Build a self assessment tool that scores answers, places people on a scale, explains why
Consultants and coaches often carry a framework in their heads: five levels of data maturity, say, or four stages of leadership readiness. A self assessment tool turns that framework into something a prospect can use alone in ten minutes. Anticode can build one that scores each answer, places the person on your scale, explains what that level means and what to do next, and lets them send their result to you if they'd like a conversation.
Start from the levels, not the questions
Write the result pages first. For each level, describe in a paragraph what an organisation or person at that level looks like, the risks they face and the two or three most useful next steps. If you can't write a clear page for a level, merge it with its neighbour. Four or five levels is usually right; seven starts to feel arbitrary.
Then work backwards. Each question should distinguish one level from another. If everyone answers a question the same way, it doesn't help place them, however interesting it is.
Questions and scoring
- Dimensions
- Group questions into three to six areas (for data maturity: collection, quality, governance, skills, use). A person can be strong in one and weak in another, and showing that is more useful than a single number.
- Answer scales
- Use statements to agree with or descriptions to choose between. "Which best describes how you store customer data?" with four concrete options beats a vague one-to-five rating.
- Weights
- Some questions matter more. Give them a higher weight, and say on the result page which answers drove the score.
- Gates
- A rule such as "no level above 2 if there's no backup" stops one strong area hiding a critical gap.
- Result
- Overall level, a score per dimension shown as a bar or radar chart, and the explanation and next steps for that level.
Describe it to Anticode
"A self assessment tool for small charities on digital readiness. Five dimensions: tools, data, skills, security, strategy, four questions each with four descriptive options scored 0 to 3. Levels: Starting, Developing, Established, Leading, with my own description and three next steps for each (text below). A gate: no level above Developing if the security score is under 4. Results show the level, a bar per dimension and the explanation. A 'Download my results' button that saves a PDF-friendly page through the print dialog. An optional form: name, email, organisation and 'I'd like to talk about this', which sends me their level and dimension scores. Calm, professional design that suits a consultancy."
Paste in your own level descriptions and questions. They're your intellectual property and your voice; the model's job is the scoring, layout and charts, not your expertise.
Sharing it and getting leads
Publish it and link to it from your newsletter, talks and social profiles, or give it to a client before a first meeting. Answers stay in the visitor's browser unless they choose to send them. The optional form goes through Anticode's form pipeline: name, email and a message are required, and the extra fields (level, dimension scores, organisation) are added to the message. Each one reaches you by email and in your Anticode inbox, and connectors can pass it on to HubSpot, Airtable or Slack.
Leaving the form optional, and after the result rather than before it, earns more trust than a gate that demands an email first. People who send their result are also telling you they want help, which makes for better first calls. The lead generation quiz page covers the gated approach if you prefer it.
Limits
- No saved accounts. A person can come back on the same browser and see their last result, but can't sign in from elsewhere or compare with colleagues.
- No team assessments. Several people from one organisation can each take it, but the app can't combine their answers; each sends their own result to you.
- No benchmarks from live data. "You're ahead of 60 per cent of charities" would need a database of real results. Don't invent one; describe the levels instead.
- Not a certified assessment. It reflects your framework, so say so on the first screen.
Related pages: personality quiz maker for lighter quizzes, and the consultant and coach industry pages for the website around it.
Questions people ask
Can a self assessment tool collect results from a whole team?
Each person can send their own result by form, and you combine them. The app can't pool answers itself.
Can people download their results?
Yes. The app can open the print dialog for a results page, and many browsers can save that as a PDF.
Do I need to ask for an email?
No. Make the result free and offer the form afterwards for people who want to talk.