If you’re stuck figuring out how to get real, actionable feedback from AskNicely into the hands of people who can do something about it, you’re not alone. AskNicely is packed with features, but actually exporting and sharing reports that people will read—and act on—takes a bit more than clicking “Download.” This guide is for folks tasked with getting feedback out of the tool and into the right inboxes, meetings, or dashboards, without wasting hours on formatting or fighting with PDFs.
Below, you’ll find a no-nonsense walkthrough: exporting the right data, making it useful, and sharing it so stakeholders actually pay attention.
1. Decide what’s actually “actionable” (don’t skip this)
Before you even click “export,” figure out what you—and your stakeholders—care about. Not all feedback is worth sharing, and dumping raw data on people is a fast way to be ignored.
Ask yourself: - Who needs this report? (Frontline managers, execs, product teams?) - What decisions should this feedback influence? - Is the goal to spot recurring issues, highlight wins, or track progress over time?
Pro tip: - Don’t try to be comprehensive. People glaze over when faced with giant spreadsheets. Pick the 2-3 metrics or themes that matter most, and focus there. - If you’re not sure, ask your stakeholders what they’ll actually use.
2. Filter and segment feedback inside AskNicely
AskNicely’s dashboards are flexible, but the export you get is only as good as the filters you set up.
How to filter: - Use date ranges to avoid dumping months of stale feedback. - Segment by team, location, or product line—whatever maps best to your org. - Use tags or keywords to pull up specific themes (e.g., “delivery,” “support”).
What works: - Setting up saved filters or segments so you’re not rebuilding reports every time. - Previewing the data in AskNicely before exporting—catch weird gaps or duplicates now, not later.
What doesn’t: - Exporting “everything” and hoping to sort it out in Excel. It’s a pain, and you’ll hate yourself later.
3. Export the data: What options actually work
AskNicely offers a few ways to get data out:
CSV/Excel Export
- Go to the relevant dashboard, apply your filters, and look for the “Export” or “Download CSV” button.
- Open the file in Excel or Google Sheets.
Why this works:
You get all the raw data, ready for slicing and dicing. This is the best route if you need to build custom charts, or if stakeholders want to do their own digging.
Watch out for: - Messy column headers or weird formatting—especially if you’re using non-English characters or emojis. Check your exported file before sharing. - File size limits. Large exports can time out or break.
PDF Reports
- Some dashboards let you export a PDF summary. This is usually a “what you see is what you get” snapshot.
Why this works:
Quick and easy for execs or people who just want a one-pager with charts.
Drawbacks: - You can’t tweak much. If the chart isn’t clear, you’re stuck. - PDFs aren’t interactive—no drilling into details.
Automated Email Reports
- Set up scheduled reports to go out daily, weekly, or monthly.
- You pick the filters and recipients.
Why this works:
Great for busy teams who’ll never remember to log in and check dashboards. Keeps feedback top of mind.
Drawbacks: - Once you set it, you tend to forget it. If your stakeholders’ needs change, so should your reports. - Not all filters or custom views are available for scheduled emails.
4. Make the feedback actionable (not just “interesting”)
Raw feedback is rarely helpful by itself. Your job is to bridge the gap between data and decisions.
Ways to add value:
- Summarize key themes: What’s coming up again and again? Don’t just paste comments—group them (e.g., “Delivery delays mentioned in 40% of negative responses”).
- Highlight trends: Did scores jump or drop after a specific change?
- Call out urgent issues: If something’s on fire, flag it at the top.
- Suggest next steps: Even a simple “Customers want faster replies—should we review support SLAs?” can nudge action.
What to skip: - Don’t rewrite every comment. Stakeholders want highlights, not a novel. - Don’t add spin or sugarcoat bad news. If customers are unhappy, showing the real quotes is more impactful than your summary.
5. Share reports the way people actually use them
The best export in the world is useless if no one opens it. Match your delivery method to how your stakeholders work.
- Attach the PDF or spreadsheet, or paste highlights directly into the email body.
- Use a short subject line (“June Feedback: Top 3 Issues” beats “Monthly Customer Experience Report”).
Tips: - Put the “So what?” up top. No one scrolls past the first paragraph if it’s just filler. - If you’re sending to a group, call out action items by name (“@Maria—your team’s mentioned in the top theme”).
Slack, Teams, or Chat
- Drop charts or direct links in the relevant channel.
- Tag people who need to see it.
Tips: - Don’t spam. One concise update beats a barrage of screenshots. - Pin the report or summary for easy reference.
Internal Dashboards
- For teams that live in tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Google Data Studio, you can import the CSV and build live dashboards.
- This is overkill for most, but great if you’re tracking trends over time.
Honest take:
Most stakeholders prefer email or chat. Fancy dashboards are nice, but only if people are already looking at them. Don’t burn hours setting up integrations no one will use.
6. Iterate and improve: Don’t aim for perfect
Your first exported report won’t be perfect, and that’s fine. The real goal is to get feedback in front of people who can do something about it—and then adjust as needs change.
Quick feedback loop: - After sharing, ask: Was this useful? What was missing? What can I skip next time? - Trim ruthlessly. If no one mentions a chart or section, cut it. - If people keep asking for raw comments, maybe you’re summarizing too much.
Pro tip:
Keep a template or checklist for yourself. Saves you time and keeps you consistent.
Keep it simple, and keep shipping
Exporting and sharing actionable feedback from AskNicely isn’t rocket science, but it does take a bit of thought. Don’t overcomplicate things with 10-page presentations or dashboards no one checks. Start small, focus on what matters, and tweak as you go. The best reports are the ones people actually read—and act on.