Last updated on Jul 9, 2024

Here's how you can conduct thorough post-event surveys to gather valuable feedback from attendees.

Gathering feedback from attendees after an event is essential to understand what worked and what didn't, and to improve future events. Conducting a thorough post-event survey is a key component of this process. By reaching out to participants, you can gain insights into their experiences, preferences, and suggestions. This feedback is invaluable for event planners looking to refine their craft and deliver even more successful events in the future. The following guide will help you create effective surveys that elicit the most useful responses from your attendees.

1 Design Basics

When creating your post-event survey, simplicity is key. Start with a clear, concise design that makes it easy for attendees to navigate and complete. Ensure questions are straightforward and avoid using jargon that might confuse respondents. Use a mix of question types such as multiple choice, rating scales, and open-ended questions to gather a range of data. Keep the survey short to respect your attendees' time – aim for a completion time of 5 minutes or less. A well-designed survey not only increases the likelihood of participation but also ensures the quality of feedback you receive.

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Paul Viviers

Driver of Sustainable Event Branding Solutions 🚀 Your brand is your most valuable asset 📈 Need help elevating your Event Branding? ➡️ DM me to chat! Click ☎️ link to book a call.
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Crafting a post-event survey that works is all about keeping it simple and clear. Use a clean design that's easy to follow and make sure your questions are straightforward, avoiding any confusing jargon. Mix up your question types—include multiple choice, rating scales, and a few open-ended ones for richer insights. Respect your attendees' time by keeping the survey short, aiming for a 5-minute completion time. This thoughtful approach not only boosts participation rates but also improves the quality of feedback, giving you actionable insights to enhance future events.

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2 Timing Matters

Timing is crucial when sending out post-event surveys. Strike while the iron is hot by sending your survey within 24-48 hours after the event concludes. This ensures that the event is still fresh in the minds of the attendees, leading to more accurate and detailed feedback. Waiting too long may result in diminished recall and a lower response rate. Additionally, consider the day of the week and time of day when sending out surveys to maximize open and completion rates.

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Kimberly Bowman

Owner of Exquisite Enterprises Inc.
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I feel biased in saying this but, here is where a website or landing page, or even a mobile app, for your event can come in handy. Have your guests register through there, and when they leave, you can set it up to automatically send them a post-event survey as soon as they leave. Having someone greeting guests when they are leaving to remind them would be useful, and even a social media posts to follow up, with some worthwhile incentives, depending on the nature of the event.

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3 Incentivize Responses

To encourage attendees to complete your post-event survey, consider offering incentives. These could be discounts on future events, entry into a prize draw, or exclusive content related to the event topic. Make sure the incentives are appealing enough to motivate participation but also relevant to your audience. Clearly communicate what's in it for them at the beginning of the survey to capture their interest. Remember, the goal is to show appreciation for their time and input, not to coerce responses.

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4 Analyze and Act

Once you've collected the survey responses, it's time to analyze the data. Look for patterns and common themes in the feedback. Pay special attention to any recurring issues or suggestions for improvement. It's also beneficial to segment the data based on different attendee demographics or behaviors to understand specific group experiences. The analysis should guide your decision-making for future events, helping you to address concerns and enhance the overall attendee experience.

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5 Share Findings

Transparency is appreciated by attendees, so consider sharing key findings from the survey with them. This can be done through a follow-up email or a summary report on your website. Sharing results demonstrates that you value their feedback and are committed to making improvements. It also helps build trust and encourages attendees to participate in future surveys, knowing their opinions can lead to tangible changes.

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6 Continuous Improvement

Post-event surveys are not just a one-time task; they should be part of your ongoing event planning process. Use the insights gained from each survey to create a cycle of continuous improvement. Implement changes based on feedback, and then measure the effectiveness of those changes in subsequent events and surveys. This iterative approach ensures that your events keep evolving and aligning more closely with attendee expectations and preferences.

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Melissa Kohring

Executive Assistant @ KSU
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Use a voting/polling app for a fun purpose that happens to collect email addresses under the guides of, “for the purposes of ensuring that people only vote once”. Then 2-3 days later send out a poll (10 questions or less) for feedback on the event.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Here's how you can conduct thorough post-event surveys to gather valuable feedback from attendees.

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Design Basics

2 Timing Matters

3 Incentivize Responses

4 Analyze and Act

5 Share Findings

6 Continuous Improvement

7 Here’s what else to consider

Event Planning

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Here's how you can conduct thorough post-event surveys to gather valuable feedback from attendees.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Design Basics

2 Timing Matters

3 Incentivize Responses

4 Analyze and Act

5 Share Findings

6 Continuous Improvement

7 Here’s what else to consider

Event Planning

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