Website Feedback: What to Ask (And What Not to Ask)

You've built a landing page. You need to know if it works. So you share it and ask for feedback.

The problem? Vague questions create vague feedback. You ask "what do you think?" and get "looks good!"—a response that makes you feel nice but doesn't help you improve anything.

Why does this happen? People are polite. They're unsure what to comment on. They don't want to offend you. So they default to safe, pleasant responses instead of honest, useful ones.

The solution? Ask better questions. Here's how to get website feedback that actually helps you make decisions.

The 3 Types of Website Feedback (And What Each Is Good For)

Not all feedback is the same. Understanding what you're testing helps you ask the right questions.

Clarity Feedback

What it tests: Do people understand what your site is and what you're offering?

When to use: Testing headlines, value propositions, or messaging on new pages. If people can't describe what you do, your messaging needs work.

Usability Feedback

What it tests: Can people actually do the thing they're supposed to do?

When to use: Testing navigation, signup flows, forms, or any action-based interface. If people can't complete the task, your usability needs improvement.

Persuasion Feedback

What it tests: Does your site feel trustworthy, compelling, and worth engaging with?

When to use: Testing trust signals, social proof, pricing pages, or conversion-focused designs. If people don't feel motivated to act, your persuasion elements need strengthening.

Each type requires different questions. Clarity questions test understanding. Usability questions test actions. Persuasion questions test motivation.

What to Ask (20 Website Feedback Questions)

Here are 20 copy-pastable questions organized by what they test. Use them in feedback sessions, surveys, or async tests.

Clarity & Comprehension (5 questions)

1. "What do you think this website/product does?"

   • Tests whether your value proposition is clear.

2. "If you had to explain this to a friend, what would you say?"

   • Tests whether people can articulate your offer in their own words.

3. "What's the main action you'd take on this page?"

   • Tests whether your primary goal is obvious.

4. "What do you think makes this different from competitors?"

   • Tests whether your differentiation comes through.

5. "What questions does this page answer, and what questions does it leave?"

   • Surfaces information gaps and confusion points.

Visual Hierarchy & Scannability (5 questions)

6. "Which element draws your attention first?"

   • Tests whether your visual hierarchy guides attention correctly.

7. "What do you notice second? Third?"

   • Tests whether people follow your intended reading flow.

8. "Can you quickly find [specific element] without scrolling?"

   • Tests scannability and information architecture.

9. "Does anything feel cluttered or overwhelming?"

   • Surfaces areas that need simplification.

10. "What would you scroll past without reading?"

    • Identifies weak or unnecessary content.

Trust & Credibility (5 questions)

11. "Does this feel trustworthy? Why or why not?"

    • Tests initial trust signals and gut reactions.

12. "What would make you more likely to trust this?"

    • Surfaces missing trust elements (testimonials, badges, credentials).

13. "Would you enter your email address here? Why or why not?"

    • Tests willingness to take actions that require trust.

14. "Does this feel like a legitimate business or a scam?"

    • Gets honest gut reactions about credibility.

15. "What's missing that you'd expect to see on a professional site?"

    • Surfaces expectations around professionalism and completeness.

Conversion & Motivation (5 questions)

16. "What would make you more likely to [take specific action]?"

    • Surfaces missing motivators or conversion elements.

17. "What's the biggest reason you'd hesitate to [take action]?"

    • Surfaces objections or concerns you need to address.

18. "How does this make you feel? (Excited, skeptical, confused, etc.)"

    • Tests emotional response and alignment with your intended feeling.

19. "What would need to change for you to feel ready to [take action]?"

    • Gets specific about what's blocking conversion.

20. "If you had to choose one thing that would convince you, what would it be?"

    • Identifies the most powerful persuasion element.

These questions force specific answers instead of vague compliments.

What NOT to Ask (And Better Alternatives)

Bad questions lead to bad feedback. Here are 8 common mistakes and how to fix them.

Bad: "Do you like it?" → Better: "What's the first thing you'd change to make this clearer?"

The problem with "do you like it?" is that people will say yes to be polite, even if they have concerns. Asking about what to change forces specific, actionable feedback.

Bad: "Is this good?" → Better: "What's confusing or missing?"

"Good" is subjective and meaningless. Asking about confusion or gaps surfaces real problems you can fix.

Bad: "What do you think?" → Better: "What's the main action you'd take on this page?"

Open-ended questions lead to vague responses. Specific questions about actions lead to specific answers.

Bad: "Does this look professional?" → Better: "What would make this feel more trustworthy?"

"Professional" is vague. Asking about trust signals gives you concrete elements to add (testimonials, security badges, clear pricing).

Bad: "Would you buy from this site?" → Better: "What would need to change for you to feel ready to purchase?"

Hypothetical yes/no questions don't reveal blockers. Asking what needs to change surfaces specific concerns.

Bad: "Is the design good?" → Better: "Which element draws your attention first?"

Design questions about preferences are subjective. Questions about behavior reveal actual visual hierarchy problems.

Bad: "Does this make sense?" → Better: "If you had to explain this to a friend, what would you say?"

People will say yes to "does this make sense?" even when they're confused. Asking them to explain reveals whether they actually understand.

Bad: "Any thoughts?" → Better: "What's confusing or missing, and what works well?"

Completely open-ended questions get completely useless answers. Structuring the question (confusion + what works) guides useful feedback.

The pattern? Replace vague preference questions with specific behavior questions.

How to Get Better Feedback (5-Step Process)

Getting useful feedback isn't just about asking good questions. It's about having a clear process.

Step 1: Define the Goal

What decision are you making? Are you choosing between two headlines? Testing whether your value proposition is clear? Validating a pricing layout?

If you can't state your goal in one sentence, you're not ready for feedback yet.

Step 2: Choose Your Audience

Who should you ask?

• Target users: Best for testing clarity, trust, and conversion. They represent your actual audience.
• Peers/designers: Best for testing visual hierarchy, usability patterns, and design quality.

Avoid: Friends, family, or people who want to make you feel good.

Step 3: Set a Timebox

How long will people spend giving feedback? 2-5 minutes is usually enough. Longer sessions lead to fatigue and diminishing returns.

Set expectations upfront: "This will take 3 minutes" or "5 quick questions."

Step 4: Ask 3-5 Questions Maximum

Don't overwhelm people with 20 questions. Pick the 3-5 most important ones based on your goal.

• Testing clarity? Ask questions 1-3 from the clarity section.
• Testing trust? Ask questions 11-13 from the trust section.
• Testing conversion? Ask questions 16-17 from the conversion section.

Step 5: Capture Answers Consistently

Don't rely on memory or casual notes. Use a structured format:

• Take notes during live sessions (direct quotes, not paraphrases).
• Use a form or spreadsheet for async feedback.
• Look for patterns (if multiple people say the same thing, it's probably important).

Quick checklist before asking for feedback:

• [ ] I have a clear goal (one sentence)
• [ ] I've chosen the right audience (users vs. peers)
• [ ] I've set a time limit (2-5 minutes)
• [ ] I have 3-5 specific questions ready
• [ ] I have a way to capture answers consistently

If you can't check all of these, you're not ready yet.

The Two-Option Method (A/B Testing) to Reduce Vague Feedback

There's a faster way to get clearer feedback: stop asking about one design and start comparing two designs.

This is called A/B testing, and it works because comparing options produces clearer opinions than evaluating one thing in isolation.

Why it works:

• Forces a choice: People must pick one, eliminating vague "it's good" responses.
• Reduces bias: People compare, not just compliment.
• Gives you data: Percentages and votes, not just subjective opinions.
• Faster: Voters spend seconds comparing, not minutes analyzing.

5 "Two-Option" Prompts for Websites:

1. "Which headline is clearer?" (Show two headline options side-by-side)

2. "Which layout feels more trustworthy?" (Show two layout variations)

3. "Which CTA feels more clickable?" (Show two button/link styles)

4. "Which hero image matches the offer better?" (Show two image options)

5. "Which pricing layout is easier to understand?" (Show two pricing presentations)

Instead of asking "is this good?", ask "which one is better?" The comparison makes people think critically and gives you actionable data.

Ready to Test Your Website?

The fastest way to get unbiased website feedback? Create an A/B test on DesignPick.

Upload two versions of your website design, share with the design community, and get real votes on which one works better. You'll have results in hours, not days—and the feedback will be honest because voters don't know you.

Create your first website test →

The Bottom Line

Better questions lead to better feedback. Stop asking vague preference questions ("do you like it?") and start asking specific behavior questions ("what's the main action you'd take?").

Focus on clarity, trust, and conversion. Compare two options instead of evaluating one. Test with your actual audience, not just people who want to be nice.

The feedback you get will help you make better website decisions, faster.

Want more feedback strategies? Browse more posts on the blog.