Drive Product Decisions with Customers

“We had 5 jacket designs—no idea which to make.” This was the dilemma for TrailPace, an outdoor apparel brand targeting hikers and campers. Their last launch of a “one-size-fits-all” jacket flopped, with 30% returned for poor fit. To avoid repeating mistakes, they turned to online voting and online survey tools to let customers pick their favorites. Two months later, the design that won 62% of votes became their bestseller, with a return rate of just 8%.

Key Metrics Before & After

Jacket return rate: 30% → 8%

Launch sales: 110 units → 345 units

Customer engagement: 120 comments → 1,800+ votes

The Risk of Ignoring Customer Input

TrailPace’s previous jacket failure stemmed from guesswork. The design team chose a “neutral gray” they thought would appeal to everyone, but customers complained it “lacked personality.” Their first attempt at feedback? A messy Facebook poll using a free tool—only 120 people commented, and opinions were split. “We needed a way to collect clear, actionable input at scale,” said founder Mia. “A random poll wasn’t cutting it—we needed a real poll creator.”

“Making products without asking customers is like hiking without a map. You might get somewhere, but you’ll waste time and energy.” — Mia, TrailPace Founder

How Online Voting Turned Ambiguity Into Clarity

Mia’s team adopted SurveyMars for its dual strength as a survey maker and online poll maker. They created a two-step process to narrow down their 5 jacket designs:

Step 1: Online Voting for Design Preferences

They uploaded photos of 5 jacket designs (e.g., “Mountain Camo,” “Forest Green”) to SurveyMars’ poll creator. Customers could vote for their top 2, with a single click. In 7 days, 1,800 people voted—“Alpine Blue” led with 62%.

Step 2: Online Survey for Specific Feedback

Using the online survey tool, they asked voters: “What’s your biggest concern with outdoor jackets?” 78% said “fit for different body types”—so they added 3 size options instead of one.

Why SurveyMars Beat Free Poll Tools

TrailPace had tested a free poll creator before, but it lacked critical features. SurveyMars stood out by:

Preventing duplicate votes—ensuring 1,800 unique responses (vs. fake votes on free tools).

Integrating voting and surveys—no need to switch platforms to get detailed feedback.

Offering branding—jackets were framed with TrailPace’s logo, building trust.

The Alpine Blue Jacket Launch: 30-Day Results

Sales: 345 units (3x more than the previous design)

Return rate: 8% (down from 30%—thanks to size feedback)

Social mentions: 420+ (customers tagged #MyTrailPaceJacket)

Repeat purchase intent: 41% (up from 22% before)

Beyond Jackets: Building a Customer-Driven Brand

TrailPace now uses SurveyMars for every product decision. They ran an online survey to pick next season’s backpack colors (68% chose “Desert Sand”) and used the online poll maker to vote on pocket features. “We’re not just selling clothes—we’re building a community where customers feel heard,” Mia said. “SurveyMars makes it easy to turn their opinions into products they’ll actually buy.”

They even compared it to other tools and found SurveyMars was their best online survey solution. “It’s intuitive, affordable, and designed for small brands that need to move fast. We don’t have time for complicated software—we need to get feedback and act on it.”

3 Tips for Brands Using Online Voting & Surveys

1. Keep voting simple: Let customers pick 1-2 favorites—SurveyMars’ one-click voting boosts participation.

2. Follow up with surveys: Voting tells you “what” they want; surveys tell you “why.” Combine both for full context.

3. Share results: Post “You voted—Alpine Blue wins!” to show customers their input matters. It builds loyalty.

For brands like TrailPace, online voting and online survey tools aren’t just extras—they’re risk reducers and sales drivers. “The days of guessing are over,” Mia said. “SurveyMars lets us build products with our customers, not just for them. That’s the difference between a product that sits and one that flies off shelves.”.https://surveymars.com/116

Q1: Can I add "Voter Eligibility Verification" (e.g., membership ID check) to online voting surveys?

A: Yes—SurveyMars lets you verify voter eligibility for secure voting. Add a verification field (e.g., "Membership ID" or "Employee Number") and upload a list of valid IDs. Only respondents with matching IDs can access the vote, blocking unauthorized participation. This is critical for organizational votes (e.g., board elections, membership referendums) where only specific groups should have voting rights.

Q2: Does SurveyMars support "Rank-Choice Voting" (RCV) for online surveys where voters rank candidates/options?

A: Absolutely—enable rank-choice voting to capture nuanced preferences. Voters rank options in order (1=First Choice, 2=Second Choice, etc.), and the platform uses instant runoff logic to determine a winner with broad support. If no option gets a majority, lower-ranked choices are reallocated until a winner emerges. This is ideal for elections or decisions with multiple strong candidates.

Q3: How does SurveyMars let me combine voting results with survey feedback (e.g., "Vote + Why you chose this option")?

A: Blend voting and feedback by adding follow-up survey questions. After voters select an option (e.g., "Preferred software tool"), ask open-text or rating questions like "What made you choose this tool?" or "How satisfied are you with this option?" Results link votes to feedback, showing not just which option won, but the reasoning behind the choice—adding depth to voting outcomes.

Q4: Can I hide voting options based on voter demographics (e.g., regional options only for local voters)?

A: Yes—use demographic-based filtering to show relevant voting options. For example, if a voter selects "Europe" as region, only show European conference locations; hide Asia/Americas options. This ensures voters only see choices applicable to them, avoiding confusion and irrelevant options. It’s perfect for global teams or regional decision-making where preferences vary by location.

Q5: Can I hide voting options based on voter demographics (e.g., regional options only for local voters)?

A: Yes—use demographic-based filtering to show relevant voting options. For example, if a voter selects "Europe" as region, only show European conference locations; hide Asia/Americas options. This ensures voters only see choices applicable to them, avoiding confusion and irrelevant options. It’s perfect for global teams or regional decision-making where preferences vary by location.