Creating a new survey

Last updated August 3, 2026

Objective

This guide explains how to create, build, and deploy a brand-new, blank survey in Recur. Whether you are conducting an anonymous board election or gathering post-event feedback, Recur Surveys provides customizable question types, privacy controls, and direct analytics tracking.

Step-by-Step Creation Guide

Step 1: Initialize a Blank Survey

  1. Navigate to your Surveys dashboard.

  2. Click New Survey in the upper right-hand corner.

  3. Select Blank Survey.

  4. Enter a descriptive Survey Title (e.g., "Board Member Voting").

  5. (Optional) Add a Description outlining the purpose of the survey.

  6. Set the Start Time and Close Time to define how long the submission window remains open.

  7. Click Create Survey.

Step 2: Add and Configure Questions

  1. Click the Add Question button on your survey dashboard.

  2. Type out your question text (e.g., "Who should be the President?").

  3. Choose your desired Question Type:

    • Multiple Choice (best for single-selection voting)

    • Short Text

    • Multiple Select

    • Rating

    • Ranking / Ordering

    • Matrix / Likert Scale

  4. Input all applicable answer options (e.g., candidate names).

  5. Toggle the Required switch if respondents must answer the question before submitting.

  6. Click Add Question and repeat the process for all remaining survey items.

Step 3: Configure Survey Settings & Privacy Controls

Click the Settings tab at the top of your survey screen to adjust access parameters:

  • Schedule Edits: Modify your start and end dates at any time.

  • Respondent Identification: Toggle on Respondent Name and Email Verification to force users to identify themselves before completing the form.

  • Blind Ballot / Anonymity: Toggle on Blind Ballot if you need to keep submission identities strictly anonymous (ideal for sensitive association votes).

Step 4: Preview, Distribute, & Manage Responses

  • Previewing: Click Preview in the top navigation bar to test the user interface and submit a sample entry.

  • Sharing Options: Navigate to the Share tab or click the Share header button:

    • Copy and post the Public Link.

    • Send direct invites by typing emails or uploading a CSV File.

    • Send invitations via integrated email or SMS text messaging.

  • Analyzing Responses: Click Responses to view dynamic charts summarizing data trends, inspect individual submissions with timestamps, or download full CSV reports.

  • Closing or Templating: Select Close Survey if you want to terminate submissions early. You can also choose Save as Template to preserve the structure for future use.

Cautionary Notes

  • Permanent Deletion: Selecting Delete Survey in the settings tab permanently purges all questions and gathered submission data.

  • Required Identifiers: If you enable "Blind Ballot," ensure your survey instructions inform users how their identity is kept private despite requiring email verification.

Tips for Efficiency

  • Early Shutdown: If you gather enough responses before your scheduled close date, use the manual Close Survey button to shut down access immediately without needing to edit the date settings.

  • Template Generation: If you design an extensive board election or annual review, click Save as Template after building it so you can clone it next year with a single click.