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Should I use SSL feature for my surveys

tankeytankey subscriber Posts: 11
edited October 2007 in Marketing
Hi,I have a subscription with a survey company and I purchased that SSL feature for an additional monthly cost.  For those of you who use survey companies, do you think the SSL feature is worth having, and is it likely to increase the amount of responses?At this time, I don`t see the reason for having it.  My survey asks mostly opinion questions, demographic questions, and then an option to leave a contact email address.  There is no gathering home addresses, phone numbers, names, etc.  and most certainly there is no asking for banking or credit card info.Because I am new to this, I may be missing some reason why I might benefit from the SSL feature.  Therefore, I am looking for feedback, from those more experienced, about the feature.  Thanks so much.

Comments

  • tankeytankey subscriber Posts: 11
  • tankeytankey subscriber Posts: 11
    Thanks for your replies nhgnikole and nGenuity.  This really helps me out a bunch.
  • sddreamweaverssddreamweavers subscriber Posts: 5 Member
    You don`t need SSL for a simple survey.
    This statement is incorrect if personal information like Address, phone number, etc is asked in the survey.
  • VolusionVolusion subscriber Posts: 0
    Agreed with Aaron.  If the connection isn`t encrypted, the data isn`t fully secured.  Also, make sure to include a CAPTCHA on any form to avoid getting spammed.Regards,Michelle GreerMarketing SpecialistVolusion Inc.Free LiveChat Software Available
  • angolaangola subscriber Posts: 2

    You don`t need SSL for a simple survey.
    This statement is incorrect if personal information like Address, phone number, etc is asked in the survey.But as a bootstrapper, which I assume this person is, what percentage of respondents will absolutely not partake in the survey b/c it does not have https:// access? I would guess that, unless the survey`s target audience is web security/admin personnel, the need for https for something like phone number/name is nil. Less than 1% of non-security people will be knowledgeable enough to even notice that you are using https in the first place. Besides, why do name/phone number need to be requested via https? The phone book has that info for free (as does Google).I would only use https for knowledgeable audiences or if I`m asking particularly sensitive data (such as SSN, credit info).
  • sddreamweaverssddreamweavers subscriber Posts: 5 Member
    But as a bootstrapper, which I assume this person is, what percentage of respondents will absolutely not partake in the survey b/c it does not have https:// access? I would guess that, unless the survey`s target audience is web security/admin personnel, the need for https for something like phone number/name is nil. Less than 1% of non-security people will be knowledgeable enough to even notice that you are using https in the first place. Besides, why do name/phone number need to be requested via https? The phone book has that info for free (as does Google).I would only use https for knowledgeable audiences or if I`m asking particularly sensitive data (such as SSN, credit info).If people are smart and don`t want to chance identity theft they wouldn`t fill out a form that`s not encrypted.  Unencrypted forms with personal identification in them is Web Designer/Server Admin 101 no-no.
  • angolaangola subscriber Posts: 2
    If people are smart and don`t want to chance identity theft they wouldn`t fill out a form that`s not encrypted.  Unencrypted forms with personal identification in them is Web Designer/Server Admin 101 no-no.Then you`re in the "less than 1%" that I talked about... And your comment about how "unencrypted forms with personal identification in them is Web Designer/Server Admin 101 no-no" is just not true. Your comments remind me of working with an attorney recently. The guy was brilliant but his one flaw was that he was never happy enough to just me sign the contract. Gotta change this, OMG this could happen if you don`t change that, we can`t say it that way, etc, etc, etc. At the end of the day, this was a $1000 contract and he wanted me to spend $600 in legal fees on it. Give me a break - I`m looking for the major pitfalls but this guy was so panicky and worst-case-scenario that he was like hanging out with a life insurance salesman who is "always on." I stand by my earlier comments.And I`m sure there are plenty of panicky folks on this board who read my comments about working with that particular attorney and thought, "He should listen to his attorney." In business, especially as an entrepreneur, you gotta watch out for life-sucking worst-case-scenario people who always think that the world`s out to screw you. As an entrepreneur, you need to "Always look on the bright side of life". Worst-case-scenario people attract other worst-case-scenario people...
  • tankeytankey subscriber Posts: 11
    Wow, I`ve been away from the board for a while due to being so busy with my "day job".  What an education this has provided me.  Lucky for me, my survey does not ask for any sensitive information such as name, phone number, etc.  Just basic demographics and preferences.  The other stuff will come later.Angola, you statement about the worse case scenario people is so true. Sometimes I am one of them and trying to get out of that.  Thanks for showing me the other side of looking at things and demonstrating how legal fees can take so much out of your capital (experienced some of that too).
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