You crushed it – the speakers inspired, the venue impressed, and the food satisfied everyone.
From your view, the event was a total success.
But did the attendees agree with your positive review?
The only way to find out is by asking them directly through a well-made survey after the event ended.
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Why Post-Event Surveys Are Absolutely Vital
A well-rounded mix of open-ended and closed-ended questions can provide valuable feedback for enhancing future events.
Gathering and looking at feedback from attendees is like event planning gold. Here’s why this step is so important:
- Identify wins and losses. Was that breakout session boring? Was lunch disappointing? Surveys show what worked and what didn’t.
- Make choices based on facts, not guesses. Forget the mind games – real numbers show where to focus your effort next time.
- Give experiences attendees want. Learning their likes, dislikes, and needs lets you create future events they will love.
- Prove how great your event was. Amazing ratings and positive comments? That’s useful to get more money.
- Show attendees you care what they think. Asking for feedback proves you’re listening – making your connection stronger.
Surveys after the event are a must for anyone who wants to get better. They give you the information to make each event better than the last.
Relationships > Transactions
Think your job is over when the last attendee leaves?
No way.
The real magic happens after the event – it’s the best time to bond.
Sure, you chatted and got some business cards. But those new relationships will disappear if you don’t keep in touch.
The secret?
Keep talking.
Show you care about their success, not just your results.
That means having a clear plan for connecting after the event.
Really understand your attendees – what drives them, their problems, their dreams. Then, keep providing value long after the event ends.
- Personalized emails checking in
- Content picked for their interests
- Invitations to future events just for them
These thoughtful actions show you “get” them and want to help them grow.
Smart planners know: an event is just the start.
With the right moves after, you can build a strong community of loyal fans.
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Post-Event Survey Questions and Templates for Your Upcoming Event
Now for the million-dollar question: What exactly should you ask in your post-event survey?
No worries – we’ve got your back. Steal our tried-and-true templates to start collecting those juicy insights ASAP.
Just customize them to fit your specific event and goals.
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Best Practices for Amazing Feedback
Creating a survey that yields truly valuable insights is no simple feat.
It’s not just about hastily throwing together a few questions after an event wraps up.
No, crafting a survey that delivers the data – that’s an art form in itself.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Survey
So, how can you elevate your survey game and unlock the secrets to gathering amazing feedback?
Here are some pro tips to help you make the most of your post-event surveys:
Mix it up with different question types
Don’t fall into the trap of relying only on yes/no questions or rating scales.
Open-ended questions are your friend here.
They give attendees the space to share their thoughts, experiences, and suggestions in their own words.
And that’s where you can find the real gold.
Keep it short
We get it, you want to know everything about how your event went.
But try not to ask your attendees a never-ending list of questions.
Aim for 10-15 questions max.
Any more than that and you risk survey fatigue setting in.
Focus on the areas where you really need feedback and let the rest go.
Be consistent with rating scales
If you’re using a 1-5 range, make sure the high and low numbers mean the same thing for each question.
You don't want to confuse your respondents by changing things up in the middle of the survey.
Keep it simple and easy to follow.
Watch the words you use
It’s very easy to accidentally sway people’s answers with the words you choose.
Stay away from leading questions that push people towards certain responses.
Your goal is to get their honest opinions, not to confirm what you already think.
Explain what those ratings mean
Don’t assume that everyone sees a “4” rating the same way.
Take the guesswork out by clearly defining what each number on your scale represents.
That way, you can be sure you’re comparing apples to apples when you look at the results later.
Put your most important questions first
You know how it goes – people’s attention spans aren’t getting any longer.
So ask your most crucial questions right up front, before survey fatigue has a chance to set in.
Save the less critical ones for the end, where they won’t make or break your data if some folks drop off.
Give people a way out
Not every question is going to apply to every single attendee.
Use skip logic to let people breeze past questions that aren’t relevant to them.
This not only makes for a better experience for the person taking the survey, but it also means you’ll end up with cleaner, more useful data.
Use simple language
Sure, you and your team might know all sorts of industry-specific terms and acronyms.
But your attendees?
Not so much.
Use plain, easy-to-understand words that anyone can follow, no matter their background.
Save the insider speak for when you’re talking with your co-workers.
Don't forget to ask one last question
Even with the most carefully planned out survey, there’s always a chance you overlooked something.
That’s where an open-ended question at the end comes in handy.
It’s a space for attendees to share any other thoughts, feedback, or ideas that didn’t fit into the other questions.
You never know what great insights might pop up here.
Say thank you
Last but not least, don’t forget to show some appreciation!
A little bit of gratitude goes a long way.
When people feel valued for taking the time to share their thoughts, they’re more likely to take part in future surveys and to feel good about your overall brand.
Timing Is Everything
Now that you’ve put together an awesome set of survey questions that would impress even the most experienced researcher.
But before you hit that send button, let’s talk about timing.
Because when it comes to surveys, timing is crucial.
Send your survey too soon after an event ends and people may not have had a chance to really think about their experience.
Wait too long and the details may start to get a little fuzzy in their minds.
So what’s the sweet spot?
Here’s a quick cheat sheet:
- Right after the event: A super short 1-2 question survey as folks are heading out the door can capture those gut reactions they have in the moment. It’s a great way to get a quick temperature check on how things went.
- 1-2 days post-event: This is usually the best window for sending out your full survey. It gives people a chance to catch their breath and think about their experience, but the event is still fresh in their minds.
- 1 week later: Sometimes, people’s views can change a bit after they’ve had more time to think things over. Sending a follow-up survey a week later can help you identify any new insights that may have come up.
- With event content: If you’re sharing recordings, slides, or other materials from the event, think about including a link to your survey along with them. It’s a natural time to ask that can boost how many people respond.
Of course, the perfect timing will depend on things like how long your event was, the format, the types of sessions you offered, and the kinds of attendees you had.
It’s worth testing out a few different options to see what gives you the highest quality responses for your specific situation.
But in general, it’s better to ask sooner rather than later.
You want to ask while the excitement is still fresh in people's minds.
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Turning Feedback Into Results
Alright, so you’ve sent out your well-crafted survey and the responses are coming in.
Pat yourself on the back – you’re halfway there!
But the real magic happens when you take those survey results and turn them into real improvements.
After all, what’s the point of gathering all that great feedback if you’re not going to use it?
Here’s a plan for transforming those insights into action:
- Get the team together. This is not a solo mission. Bring your whole group together to review the survey findings. Different people will notice different things in the data, and those different points of view are so valuable.
- Look for themes. As you’re going through the responses, keep an eye out for patterns. What issues, ideas, or bits of praise come up again and again? Those recurring themes are your North Star – they’ll guide you towards the areas that need your attention most.
- Separate the important stuff from the noise. Let’s be real – not every single comment is going to be a game-changer. Your job is to zero in on the feedback that really matters. Focus on the high-impact insights that line up with your event goals. Those are the ones worth acting on.
- Make an action plan. It’s time to get specific. For each key area of feedback, assign a clear owner, break down the steps to take, and set firm deadlines. Vague ideas have a way of fizzling out – but a detailed plan will keep everyone accountable and on track.
- Close the loop with attendees. Don’t leave your survey respondents hanging! Once you’ve made changes based on their feedback, shout it from the rooftops. Let them know what you heard and what you did about it. This extra step shows that you’re really listening and that their input makes a real difference.
- Rinse and repeat. The work of gathering and acting on feedback is never done. Make it a regular part of your event planning process. By always seeking out and using insights, you create a cycle of improvement that keeps your events fresh, relevant, and irresistible.
The most successful event planners know that attendee feedback is the secret sauce that fuels innovation.
Stay curious, dig deep into the data, and fearlessly act on what you learn, and you’ll create events that leave the competition in the dust.
So don’t let those valuable insights go to waste.
Put them to work and watch as your events soar to new heights.
Your Data-Driven Advantage
Real talk: sending out post-event surveys probably isn’t the part of your job that gets you super excited.
It takes time, effort, and some serious brainpower to do it right.
But here’s the thing – it’s absolutely, completely worth it.
Because when you truly understand how your attendees feel about your event? That, my friend, is the ultimate edge over the competition.
Surveys give you the full picture – the good, the bad, and the “meh.”
By asking a strategic mix of question types, you can tap into a goldmine of rich, detailed feedback straight from the source.
But gathering the data is only half the battle.
Timing is everything when it comes to getting the most people to respond to your surveys.
Send them at the right moments and watch as the insights pour in.
And then? It’s time to put that data to work.
Don’t just let it sit in a forgotten spreadsheet somewhere.
Create systems and processes for turning those insights into real, concrete improvements.
Never stop asking for feedback, because it’s the fuel that powers the engine of continuous growth and innovation.
With a well-oiled feedback machine in place, you’ll leave those cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all events in the dust.
Your events will become the can’t-miss experiences that attendees rave about and flock back to year after year.
The future belongs to the event planners who harness the power of attendee feedback. So embrace it, you data-driven rockstar – and watch as the magic unfolds.
Maximizing Survey Engagement: Tips and Tricks
You’ve crafted the perfect survey questions, timed your send just right, and have big plans for turning insights into action.
But there’s one more piece of the puzzle: getting people to actually take your survey.
Making Your Survey Stand Out
Let’s face it, we’re all bombarded with requests for our time and opinions these days.
So how can you make your survey stand out and inspire people to eagerly share their feedback?
Here are some tips and tricks to boost your survey engagement:
Offer an incentive
People love the chance to win something.
Consider offering a prize drawing for a gift card, a free ticket to your next event, or some sweet swag.
Just be sure to choose a reward that aligns with your audience’s interests and values.
Keep it personal
No one likes feeling like just another face in the crowd.
Use your survey invite to remind attendees of their unique experience at your event.
Mention a keynote speaker they loved, a session they attended, or even the delicious food they enjoyed.
These personal touches show that you value their individual perspective.
Lean on FOMO
Fear of missing out is a powerful thing.
In your survey invite, play up the importance of their feedback in shaping future events.
Emphasize that this is their chance to have their voice heard and make a real impact on the experiences you create.
Make it mobile-friendly
These days, people are attached to their smartphones like an extra limb.
Ensure that your survey is optimized for mobile, so they can easily complete it on the go, whether they’re waiting in line for coffee or killing time between meetings.
Make your survey engaging, personal, and impossible to ignore, and you’ll be well on your way to gathering a treasure trove of insights.
And with more responses comes more confidence in making data-driven decisions that will take your events to the next level.
You Don't Have to Do It Alone
Feeling a bit overwhelmed by this whole post-event survey thing? We totally get it – it’s a big job on top of everything else you’re juggling.
Here’s the good news: you’ve got help. At We & Goliath, we work with planners like you to create survey strategies that really pay off.
When you work with us, you get:
- Proven survey outlines and best practices from our years of experience
- Deep data analysis that finds high-value, actionable insights (not just numbers)
- A true partner as invested in your event’s success as you are
We’re not just order takers – we’re experts obsessed with pushing the limits on attendee experience. And with our affordable solutions, you can level up without breaking the bank
