If you’re sending customer surveys and they look generic, you’re missing a trick. Your brand should show up everywhere—even in a quick feedback request. This guide is for anyone using Survicate who wants their email surveys to stop looking like a cookie-cutter template and start feeling like, well, you. I’ll walk you through how to actually make your surveys match your branding (without losing hours to fiddly settings).
Why bother? (And when not to)
Let’s get real: most people ignore survey emails. If yours look like every other one, they’ll blend right in. But if your survey matches your brand—logo, colors, name—it feels familiar and trustworthy. That means more people might actually answer.
But here’s the other side: Don’t sink days into pixel-perfect design. Surveys are about getting answers, not winning a beauty contest. Focus on the basics first—logo, colors, sender info. The rest is nice-to-have.
Step 1: Understand What You Can (and Can’t) Change
Before you start, know what Survicate email templates actually let you customize:
What you can usually change: - Your company logo (replaces Survicate’s branding) - Main theme color/accent color - Button color - Email sender name and address - Subject line and intro message - Footer (sometimes)
What you can’t easily change: - Layout structure (Survicate keeps it simple for deliverability reasons) - Font selection (you’re mostly stuck with the default) - Advanced HTML/CSS (Survicate isn’t a full email editor—for good reason)
If you need something wild (animated GIFs, custom fonts, or heavy formatting), Survicate probably isn’t the tool—and honestly, most people don’t want that in a survey email anyway.
Step 2: Prep Your Branding Assets
You’ll need a few things handy before you start:
- Logo: Ideally a transparent PNG, not too huge (under 500px wide is safe)
- Brand colors: Hex codes for your main and accent colors
- Official sender name & email: So it looks like it’s coming from your company, not a tool
- Short intro message: Something that sounds human and on-brand
Pro tip: Don’t overthink the intro. “We’d love your feedback” is fine. If your brand has a voice, use it—but don’t let it get in the way.
Step 3: Find the Email Survey Template Settings
Here’s how to get there:
- Log in to Survicate
- Go to your survey or create a new one
- Choose Email or Shareable Link as your distribution method
- Click Edit Template or Customize Email (the wording might change slightly)
You’ll see a preview of the default template. This is your starting point.
Step 4: Add Your Logo
- Look for the “Logo” or “Branding” section.
- Upload your logo (PNG or JPG). Survicate usually recommends a rectangular logo, not a square.
- Check how it looks in the preview. If it’s blurry or huge, resize it and try again.
What works: A simple, recognizable logo at the top. No need for fancy animations.
What to skip: Don’t bother with a huge banner image—the simpler, the better for email clients and mobile screens.
Step 5: Set Your Brand Colors
- Find the color settings: usually labeled “Accent Color,” “Primary Color,” or “Button Color.”
- Paste your brand’s hex codes. If you only have RGB, use a converter (tons of free ones online).
- The color usually applies to the main button and sometimes to links or borders.
Heads up: Some email clients display colors differently. Stick with strong, high-contrast colors for buttons so people can see them, even on old screens.
Step 6: Edit the Sender Name and Email
- Look for “Sender Name” and “Sender Email” fields.
- Use something your customers will recognize—“Acme Support” or “Jess from Acme.”
- If you use a generic email address, make sure it’s monitored (people will reply sometimes).
What works: Human-sounding names. “Customer Experience Team” beats “no-reply@acme.com.”
What to ignore: Don’t use a personal email unless you want direct replies clogging your inbox.
Step 7: Write a Short, On-Brand Intro
- There’s usually a space for a “Message” or “Email Body.”
- Keep it short. One or two sentences max. Nobody wants to read a novel before clicking a survey.
- Use your brand’s voice. If you’re formal, be formal. If you’re casual, that’s fine too.
Pro tip: Test sending it to yourself. If it sounds robotic, rewrite it.
Step 8: Update the Subject Line
- Make it clear this is a survey, but avoid sounding spammy.
- Examples:
- “Quick feedback? 2 minutes tops.”
- “Help us improve [Product/Service Name]”
- “[First Name], your opinion matters!”
What works: Mentioning time (“2 minutes”) sets expectations. Personalization helps, but only if you have good data.
What doesn’t: “IMPORTANT: CUSTOMER FEEDBACK REQUEST” (all caps screams spam).
Step 9: Check the Footer
- Some plans let you add or edit the footer—like company info or an unsubscribe link.
- If you can, add a simple company address or privacy link.
- Don’t cram in legalese unless you have to.
What to skip: Don’t worry about removing Survicate’s “powered by” unless you’re on a paid plan that allows it. Most people won’t notice.
Step 10: Preview and Test
- Always send yourself a test email. Open it on both a desktop and a phone.
- Check:
- Logo displays correctly
- Colors look right
- Buttons work
- No weird formatting or typos
Pro tip: Ask a teammate to check it, too. Sometimes you miss the obvious stuff.
Step 11: Save as a Template (Optional, but smart)
If you’ll send more surveys in the future, save your customized version as a template (if your Survicate plan allows). This saves you from repeating the whole process next time.
What About Advanced Customization?
Here’s the honest truth: Survicate keeps things pretty locked down for a reason. The more you customize, the more likely you’ll break email compatibility or tank your response rates. Stick to the basics—logo, colors, sender, and message.
If you absolutely need more control, you can use advanced email tools and embed Survicate survey links or one-click answers. But then you’re outside Survicate’s built-in template system, and things get fiddly fast.
Common Gotchas (and How to Dodge Them)
- Images not loading? Some email clients block images by default. Always have alt text or keep the email readable without images.
- Colors look weird? Outlook is especially bad at rendering modern HTML emails. Stick to standard colors, and don’t rely on subtle shades.
- Emails go to spam? Avoid spammy subject lines, don’t use too many images, and always include an unsubscribe link if you have the option.
- Brand police breathing down your neck? Remind them: perfect brand compliance is nice, but getting feedback is what matters.
Keep It Simple, Iterate Often
Customizing your Survicate email survey templates is about making them feel like you—not reinventing the wheel. Get your logo, colors, and sender info right, then move on. You can always tweak your template later if you get feedback or your brand evolves.
Remember: Done is better than perfect. The best survey is the one that actually gets sent—and answered.