpoints.
Most templates include answer options like social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), search engines (Google, Bing), word of mouth referrals, email campaigns, and paid advertising.
You can use these survey form templates on checkout pages, signup forms, job applications, and post-purchase emails.
Examples Of How Did You Hear About Us Template
Multiple choice
See the Pen
Interactive “How Did You Hear About Us?” multiple-choice survey by Bogdan Sandu (@bogdansandu)
on CodePen.
Open-ended
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Modern “How Did You Hear About Us” Survey by Bogdan Sandu (@bogdansandu)
on CodePen.
Checkbox (multi-select)
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Modern Multi-Select Survey (How Did You Hear About Us?) by Bogdan Sandu (@bogdansandu)
on CodePen.
Dropdown list
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Dropdown List Survey Form by Bogdan Sandu (@bogdansandu)
on CodePen.
Conditional/branched
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Modern Survey with Conditional Branching by Bogdan Sandu (@bogdansandu)
on CodePen.
Channel-specific
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Channel-Specific Survey by Bogdan Sandu (@bogdansandu)
on CodePen.
Embedded widget
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Feedback widget survey by Bogdan Sandu (@bogdansandu)
on CodePen.
Gamified/interactive
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Multiple Choice “How Did You Hear About Us” Survey by Bogdan Sandu (@bogdansandu)
on CodePen.
Email follow-up
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Email follow-up survey by Bogdan Sandu (@bogdansandu)
on CodePen.
Why Do Businesses Use How Did You Hear About Us Surveys
These surveys reveal which marketing channels actually drive customers to your business.
Without this data, you could waste budget on ineffective campaigns while ignoring channels that work.
Track Marketing ROI
Connect customer acquisition to specific campaigns and ad spend. Know exactly which Facebook ad or Google search brought each customer.
Optimize Budget Allocation
Shift money toward high-performing channels. Cut spending on sources that generate few conversions.
Understand Customer Journey
Learn how people find businesses in your industry. Some audiences search Google; others rely on recommendations from friends.
Validate Marketing Strategies
Test whether new initiatives work. Launched a TikTok campaign? The survey shows if anyone actually came from it.
What Questions Should a How Did You Hear About Us Survey Include
Keep it short. One primary question with optional follow-ups using conditional logic.
The core question: “How did you hear about us?” with checkbox or radio button answers.
Add a follow-up only when the initial answer needs clarification. Someone selects “Social Media” and then sees options for Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Pinterest.
What are the Best Answer Options for a How Did You Hear About Us Form
Cover every realistic channel without overwhelming respondents. Here are the essential categories:
- Search engines: Google Search, Bing, Yahoo
- Social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest, Reddit
- Referrals: Friend or family recommendation, colleague referral, professional network
- Advertising: Online ads, TV commercial, radio, print media, billboard
- Content: Blog post, podcast, YouTube video, news article
- Events: Trade show, conference, webinar, local event
- Other: Email newsletter, influencer, review site, other (with text field)
Include an “Other” option with an open text field. Customers sometimes find you through channels you never considered.
Where Should You Place a How Did You Hear About Us Survey
Placement determines response rates. Ask when customers are already engaged, not when they are trying to leave.
Checkout Pages
Add it as an optional field during checkout optimization. Customers are committed to buying and more likely to answer.
Account Registration
Include it in signup forms when users create accounts. They expect questions during registration.
Post-Purchase Emails
Send a quick survey after order confirmation. Keep it to one question for higher completion rates.
Contact Forms
Add the question to inquiry forms. You learn where leads come from before any sales conversation.
Job Applications
Ask applicants how they found the listing. Useful for HR teams tracking recruitment channel performance.
Website Popups
Use popup forms for visitor surveys, but time them carefully. Exit-intent works better than immediate popups.
How to Create a How Did You Hear About Us Form
Building this survey takes about five minutes with the right tool.
Choose Your Form Builder
Options include Google Forms, Typeform, SurveyMonkey, WPForms, Jotform, HubSpot, and Formidable Forms. Pick based on your website platform and integration needs.
Set Up the Primary Question
Create a multiple choice or checkbox field. Use radio buttons if you want single answers; checkboxes allow multiple selections.
Add Conditional Follow-Up Questions
Configure logic so follow-ups appear only when relevant. “Social Media” selection triggers platform options; “Search Engine” shows Google, Bing, Yahoo choices.
Keep It Short
One to three questions maximum. Long surveys kill completion rates and create survey fatigue.
Connect to Your CRM or Spreadsheet
Integrate with Google Sheets, Salesforce, HubSpot, or Mailchimp. Automatic data sync makes analyzing survey data much easier.
Test Before Publishing
Submit test responses. Verify conditional logic works and data flows to your connected tools correctly.
Types of How Did You Hear About Us Templates
Different use cases require different template formats. Match the template type to your specific goal.
General Marketing Attribution Survey
The standard version for tracking traffic sources. Works on any website form where you want customer acquisition data.
E-commerce Checkout Survey
Built into the purchase flow as an optional field. Captures attribution at the moment of conversion, linking specific orders to marketing channels.
Job Application Source Form
Tracks where candidates found your listing. HR teams use this to measure recruitment channel ROI across job boards, LinkedIn, referrals, and career pages.
Lead Capture Attribution Form
Combined with lead capture forms to identify which channels generate qualified prospects. Sales teams can prioritize leads from high-converting sources.
Event Registration Survey
Attached to event registration form templates for conferences, webinars, or workshops. Shows whether attendees came from email invites, social posts, or partner promotions.
Post-Purchase Email Survey
Sent after order confirmation with a single question. Higher response rates when kept brief and mobile-friendly.
How to Analyze How Did You Hear About Us Survey Results
Collecting responses means nothing without proper analysis. Turn raw data into marketing decisions.
Calculate Channel Distribution
Count responses per channel and calculate percentages. If 40% say Google Search and 5% say radio ads, your budget allocation should reflect that.
Segment by Customer Value
Cross-reference attribution data with purchase amounts. A channel bringing fewer customers might deliver higher average order values.
Track Changes Over Time
Compare monthly or quarterly data. A channel growing from 10% to 25% signals momentum worth investing in.
Identify Gaps
Zero responses from a channel you invested in? Either the campaign failed or your answer options missed something. Check both.
Connect to Revenue
When possible, link attribution to actual sales in your CRM. Knowing that LinkedIn referrals convert at 3x the rate of paid ads changes everything.
Common Mistakes When Creating How Did You Hear About Us Surveys
Simple errors tank response rates and data quality. Avoid these problems.
Too Many Options
Lists with 20+ choices overwhelm respondents. They pick randomly or abandon the survey. Stick to 8-12 core options with an “Other” field.
Missing Key Channels
Forgetting TikTok, podcasts, or YouTube leaves gaps in your data. Review your actual marketing activities before finalizing options.
No Follow-Up Questions
“Social Media” tells you little. Without conditional follow-ups asking which platform, you cannot make channel-specific decisions.
Poor Placement
Surveys buried on thank-you pages get ignored. Place them where customers are engaged and have time to respond.
Making It Required
Forcing answers frustrates users. They select random options to proceed, corrupting your data. Keep it optional.
Ignoring Mobile Users
Surveys that work on desktop but break on phones miss half your audience. Test on mobile forms before launching.
Not Acting on Data
Collecting responses without reviewing them wastes effort. Schedule monthly reviews to adjust marketing spend based on findings.
FAQ on How Did You Hear About Us Template
What is a how did you hear about us template?
A pre-built survey form that asks customers where they first discovered your business. It collects marketing attribution data through multiple choice questions about referral sources, social media platforms, search engines, and advertising channels.
Why should I add this question to my forms?
It reveals which marketing channels drive actual customers. Without this data, you waste budget on campaigns that do not work while ignoring channels that do. Direct customer feedback beats guessing every time.
Where is the best place to put a how did you hear about us survey?
Checkout pages, account registration forms, and post-purchase emails work best. Customers are already engaged at these points. Avoid placing surveys where users are trying to leave quickly.
Should I make the question required or optional?
Keep it optional. Required fields frustrate users who select random answers just to proceed. Optional questions get fewer but more accurate responses, which produces better data for marketing decisions.
How many answer options should I include?
Between 8 and 12 options covers most scenarios without overwhelming respondents. Include an “Other” field with open text for channels you might have missed. Too many choices cause survey abandonment.
What are the best tools to create this survey?
Google Forms, SurveyMonkey, Typeform, and Jotform work for standalone surveys. For WordPress sites, use dedicated WordPress survey plugins that integrate with your existing forms and CRM systems.
Can I use conditional logic in my survey?
Yes. Show follow-up questions based on initial answers. Someone selects “Social Media” and then sees options for Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or LinkedIn. This approach collects detailed data without making the survey feel long.
How do I analyze the responses?
Calculate percentage distribution across channels, then cross-reference with sales data. Track trends monthly. Connect responses to your CRM to measure which sources deliver the highest customer lifetime value.
What answer options should I include for social media?
List major platforms separately: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest, and Reddit. Each platform attracts different audiences. Grouping them under “Social Media” loses valuable targeting information.
How often should I review survey results?
Monthly reviews catch shifts in customer acquisition patterns. Quarterly deep dives help adjust marketing budgets. Set calendar reminders because collecting data without acting on it wastes the entire effort.
Conclusion
A how did you hear about us template turns guesswork into data. One question, multiple choice answers, and you know exactly which channels deliver customers.
Build the survey in minutes using tools like Jotform, Paperform, or native WordPress plugins. Place it on checkout pages, registration forms, or post-purchase emails where engagement is highest.
Keep answer options between 8 and 12 choices. Add conditional follow-ups for deeper insights on specific platforms.
Review responses monthly. Connect the data to Salesforce, HubSpot, or Google Sheets for proper customer journey mapping.
The businesses that track referral sources make smarter budget decisions. Start collecting attribution data today and stop funding campaigns that do not convert.


