Print questions that show what readers still want on paper
Ask readers when they read the paper, what they read there that they skip online and how it looks in their hands. Each question below comes with when to ask it and what the answer tells you.
What print newspaper survey questions tell you
Print newspaper survey questions ask readers when they read on paper, what they read there that they skip online, how the paper looks and feels and what would bring them back to it. Circulation figures count copies. These answers tell you which pages earn their place and what keeps readers paying for paper.
Print the survey's QR code and a short link on a page readers turn to every day, such as the letters or puzzles page, and run the same survey on the website for readers who left paper. Pick five to seven questions, and keep the grid on paper quality, layout, photography and type size for readers who still get the paper.
Each written answer gets a theme and a sentiment, so complaints about delivery, price and type size fall into their own themes. Give each response an owner in the inbox, and add every answer as a row in Google Sheets for the print team.
- Questions
- 13
- Best asked
- With the paper, through a printed QR code
- Industry
- Media
- Where to find them
- From library in the Usertick survey editor, on every plan
The 13 the print edition questions, with when to ask each
Grouped by what they tell you. Use them as they are or change the wording.
Who still reads on paper
Start here to split paper readers from online readers, then filter every other answer by that split.
- 01Yes / No
Do you still read us on paper?
Splits paper readers from those who read only online. Select No in Results to filter to readers who left paper, then read what would bring them back.
- 09Dropdown
How do you get the print edition?
How the reader gets the paper, from a mailed subscription to a copy passed on. Select one in Results to compare readers who pay with those who share a copy.
- 07Number
How many print editions do you read in a month?
How many print editions a reader gets through in a month, typed as a number. Results shows the median and the middle half, a fair picture of how often subscribers really read.
- 02Multiple choice
When do you read the print edition?
When the paper gets read. Results shows a donut with each share; a lead for the weekend is a case for putting long features in the weekend edition.
How the paper reads
Ask these before and after a redesign or a change of format, with the same words each time.
- 03Stars
How would you rate the print edition?
A five star rating for the print edition. Results shows the average and the share who gave four or more; ask it after a redesign and compare with the period before.
- 11Matrix
Rate the print edition on each
Rates paper quality, layout, photography and type size in one grid. The heat map with row averages shows which part pulls the rating down, before you spend on paper or a redesign.
- 08Multiple choice
How is the paper's size to handle?
Whether the paper is easy to hold and fold. Results shows each share; ask it before any change of format and again three months after.
- 12Multiple choice
How much of the paper do you get through?
How much of each paper the reader gets through, from a few pages to cover to cover. Results shows a donut with each share, a guide to page count.
What paper does better
Use these to decide which sections stay in print and what to lead with when you sell a print subscription.
- 04Multiple choice
What do you read on paper that you skip online?
Readers pick what they read on paper and skip online. Results shows a bar per section, which tells you what the print edition does that the site doesn't.
- 05Big scale
How much do you enjoy holding a paper copy?
How much the physical paper itself matters, from one to ten. Results shows the average and a column per step; a high score is a reason to keep paper quality as it is.
- 13Ranking
Rank what keeps you reading on paper
Readers order what keeps them on paper, from no screen to habit. Results shows the average place of each item; lead your print subscription offer with the item at the top.
- 06Text
Which printed section would you miss most?
An open question for the section readers would miss. Each answer gets a theme, a useful check before you cut pages or merge sections.
- 10Text
What would bring you back to paper?
An open question for readers who left paper. Each answer gets a theme and a sentiment, so price, delivery and habit show up as separate reasons.
Tips for asking about the print edition
Small choices that get honest, useful answers.
- 01
Print a QR code in the paper
Put the survey's QR code and a short link on a page readers turn to every day, such as the letters or the puzzles page.
- 02
Ask online readers too
Run the same survey on the website, so readers who left paper can tell you why.
- 03
Tag the code by edition
Give the weekday and weekend editions their own tagged link and QR code, so their answers stay apart.
- 04
Ask before you change the format
Ask about size, layout and type before a redesign, and again three months after, with the same questions.
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 the print edition
Full surveys that ask about the same things, and neighboring topics in the library.
Templates
Browse all templatesFrequently asked questions
Print the survey's QR code and a short link in the paper. Readers scan it with a phone or type the link, and the survey opens on a hosted page. Mailed subscribers can also get it by email from Usertick.
Start with whether the reader still reads on paper, then the rating and the grid for paper quality, layout, photography and type size. End with the section they would miss most.
Five to seven. Readers who scan a code from the paper have time to answer, but keep the survey short enough to finish on a phone.
Yes. Print a different QR code in each edition with its own tag, and the tag is kept with each answer for workflows, Google Sheets and the API.
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.
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