CTC8: Getting feedback: Lessons from a passive product survey
You don’t need a big research project to learn something useful
For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been running a member survey on my Nintendo Switch side project, Switch Scores.
I didn’t want to push this too hard — I haven’t emailed existing members or added popups. But I did place a survey link in a prominent spot on the site, just to see who might respond.
If you’re not ready to gather feedback on a specific feature, a passive survey can still give you valuable insights. No interruptions. No pressure. Just a quiet nudge for users who are willing to share.
The survey
I used Google Forms to create a quick, lightweight survey, with responses stored in a connected Google Sheet. It took less than an hour to set up. Once it was live, all I had to do was drop a link into the product.
I asked the following questions:
The classic Product Market Fit (PMF) question:
“How would you feel if you could no longer use this site?”Are you registered?
What type of member are you?
(With a list of member types, plus an “N/A” option)What do you find useful at Switch Scores?
(Multi-select, with 5 key features and an “Other” option)If you could improve one thing, what would you choose?
(Free text)
The responses
While it’s early days — just 6 responses so far — I’ve already learned a few things:
4 out of 6 users said they’d be very disappointed if the site disappeared. That’s a strong signal that Switch Scores is resonating for some users.
Everyone finds the Top Rated section useful, with “Search” and “Browse by category” also getting multiple votes.
When asked what they’d improve, the most common theme was adding more visuals/media — things like game images or videos.
A couple of people also suggested new features: integrating SteamDB scores, or adding better tools for managing personal game collections.
Tweaking the survey
The “Are you registered?” and “What type of member are you?” questions were helpful for context. But I might combine them into a single question next time.
Also: some users may tick every box without reading too carefully. One person said they weren’t a member, but selected a feature that requires sign-in — along with everything else.
That’s part of the game with passive surveys: you trade tight control for low friction.
Why the survey was worth doing
This has been a helpful temperature check. Even vague or positive feedback is a signal — especially when no one is shouting about glaring issues.
And when a theme does emerge — like media and visuals — it gives me ideas for what to prioritise next.
If you run a product, especially a side project, and you're unsure what’s landing…
Try adding a passive survey. No hard sell. No spammy popups.
Just a simple way to listen.
“Cutting Through Chaos” is where I share lessons from the messier side of product work — research, prioritisation, focus, and all the stuff that rarely feels neat.
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