Learn which parts of your newsletter subscribers actually read
Ask subscribers how they read each issue, what they look forward to and what would make them leave. Each question below comes with when to ask it and what the answer tells you.
What newsletter survey questions tell you
Newsletter survey questions ask subscribers how they read each issue: which sections they open, how much they get through, when they read it and what would make them leave. Open rates show who opened the email. These answers show what readers did with it and whether they would miss it.
Put a one-question rating at the bottom of an ordinary issue, and send a longer survey of five to eight questions once or twice a year. A link in your own newsletter opens the survey page, with a tag naming the issue kept with each answer. When Usertick sends the survey to your list, Stars, Yes / No, Multiple choice, Dropdown and Emoji questions can be answered inside the email.
Each written answer gets a theme, a sentiment and a type such as idea or complaint, so requests to add a section are easy to tell from complaints about length. Give each response an owner in the inbox, or add every answer as a row in Google Sheets for the editorial team.
- Questions
- 13
- Best asked
- At the bottom of an issue, or once or twice a year
- Industry
- Media
- Where to find them
- From library in the Usertick survey editor, on every plan
The 13 newsletters questions, with when to ask each
Grouped by what they tell you. Use them as they are or change the wording.
How much the newsletter is worth
Scores to follow from survey to survey, with the forward question as the plainest sign readers value it.
- 05Stars
How useful is the newsletter?
A five star rating for the newsletter as a whole. Results shows the average and the share who gave four or more; ask it twice a year to follow the trend.
- 09Big scale
How much do you look forward to it?
How much the reader looks forward to the next issue, from one to ten. Results shows the average and a column per step, a measure of habit that an open rate can't give.
- 12Emoji
How do you feel when it arrives?
How the reader feels when the issue lands, on a row of faces. Results shows the share for each face; many Okay answers point to a newsletter read out of habit.
- 11Yes / No
Have you forwarded it to someone?
Whether the reader has passed an issue on. The share who said yes is your clearest word-of-mouth signal; select Yes to see which sections those readers value.
How subscribers read each issue
Ask these before you change length, order or send time, so the change follows real reading habits.
- 02Slider
How much of each issue do you read?
How much of an issue readers get through, from 0 to 100 percent. Results shows the median and the middle half, which says more about length than an open rate does.
- 03Multiple choice
Which sections do you read?
Readers pick every section they read. Results shows a bar per section, so a section few readers pick is a candidate to drop or move lower in the issue.
- 07Yes / No
Do you read it on your phone?
A plain yes or no on reading by phone. If most say yes, check how long sections and wide tables look on a small screen before the next redesign.
- 10Dropdown
When do you read it?
When the newsletter gets read. Results shows each share and count; use the leading answer to set your send time, then ask again after you move it.
Format, frequency and topics
Use these when you plan a redesign or a second newsletter, and end with the open question.
- 01This or that
For our newsletter you prefer
Two choices in one question: weekly or daily, short or in depth. Results shows a split bar per pair; check it before you change how often the newsletter goes out.
- 13Multiple choice
Which topics should the newsletter cover? Pick up to three.
Readers pick the topics they want covered. Results shows a bar and a count for each topic, a quick guide when you plan a second newsletter or a new section.
- 06Text
What should we add or drop?
An open question for changes. Each answer gets a theme and a type such as idea or complaint, so requests to add something and requests to drop something are easy to tell apart.
Why subscribers join and leave
The reasons at both ends of a subscription, worth asking side by side so you can see which promise keeps readers.
- 04Multiple choice
Why did you subscribe?
The reason that brought the reader in. Results shows a donut with each share; select An offer to see whether readers who joined for a deal rate the newsletter lower.
- 08Multiple choice
Why might you unsubscribe?
Asks what would make a reader leave, with an option for those who would stay. Results shows each share; Too frequent at the top is a reason to offer a weekly digest.
Tips for asking about newsletters
Small choices that get honest, useful answers.
- 01
Put one question in every issue
A rating at the bottom of an ordinary issue costs readers a second. Save the longer survey for once or twice a year.
- 02
Tag the link with the issue
Add a tag naming the issue to the survey link. The tag is kept with each answer, so you can compare editions.
- 03
Ask before you change frequency
Run the frequency and format question before you move from weekly to daily, then ask it again three months later.
- 04
Hear from quiet readers
Readers who rarely open the newsletter are the ones close to leaving. Send them a short survey with the unsubscribe question first.
Add these questions to a survey
From the library to the first answers.
- 1
Open the library
In the Usertick survey editor, choose From library, filter by industry and topic, and add several questions at once.
- 2
Or paste your own list
Paste questions reads up to 10 questions from any text on Free, 100 on Starter and 200 on Pro and above, keeps your wording and picks an answer type for each.
- 3
Choose where it runs
Show the survey on your website, send it by email, share its link and QR code, or switch it to a conversation.
- 4
Read the answers
Results counts every score and choice, and Usertick reads each written answer and files it by topic, on every plan.
Templates and more questions about newsletters
Full surveys that ask about the same things, and neighboring topics in the library.
Templates
Browse all templatesFrequently asked questions
Put a one-question rating in any issue, and send a longer survey once or twice a year. Usertick sends to a contact list now or scheduled up to 30 days ahead, so pick the time your readers usually open.
Yes, when Usertick sends the survey to your contact list. NPS, Stars, CES, Emoji, Yes / No, Multiple choice and Dropdown questions can be answered inside the email.
One in an ordinary issue, such as the usefulness rating, and five to eight in a yearly reader survey. Start with the rating and end with what to add or drop.
Usertick sends no reminders or recurring sends. Send the survey again to the readers you want to hear from, or repeat the link in a later issue.
Yes. The question library comes with every plan, the free plan included, and the free plan covers 150 responses a month across your surveys.
Yes. Once a question is in your survey, reword it, change its options or its answer type, and add logic to skip it for some answers.
Yes. The library is translated into Usertick's built-in languages, and in any other language it shows in English for you to translate.
Listen better, act faster, and build what truly matters.
Start free, see what your customers mean, and get each answer to the person who can act on it.
- 150 responses a month on Free
- Every channel and AI analysis
- No card needed