How it works
- When creating a survey, select Own audience as your audience type in the survey builder.
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Optionally, turn on any of these features:
- Collect respondent email addresses — respondents are asked to share their email after answering, so you can correlate responses with specific people.
- Gather demographic data — respondents see a short demographic survey after answering. Age and gender are included by default; you can add more demographic questions in the survey builder.
- Publish your survey. You’ll receive a shareable link.
- Send the link to your audience however you’d like — email, social media, messaging apps, your website, etc.
- Your survey stays open indefinitely — it does not close automatically after a set time period. It will close when you reach your plan’s response limit or when you stop it manually.
Response limits by plan
If you need more than 500 responses or want precise demographic targeting, consider using the PickFu Panel instead.
When to use your own audience vs. the PickFu Panel
Both options have strengths, and many PickFu users run both for the same project. Use your own audience when:- You want feedback from people who are already familiar with your brand or product.
- You’re testing something where context about your brand matters (e.g., a new feature for existing users).
- You want to collect feedback for free.
- You want unbiased feedback from people with no prior attachment to your brand.
- You need responses from specific demographics you can’t reach through your own channels.
- You want fast turnaround — Panel surveys can complete in as little as 15 minutes, while own audience surveys depend entirely on how quickly your audience clicks the link.
- You need verified respondents who are screened for quality.
Things to keep in mind
Respondents are self-selecting. Unlike the PickFu Panel, where respondents are matched to your survey, own audience respondents choose to participate. This means you’ll hear more from your most engaged followers and less from casual customers. Keep this bias in mind when interpreting results. You don’t control the demographics. With the PickFu Panel, you can target specific traits. With your own audience, whoever clicks the link responds. Adding demographic questions helps you understand who responded, but it doesn’t filter who sees the survey. Distribution is up to you. The quality and quantity of responses depends on how you share the link and how responsive your audience is. Plan your distribution strategy before launching.FAQs
Is surveying my own audience really free?
Yes. Own audience surveys are free on all PickFu plans, including free accounts. You only pay if you use the PickFu Panel.Can I add demographic questions to an own audience survey?
Yes. Age and gender are included by default. You can add more demographic questions in the final step of the survey builder, just like you would with a Panel survey. This is a great way to learn about your audience without paying for Panel targeting.Can I use audience targeting with my own audience?
No. Audience targeting is only available when surveying the PickFu Panel. With own audience surveys, anyone who has the link can respond.When does my own audience survey close?
Own audience surveys do not close automatically after a set time period. Your survey stays open until you reach your plan’s response limit (50 for Free, 500 for PickFu+) or you stop it manually from your survey dashboard. You can view your results at any time while the survey is open.Can I stop an own audience survey early?
Yes. You can stop collecting responses at any time from your survey dashboard.Related Articles