Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to Mapster's comprehensive FAQ! Here you'll find answers to the most common questions about our location-powered feedback survey platform.

🗺️ New to Mapster?

Start with "Getting Started" questions below, or create your first location-powered feedback survey right away. Most users discover valuable geographic patterns within their first 100 responses!

---

Getting Started

How long does it take to create my first location-powered feedback survey?

Setup takes under 5 minutes! Choose from proven templates or build custom questions with multiple choice, text input, and rating options. Add your professional branding with logos and custom colors, configure targeting triggers, and get your sharing link or website integration code. Your interactive map starts building as soon as people begin responding.

What question types can I use in my surveys?

Mapster supports multiple question types: Multiple Choice (single or multiple selections), Text Input for open-ended responses, Rating Scales (1-10), and Intro/Thank You screens for a complete survey experience.

Can I use pre-made templates for my surveys?

Yes! We offer proven templates optimized for different use cases including exit-intent surveys, conversion optimization, churn prevention, product-market fit testing, onboarding optimization, feature prioritization, and revenue expansion. These templates are designed for maximum engagement and meaningful insights.

---

Dashboard & Management

How do I manage my surveys after creation?

Your dashboard shows all your feedback surveys with response counts and status. You can edit survey settings, extend durations, deactivate surveys to stop new responses while preserving data, and access detailed analytics for each survey.

Can I see my surveys' performance in real-time?

Yes! Your dashboard updates response counts every few minutes. Navigate to any survey's analytics page to see real-time geographic patterns, response trends, and detailed breakdowns.

---

Privacy & Security

How does Mapster protect respondent privacy?

We use privacy-first IP geolocation that only detects city/region-level data, never storing IP addresses or precise coordinates. Our system is GDPR and CCPA compliant by design. Respondents don't need to create accounts, and all data is anonymized and aggregated to protect individual privacy.

---

Pricing & Plans

What are the current pricing options for Mapster?

• Free Plan: $0/month - 100 survey responses, all templates, custom branding, email & chat support
• Premium Plan: $9/month - 1,000 responses, all templates, custom branding, email & chat support
• Pro Plan: $29/month - 5,000 responses, all templates, custom branding, email & chat support

Start free and upgrade when you need more responses. All plans include geographic intelligence, interactive maps, comprehensive analytics, and website integration capabilities.

---

Distribution

How accurate is the location data?

Our IP geolocation is highly accurate at the city and region level (typically 85-95% accuracy). We automatically cluster nearby locations to ensure reliable insights while maintaining privacy. The data is perfect for regional analysis, market research, and location-based decision making.

How can I distribute my location-powered feedback surveys?

Mapster offers multiple distribution options: Add feedback buttons or popups directly to your website with customizable triggers (time-based, scroll-based, exit-intent), share survey links on social media, email campaigns, QR codes, SMS, and in-person events. Configure precise targeting to show surveys at the right moment for maximum response rates.

Can I control when and how surveys appear on my website?

Yes! You can configure surveys to appear based on time (after X seconds), scroll percentage (after X% scroll), or exit-intent (when users are about to leave). Choose between popup positions (center, corners) or sticky button placements (sides, bottom) with custom colors and text to match your brand.

How do you prevent duplicate survey responses?

We use temporary, anonymized identifiers unique to each survey to ensure one response per user. These identifiers, along with all survey data, are automatically deleted after the survey expires. No personal information or IP addresses are ever stored.

---

Analytics Features

What analytics and insights can I access?

You get comprehensive analytics that bring customers, not confusion: 1) Instant averages showing completion metrics and satisfaction scores, 2) Interactive heatmaps revealing which regions drive highest satisfaction and response rates, 3) Country-by-country customer preferences and buying behavior insights, 4) Individual response analysis with export capabilities. All data updates in real-time.

---

Business Applications

How can businesses use location data for decision making?

Location intelligence helps with market entry analysis, site selection, event planning, resource allocation, and regional marketing strategies. Many businesses use geographic insights to validate expansion opportunities, optimize service delivery, and understand regional preferences.

How long should I run my survey?

Most users get optimal results with 7-15 day surveys. This allows enough time for responses across different time zones while maintaining momentum. You can set durations up to 1 month from creation based on your distribution strategy and target audience size.

---

Best Practices

Should I customize my survey branding?

Yes! Adding your logo and custom colors builds trust with respondents and increases completion rates. Professional-looking surveys get better engagement. You can upload your logo, customize colors, fonts, and borders for a seamless on-brand experience that matches your website.

Should I start with templates or create custom surveys?

Start with our proven templates designed for specific use cases like exit-intent, conversion optimization, or churn prevention. These templates are optimized for maximum engagement and typically get 2-3x higher completion rates. You can always customize them to fit your specific needs.

---

Engagement Tips

What's the best way to share surveys for maximum responses?

Use smart targeting with website integration: time-based triggers (after X seconds), scroll-based triggers (after X% scroll), or exit-intent popups. For external sharing, use multiple channels like email lists, social media, and QR codes. Frame surveys with clear value like "Help us improve your experience" or ask specific questions like "What's keeping you from signing up today?" Most successful surveys see 15-25% response rates.

---

Survey Management

What happens when I deactivate a survey?

When deactivated, people can still see your survey but cannot submit responses. The survey link remains live, and you retain access to all collected analytics and data. This is useful when you want to preserve data while stopping new responses.

Can I edit my survey after it's live?

You can edit certain settings like survey title, description, and expiration date through your dashboard. However, you cannot modify questions once responses have been collected to maintain data integrity.

---

Advanced Features

Can I run multiple surveys simultaneously?

Absolutely! There's no limit to active surveys on any plan. Many organizations run different surveys for different projects, regions, or research topics to get comprehensive insights across their entire scope of work.

---

Results Timeline

When will I start seeing location patterns?

You'll see your first data points within minutes of sharing your survey! The map builds in real-time as people respond, with analytics updating every few minutes. Most users see meaningful geographic patterns emerge after 50-100 responses.

---

Research & Academic Use

Is Mapster suitable for academic and professional research?

Yes! Mapster is used by researchers, government agencies, and organizations for geographic studies, community assessments, and market research. Our data collection methods meet academic standards, and we provide detailed methodology documentation for research papers.

---

Still need help?

There is a chat button at the bottom right on Dashboard, send a message if you need help or use contact page to send email.

---

💡 Pro Tip: Start with proven templates, add professional branding, and use smart website targeting (exit-intent, time-based, scroll-based) for maximum response rates and actionable feedback!