(Originally appeared on my Indie Hackers blog)

Instead of posting a link to a survey in a Facebook group with potential customers, post that you’re doing a research project and would love to interview some people that do [whatever your target market does].

Here’s my theory: People don’t like filling out surveys because it feels cold, and impersonal. On the other hand, answering questions being asked by a human interviewer, even if they are the same questions, makes them feel important because of the personal touch. Someone else is taking time from their day to ask the questions, so it’s more reciprocal.