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How to create feedback surveys on Hotjar

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18
Quick Answer

Create feedback surveys on Hotjar by navigating to the Feedback section, clicking Create Survey, choosing your survey type and targeting options, then customizing the questions and design. Deploy the survey by activating it to start collecting visitor feedback on your website.

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Prerequisites

  • Active Hotjar account
  • Website with Hotjar tracking code installed
  • Admin or user permissions to create surveys

Step-by-Step Instructions

1

Access the Feedback section

Log into your Hotjar dashboard and click on Feedback in the left sidebar menu. Then click the + Create Survey button in the top right corner of the screen.
Make sure you're in the correct site if you manage multiple websites in Hotjar
2

Choose your survey type

Select from the available survey templates:
  • On-site survey - Appears as a widget on your website
  • Email survey - Sent via email to specific users
  • User interview - For scheduling research sessions
Click Continue after making your selection.
On-site surveys typically have higher response rates as they capture users in the moment
3

Configure survey targeting

Set up when and where your survey appears:
  • Choose All pages or Specific pages using URL matching
  • Set Display rules such as time on page, scroll percentage, or exit intent
  • Configure Audience targeting based on device type, traffic source, or custom attributes
Click Next to proceed.
Target surveys based on user behavior for more relevant responses
4

Design your survey questions

Add and customize your survey questions:
  • Click + Add Question to insert new questions
  • Choose question types: multiple choice, rating scale, open text, or NPS
  • Edit the Question text and Answer options
  • Toggle Required for mandatory questions
Drag questions to reorder them as needed.
Keep surveys short (3-5 questions max) to maximize completion rates
5

Customize survey appearance

Style your survey to match your brand:
  • Edit the Survey title and Thank you message
  • Choose a Color theme from the preset options
  • Select the Position where the survey widget appears (bottom right, bottom left, etc.)
  • Adjust Size settings for mobile responsiveness
Use your brand colors to make the survey feel native to your website
6

Set survey frequency and limits

Configure survey display settings:
  • Set Response limit to automatically pause after reaching target responses
  • Choose Frequency - how often to show the survey to the same user
  • Enable Schedule to run the survey during specific dates/times
  • Set Sample rate to show the survey to a percentage of visitors
A 10-25% sample rate is usually sufficient for most websites
7

Preview and test your survey

Before going live, review your survey:
  • Click Preview to see how the survey appears on desktop and mobile
  • Test the survey flow by completing it as a user would
  • Check that targeting rules work correctly
  • Verify the thank you message displays properly
Make any necessary adjustments.
Test the survey on your actual website using the preview link to ensure it displays correctly
8

Launch your survey

Activate your survey to start collecting responses:
  • Click Save and Activate when ready to launch
  • Monitor initial responses in the Results tab
  • Check the Performance metrics like impression and completion rates
  • Use Pause or Stop buttons to control survey status
Monitor your survey closely in the first few hours to catch any issues early

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Survey not appearing on website

Check that the Hotjar tracking code is properly installed and that your targeting rules aren't too restrictive. Verify the survey is Active and hasn't reached its response limit.

Low survey response rates

Adjust targeting to show the survey at better moments (like after 30 seconds on page), reduce the number of questions, or improve the survey title to be more engaging and relevant.

Survey appearing too frequently

Increase the Frequency setting to 'Once per session' or 'Once per week' instead of 'Every page view'. Lower the Sample rate to show it to fewer visitors.

Survey blocking website content

Adjust the survey Position and Size settings, or switch to a less intrusive display trigger like exit intent instead of immediate display.

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