Roadmap input survey template

Product roadmaps shouldn't be built on hunches. Yet too many product teams still rely on internal assumptions, stakeholder opinions, or the loudest voice in the room when deciding which features to build next. The result? Products that miss the mark and development resources wasted on features users don't actually want.

A roadmap input survey changes this dynamic entirely. This strategic tool puts user feedback at the center of your feature prioritization process, asking customers directly: "Which of these features would be most valuable to you?" By gathering quantifiable data on user preferences, product teams can make confident, data-driven decisions about their roadmap priorities.

This template helps product managers, product marketers, and growth teams collect meaningful user input that shapes smarter product decisions. With Chameleon's in-app survey capabilities, you can gather this feedback seamlessly within your product experience, ensuring higher response rates and more contextual insights than traditional email surveys.

What is a Roadmap Input Survey?

A roadmap input survey is a targeted feedback tool that presents users with a curated list of potential features and asks them to indicate which would be most valuable to their workflow. Unlike general feedback surveys that ask open-ended questions, roadmap input surveys focus specifically on feature prioritization with a structured format that generates quantifiable results.

The core question follows a simple pattern: "Which of these features would be most valuable to you?" followed by 3-4 specific feature options with clear descriptions. Users select their top choice, providing product teams with concrete data about user preferences and priorities.

This approach differs significantly from traditional feedback collection methods. While general surveys might ask "What features would you like to see?" and generate scattered responses, roadmap input surveys present focused options that align with your development capacity and strategic goals.

The benefits for product teams are substantial. Roadmap input surveys reduce guesswork in feature prioritization by providing hard data on user preferences. They align product development with actual user needs rather than assumptions, create quantifiable data for stakeholder discussions, and ultimately improve product-market fit by ensuring you're building what users actually want.

For SaaS companies especially, this user-driven approach to roadmap planning helps validate feature concepts before significant development investment, reducing the risk of building features that don't drive adoption or retention.

How to Use the Roadmap Input Survey Template

Creating an effective roadmap input survey requires strategic planning and thoughtful execution. Here's your step-by-step implementation guide:

1. Identify Your Feature Candidates Start by selecting 3-4 potential features for your roadmap. These should be features at similar development stages—don't mix quick wins with major initiatives. Focus on features that align with your product strategy and have clear user benefits.

2. Set Up Your Survey in Chameleon Use Chameleon's native survey functionality to create your roadmap input survey. Write clear, benefit-focused descriptions for each feature option. Instead of technical specifications, focus on the value each feature delivers to users. For example, "Advanced filtering to find specific data in seconds" rather than "Enhanced search algorithm implementation."

3. Target the Right User Segments Leverage Chameleon's precise targeting capabilities to reach relevant users. Focus on active users who regularly engage with your product, power users who understand your feature set, or specific personas who would benefit most from the proposed features. Avoid surveying inactive users who may not have enough context to provide meaningful input.

4. Choose Optimal Timing and Placement Deploy your survey when users are most engaged with your product. The ideal moment is after users have experienced core value—perhaps after completing a key workflow or achieving a meaningful outcome. This ensures they have sufficient context to evaluate potential features meaningfully.

5. Analyze Results and Communicate Findings Use Chameleon's built-in analytics and AI survey summaries to track response patterns and feature preferences. Look beyond simple vote counts—analyze responses by user segment, usage patterns, and customer value to understand which features would drive the most impact. Share results with stakeholders using clear visualizations that support roadmap decisions.

Chameleon's integration capabilities allow you to connect survey data with your existing product analytics tools, creating a comprehensive view of user preferences alongside behavioral data.

Best Practices for Roadmap Input Surveys

Feature Selection Strategy Choose features at similar development stages to ensure fair comparison. Mixing a simple UI improvement with a complex integration creates an uneven playing field. Focus on features that serve similar user goals or solve related problems.

Clear Feature Descriptions Write concise, benefit-focused descriptions that help users understand the value proposition. Avoid technical jargon and focus on outcomes. Each description should answer: "What problem does this solve for me?" and "How will this improve my workflow?"

Strategic Timing Survey timing significantly impacts response quality. Deploy surveys after users experience success in your product—they're more engaged and have better context for evaluating potential improvements. Avoid surveying during onboarding when users are still learning your existing features.

Smart Segmentation Target surveys based on user behavior and personas rather than broad demographics. Power users might prioritize advanced features, while newer users focus on ease-of-use improvements. Chameleon's behavioral targeting ensures you're asking the right questions to the right users.

Closing the Feedback Loop Always follow up with survey participants. Share results, explain how their input influenced roadmap decisions, and provide updates when requested features launch. This builds trust and encourages future participation in feedback initiatives.

Survey Frequency Management Balance gathering input with avoiding survey fatigue. Quarterly roadmap input surveys work well for most SaaS products, though this may vary based on your development cycle and user base size.

Chameleon Features That Power This Template

Chameleon's comprehensive platform makes roadmap input surveys more effective than standalone survey tools through several key capabilities:

Native Survey Functionality provides customizable survey experiences with multiple question types and response options. Unlike external survey tools, Chameleon surveys appear seamlessly within your product interface, maintaining context and improving response rates.

Precise User Targeting ensures surveys reach the most relevant users based on behavioral data, user properties, and engagement patterns. This segmentation capability means you're gathering input from users who can provide the most valuable feedback.

Built-in Analytics and Reporting offer real-time insights into survey performance and response patterns. Track completion rates and identify trends that inform roadmap decisions without exporting data to external tools.

Seamless Integration connects survey data with your existing product analytics stack, CRM systems, and development tools. This integration creates a complete picture of user preferences alongside behavioral and business metrics.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many features should I include in a roadmap survey? Limit your survey to 3-4 feature options. More choices create decision paralysis and reduce response quality. Fewer options ensure users can meaningfully evaluate each feature and make informed selections.

When is the best time to send roadmap input surveys? Deploy surveys after users experience core value in your product. This might be after completing a key workflow, achieving a goal, or during high-engagement sessions. Avoid surveying during onboarding or immediately after users encounter problems.

How do I analyze roadmap survey results effectively? Look beyond simple vote counts. Analyze responses by user segment, customer value, usage patterns, and strategic alignment. Consider both quantitative results and qualitative feedback to understand the reasoning behind user preferences.

Can I customize the survey template for my specific product? Absolutely. Chameleon's survey builder allows complete customization of questions, response options, styling, and targeting criteria. Adapt the template to match your product's terminology, user interface, and specific feature categories.

How often should I run roadmap input surveys? Quarterly surveys work well for most SaaS products, aligning with typical planning cycles. Adjust frequency based on your development velocity, user base size, and how quickly your product landscape changes.

What user segments should receive roadmap surveys? Focus on active users who regularly engage with your product and have sufficient context to evaluate potential features. Consider segmenting by user role, usage patterns, or customer value to gather more targeted insights for different user types.