Surveys are a type of quantitative primary research that aim to collect specific data from a sample audience.

Surveys can be administered via email, snail mail, or phone, and usually target customers or potential customers.

There are four steps to attacking a survey: identifying your audience, writing the survey, conducting the survey, and analyzing the data collected.

When you write the survey, keep the questions simple, but be very specific. Also, including a "reward" for completing the survey - a promotional product or coupon of some sort - is a good way to increase participation.

Although it is possible to conduct a survey completely in-house, your best bet would be to outsource the survey conducting and data analyzing to a research firm that conducts surveys as part of their business.