FamilyNet |
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FamilyNet Gain Valuable Feedback on their TV and Radio Shows with FormArtist
Summary
Before using FormArtist, FamilyNet used to build their own feedback forms using ASP scripts. They used the forms to monitor viewer responses to their TV and radio programs, and to gain information and feedback from the stations airing their programs.
Explains Jim Billing, Web Specialist, and in charge of all internet related technology at FamilyNet, “ The main benefit of using FormArtist has been in efficiency and time saved. I can now build and deploy a form in a fraction of the time it would have taken me before, when I used to build forms from scratch. FormArtist makes it very easy to build professional looking forms and then easily choose how I want to store the information I gather.”
Situation
FamilyNet is a 24 hour television network which provides family friendly entertainment which can be seen nationally on cable as well as over 160 broadcast affiliates. FamilyNet also produces 5 nationally syndicated radio shows. FamilyNet strives to provide quality programming that is truly safe for the entire family.
FamilyNet's marketing department was the driving force behind purchasing FormArtist. They needed a way to gain valuable information regarding their distribution from stations which aired their programs. Their biggest concern was finding a better way to store and analyze the information they gained from the stations. They needed to gather the information and easily turn it into a format that they could present to their directors. Also, cost was an issue, and they needed to accomplish this on an extremely limited budget.
Before purchasing FormArtist, they would manually construct their forms by writing ASP scripts. These forms always worked very well but were extremely limited. For example, responses received would be emailed to the relevant person requiring the information, and it would then be up to that person to work on and store the information in whatever format they chose (eg. excel, access, word, etc).
The biggest shortcoming of the ‘old' system was that it was inefficient. It worked well for gathering the information, but did not work well for storing the information in a usable format.
Solution
FamilyNet first came across Quask and FormArtist while searching for a solution on the internet. They purchased the Standard Edition. Explains Jim, “We chose FormArtist because we felt that the interface was very easy to use, and we could build very professional looking forms. We also liked the fact that we could customize the forms to fit our needs. Second, it was extremely easy to display the form results in a very presentable form (Excel). This made reporting the results to our directors and other departments a very simple process. Lastly, the price was definitely right.”
FormArtist forms are currently being used by various radio stations around the country to sign up and audition FamilyNet's Radio Christmas Special they are planning to air in December 2003. FormArtist has also been used on one of their live television shows to obtain viewer responses to a ‘Question of the day'. The results of the survey were tallied and then read on air the following day. FormArtist has also been used to gain information from radio stations on what delivery method they would prefer the programs to be sent in.
Says Jim, “FormArtist has provided a simple and efficient way for us to gather information from our viewers and listeners. We are now able to make informed decisions and provide the service or information they require.”
Implementation
It took them only 2-3 days to get completely up and running on FormArtist. They had no problem building the forms, though they did have a minor issue in storing the data on their server. Once they had set things up properly, however, they found building forms and deploying them a breeze. As they have found FormArtist to be intuitive and easy to use, FamilyNet has never had the need to utilize Quask's Customer Support service.
Benefits
Explains Jim, “For me, the best feature is the way FormArtist gathers data. I like the fact that with only a couple of clicks, I can gather the data and have it automatically put into an Excel document, complete with graphs and charts, which can used by different departments for presentations or for general decision making.
In other words, the document is in a ready to use format rather than raw data which needs to be placed into a usable format – once again a much more efficient use of time. So, what may have taken hours to do before, now takes virtually no time at all!”
“FormArtist has been very well received amongst our users. They like the way the email containing the responses looks when they receive it, and they also like having the data readily available in a format they can use and understand.”
Future
FamilyNet will continue to use FormArtist in the capacity for which it is currently being used. ie. for contest entries on both television and radio, for online surveys such as ‘Question of the Day', and for allowing viewers to vote. FormArtist will also continue to be used to poll radio stations for information useful to FamilyNet.
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