---
title: "Create a Survey from Scratch"
url: "https://terryberry.productfruits.help/en/article/create-a-survey-from-scratch"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2026-09-16T11:34:27.720Z"
---

# Create a Survey from Scratch

Use this option when you need a fully customized survey that doesn't fit an existing template or when your feedback needs are unique to a specific situation or audience.

Creating a survey from scratch gives you complete control over question types, flow, and content. Here is how to do it: 

**Step 1. Start a New Survey**

-   From the **All Surveys** page, click **\+ New Survey**.

![All Surveys page](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/dc765444-0ece-4067-a44c-41697a87d469)

-   You’ll see three options:
    -   **Start from a template** (recommended)
    -   **Create a custom survey from scratch**
    -   **Generate a survey with AI**
-   Select **Create a custom survey from scratch**.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/331e36c5-7066-4660-8aa2-50c7328d2c73)

**Step 2. Enter Survey Details** 

-   Provide a **Survey Name** (required).
-   Select a **Survey Type**:
    -   **Custom** – Build your own questions without a predefined format.
    -   **Pulse** – Create a short, quick-turnaround survey for rapid insights.
-   Click **Continue** to move forward.

**Step 3. Build the Survey** 

#### Question Builder

1.  **Reorder or add new questions (Left Panel)**: Once you’ve chosen a template (like eNPS and Retention), your survey will already include a set of questions. These can be reordered, edited, or expanded.
2.  Add new questions by clicking **\+ New Question**. Select a type (e.g., single choice, multi-select, scale) and enter your options. 
3.  **Main Area:** Edit question text, select question type (e.g., scale, multiple choice), and make required at your discretion.
4.  **Translations:** Use the translations button if needed.

**Note**: all edits are autosaved.

[Embedded content](https://player.vimeo.com/video/1227319357)

#### **Add Participants**

1.  Go to the **Participants** tab.
2.  Use the **Filter** panel on the right to target groups. Filters include attributes such as manager, department, location, country, tenure, gender, and **Is Manager** (Yes/No), among others. Select the values you want, or use **Select** all within a filter.
3.  Participants appear as a **card grid** in the main area. Each card shows the employee's name, role, email, hire date, and org path.
4.  Add or remove individuals directly on their card using the + or − in the top corner. To add everyone matching your current filters, use **Add all**.
5.  Search for a specific person using the Search people bar above the grid.
6.  Click the **Participants** button to open a preview of your current selection, where you can review everyone added and **Remove** individuals or **Remove** **All** before finalizing.

**Note**: You can also add employees manually by name or sync your list from an HRIS integration.

[Embedded content](https://player.vimeo.com/video/1227326676)

#### **Schedule Survey**

1.  Go to the **Schedule** tab to decide when the survey will be sent out.
2.  **Specific Date and Time**: Choose start and end dates. 
3.  **Automatic by Event**: Trigger surveys based on individual events (e.g. 7 days after hire). This option is often used for New Hire or Exit surveys.

![Schedule tab](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/215f5520-6db8-49db-98b7-ba57defc8436)

**Tip**: The platform auto-generates reminders based on your schedule, so make sure your timeline allows enough time for reminders and responses.

#### **Configure Communications**

-   Open the **Communications** tab.

![Communications tab](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/515886f2-78d9-40b3-ae7f-36608cff2260)

-   Review default launch and reminder messages. The number and spacing of reminders adjust based on your survey timeline.
-   You can customize subject lines and message text by clicking Customize Communications. The system keeps standardized openings and closings intact, but the body of the message is editable. 
-   If needed, adjust reminder timings or reset to default.

#### **Adjust Settings**

-   Click the **Settings** tab.

![Settings tab](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/1f762deb-a871-4f83-ab2a-9b54754ab87d)

-   **Anonymous**
    -   No personally identifying information is stored or connected to responses.
    -   Reports cannot display groups smaller than the minimum threshold (default: 6 participants).
    -   A banner at the start of the survey confirms anonymity for participants.
-   **Attributed**
    -   Participant information is saved and linked with responses.
    -   Reports can show individual-level data.
    -   A banner at the start of the survey alerts participants that responses are not anonymous.
    -   **Auto-Scheduling Per Event:** To have a survey automatically launch for events (e.g., onboarding, exit), select **Attributed** in the **Settings** tab. This setting is required for event-based automation.
-   **Analytics**
-   Surveys can be categorized by applying **tags** that group them for reporting.
-   Common tags include:
    -   **Baseline** – First or foundational survey, used for comparison over time.
    -   **Pulse** – Short, frequent surveys to measure changes quickly.
    -   **eNPS** – Focused on employee Net Promoter Score.
    -   **DrillDown** – Targeted surveys exploring specific topics (e.g., Leadership, Equity, Empowerment).
    -   **Custom** – Organization-defined tags for unique needs.
-   Selected tags appear in the right-hand panel under “Selected Tags.”

#### **Finalize and Send**

-   Click the **Send** tab.

![Send tab](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/5fef1180-efa5-4579-86d0-5adb720eda7f)

A. **Error Check**

-   Go to the **Send** tab. This tab summarizes everything you’ve set up. It displays your choices across the five previous tabs: number of questions, participants, schedule, communications, settings, and tags.
-   Red exclamation marks on tabs (e.g., **Participants, Schedule**) indicate **incomplete setup**. Once each section is completely filled, the indicator changes to a green check sign.
-   Fix errors flagged with a red exclamation mark.

B. **Preview & Test**

-   Use **Preview** to see the survey across devices (web, tablet, mobile).

C. **Send a Test Survey**

-   Click **Send Test Survey** to open the modal.
-   **Adding Users:**
    -   Click **Add Users** to bring up your organization’s user list.
    -   Use the search bar to quickly select specific users.
-   **Test Restrictions:**
    -   Test surveys are not live and will not collect participant data.
    -   They can only be sent to users within your organization (no external test recipients).

D. **Schedule Survey**

-   Once ready, click **Schedule Survey**. The survey will move from draft to scheduled, and you can still unschedule it before launch if needed.