How to Collect Feature Requests

15 Best Hacks on How to Collect Requests for Features on Website

Collecting feature requests from your users is one of the most effective ways to build products that truly meet their needs. Whether you’re working on a small-scale project or a large application, gathering input from your audience can give you valuable insights into what features to prioritize and improve.

However, the challenge often lies in finding the best ways to collect and organize this feedback. In this guide, we’ll walk through 15 tricks to help you gather feature requests more effectively.

1. Create a dedicated feature request page

A separate page of your website for feature requests centralizes feedback collection and provides users with a place to submit their suggestions. This makes it easy for visitors to know exactly where to go when they have ideas, increasing the volume of feature submissions. As a bonus, you can update the page regularly to show the status of requests, demonstrating transparency.

🎯 Tips:

• Include an introductory paragraph explaining the value of user feedback and how you plan to use it.
• Limit the form fields to only necessary inputs like the feature request and its importance to the user.
• Add a voting system to allow users to support ideas they find valuable.

2. Use social media polls to gather feedback

Engage your followers by running polls on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn to ask for their opinions on features. Polls are a simple, low-barrier method to get instant insights. They create an interactive way for your audience to feel involved. Plus, social media platforms’ algorithms tend to favor posts that generate engagement, meaning your poll could reach more users organically.

🎯 Tips:

• Keep the number of choices limited so users aren’t overwhelmed.
• Encourage comments to gather more in-depth suggestions and provide an open forum for further discussions.
• Use visuals and captions to make the polls more visually appealing.

3. Run a customer satisfaction survey

Customer satisfaction surveys can be a great tool for collecting structured feedback, including feature requests. These surveys often go beyond simple product performance questions and can include opportunities for users to suggest improvements or desired features. By using surveys, you’re able to target specific groups, such as power users or long-term subscribers, for detailed feedback.

🎯 Tips:

• Send surveys post-purchase or after major product updates to maximize relevance.
• Provide a mix of rating scales and open-ended questions for comprehensive feedback.
• Offer an incentive, like a discount code or prize entry, to encourage higher response rates.

💖 Elfsight recommendation: Use the Form Builder widget to create a customized customer satisfaction survey that gathers structured feedback and feature requests.

4. Gather feature requests through email

Email marketing allows you to directly ask for feedback from users who are already engaged with your brand. You can insert a feature request form or a quick survey link in your newsletters or promotional emails. This strategy is particularly effective if you segment your audience, sending personalized requests to users who are most likely to provide thoughtful feedback.

🎯 Tips:

• Use personalized subject lines to increase the likelihood that recipients will open the email.
• Include the feature request call-to-action above the fold to ensure it’s seen immediately.
• Send follow-up emails thanking users for their input and sharing updates about popular requests.

5. Use in-app feedback forms

In-app feedback forms are one of the most convenient ways to gather feature requests because they capture users’ input while they’re actively engaged with your product. This method lets you collect feedback in real time, ensuring that suggestions are tied to specific actions or experiences. In-app forms are also less intrusive and don’t disrupt the overall user flow.

🎯 Tips:

• Place the form where users can easily access it, such as in a help or support section.
• Make the form compact and accessible on all devices to improve completion rates.
• Use conditional logic to display different fields depending on the user’s feedback type.

6. Create an interactive voting system

An interactive voting system allows users to submit and upvote feature requests, creating a collaborative and democratic way to gather feedback. The strategy works well for communities where users are heavily involved in the product’s development and want a say in which features get prioritized. It also helps you easily identify the most popular requests at a glance.

🎯 Tips:

• Include filters so users can view requests by category or popularity.
• Allow users to add new feature requests that others can vote on.
• Display popular requests prominently to encourage more interaction.

7. Include a feature request section on your contact page

The contact page is often one of the most-visited areas of the website, making it a great place to ask for feature suggestions. You can include a section in your contact form that asks, “What new features would you like to see?” This ensures users who are already reaching out have an easy way to share ideas.

🎯 Tips:

• Simplify the form to ask for one suggestion at a time to avoid overwhelming users.
• Let users categorize their requests (e.g., new feature, improvement, bug fix).
• Highlight how you’ll use the feedback by adding a message like “Help us improve by sharing your ideas.”

8. Offer feature request options in live chat

Live chat is often used for customer support, but it can also be employed as a tool for collecting feature requests. When users chat with support agents or a chatbot, there can be a prompt asking if they have any suggestions for new features. This works particularly well during moments of high engagement or problem-solving.

🎯 Tips:

• Program your live chat to automatically ask for feedback after certain types of interactions.
• Capture feature requests within the chat transcript for easy tracking.
• Use follow-up questions to clarify or expand on feature requests during chat sessions.

9. Collect feedback during onboarding

The onboarding process is a critical time to gather feedback since new users often have fresh perspectives on missing or confusing features. By incorporating a feature request prompt during onboarding, you can gain valuable insights from users as they navigate your product for the first time.

🎯 Tips:

• Include a feature request option in your onboarding emails or welcome screens.
• Ask specific questions, such as “What feature would have made your experience smoother?”
• Send follow-up emails to check how they are finding the product and collect further suggestions.

10. Run a beta program for new features

If you’re launching new features or products, running a beta program allows you to gather specific feedback before a full launch. Beta testers can provide critical insights on what works, what doesn’t, and which additional features could enhance the product.

🎯 Tips:

• Create a clear process for collecting feedback during beta testing, such as forms or dedicated email channels.
• Offer testers early access to new features or future incentives to encourage participation.
• Use a dashboard to track the most frequently requested features during the beta phase.

11. Utilize popups to ask for feature suggestions

Popups can be strategically timed to ask users for feature requests while they’re interacting with your product. By configuring popups to appear when users are about to exit or after they’ve spent a significant amount of time on a specific page, you can capture timely suggestions. This strategy minimizes disruption and maximizes relevance.

🎯 Tips:

• Trigger the popup based on user engagement, such as time on page or exit intent.
• Use simple, clear messaging like “What new feature would improve your experience?”
• Offer a small incentive, like a discount, to encourage more users to share their ideas.

💖 Elfsight recommendation: Learn how to add the Popup widget to your website. Configure custom popups based on user behavior, making it easy to collect feature requests without interrupting the user experience.

12. Host webinars and Q&A sessions

Webinars and live Q&A sessions provide a direct line to your most engaged users, giving them a chance to ask questions and offer feedback in real-time. You can dedicate a portion of the session to ask for feature requests or suggestions, creating an open forum where ideas can flow naturally.

🎯 Tips:

• Promote the webinar as a “feedback session” to get users excited about contributing ideas.
• Include live polls during the session to prioritize the most popular feature requests.
• Follow up with a post-webinar survey to capture any ideas that weren’t shared during the event.

13. Collect feedback from reviews and ratings

Online reviews and app store ratings can be a goldmine for feature requests. Users often leave suggestions for improvement in their reviews. By actively monitoring these insights, you can gather feedback that might otherwise go unnoticed. Responding to these reviews also shows users that you’re listening to their needs.

🎯 Tips:

• Set up alerts for new reviews that mention “feature” or “suggestion” keywords.
• Thank users for their feedback and ask follow-up questions to clarify their suggestions.
• Integrate this feedback into your roadmap and let users know when their suggestions are being implemented.

14. Create a community forum

Creating a dedicated forum where users can discuss features and submit suggestions gives your community a space to collaborate. Users can submit new ideas, vote on existing ones, and engage with others’ feedback, helping you prioritize the most requested features. Forums also give users a sense of ownership and direct involvement in product development.

🎯 Tips:

• Moderate the forum to ensure discussions remain focused and productive.
• Allow users to “follow” certain features so they get updates on progress.
• Use forums to announce which features are being considered or implemented.

15. Add a feature request banner on your website

Banners are great for catching users’ attention and driving them to specific actions. By adding a feature request banner to your website, you can make sure that users who may not actively seek out feedback forms still have a way to submit ideas. A banner can be placed in a prominent location, such as the top of your homepage or within relevant pages, where users are likely thinking about new features.

🎯 Tips:

• Keep the banner text concise, with a clear call-to-action like “Have ideas? Share your feature requests here.”
• Make the banner clickable, leading users to a dedicated feature request page or form.
• Use eye-catching colors and designs to ensure it stands out without overwhelming the rest of the page.

💖 Elfsight recommendation: Learn how to use the Banner widget to create a prominent feature request banner that encourages users to share their ideas directly on your website.

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