28 event survey questions to capture attendee feedback
Collecting feedback at every phase of an event is crucial for organizers to understand needs, enhance future events, and guarantee satisfaction. By identifying what works and what needs improvement, you can fine-tune your strategy to deliver exceptional experiences.
Our guide will help you maximize the impact of your events by utilizing pre-event, mid-event, and post-event survey questions. We’ll also introduce the most effective question types and demonstrate how to analyze and act on feedback, ensuring your events are an outstanding success.
Why you should send event survey questions before, during, and after an event
Pre-event survey questions help organizers get to know their attendees
Pre-event surveys help you understand your audience's expectations and preferences. They allow you to gather key data on demographics, session preferences, and logistical needs, ensuring a more engaging and satisfying experience.
Asking the right pre-event survey questions enables you to learn what attendees want from the event, like networking events, educational sessions, or entertainment. This attendee feedback is invaluable for customizing content, choosing relevant speakers, and planning activities that resonate with your audience.
Effective pre-event surveys also help identify logistical needs, such as dietary restrictions and accessibility requirements. This allows you to plan accordingly and ensure attendee comfort.
By aligning your plans with their specific expectations and requirements, you can enhance the overall event experience.
Mid-event surveys monitor attendee satisfaction
Mid-event surveys provide real-time feedback for immediate improvements. This data helps you enhance the attendee experience during the event.
For example, you can't change the speaker lineup or venue, but you can adjust the temperature, sound quality, and seating arrangements. This proactive approach keeps attendees comfortable and engaged.
Mid-event surveys make it possible to fine-tune the event as it happens, leading to higher satisfaction and a more successful event.
Post-event survey questions set you up for future success
Post-event surveys help you assess the success of your event and measure attendee satisfaction. This feedback is crucial for identifying areas you must change to improve future events. For example, you can learn if the content met expectations, the venue was suitable, or the event staff was helpful.
Feedback from post-event surveys also helps build trust with your attendees. When you act on their suggestions, you show that you value their experience. Implementing changes based on feedback increases the likelihood of repeat attendance and positive word-of-mouth recommendations.
What are the different types of event survey questions?
Net Promoter Score® (NPS) questions
- What it is: The Net Promoter Score measures the likelihood of attendees recommending the event to others.
- How to measure it: Ask, "On a scale of 0-10, how likely are you to recommend this event to a friend or colleague?" Subtract the percentage of detractors (0-6) from promoters (9-10) to get your NPS.
- Why it matters: NPS directly links to attendee loyalty and advocacy. A higher NPS indicates higher satisfaction and the potential for positive word-of-mouth promotion.
Open-ended questions
- What it is: Open-ended questions allow respondents to provide detailed, free-form answers.
- How to measure it: Ask questions like, "What did you enjoy most about the event?" or "How can we improve future events?" Analyze qualitative data by identifying common themes and sentiments.
- Why it matters: Open-ended questions provide in-depth insights into attendee experiences and suggestions. They help uncover unique perspectives and detailed feedback.
Closed-ended questions
- What it is: Closed-ended questions require respondents to choose from predefined answers, such as yes/no, multiple-choice, or rating scales.
- How to measure it: Use questions like, "Did you find the event informative?" with yes/no options or "Rate the event from 1 to 5." Analyze quantitative data by calculating response frequencies and averages.
- Why it matters: Closed-ended questions provide precise, easy-to-analyze data for measuring specific aspects of the event and making quick, data-driven decisions.
Likert Scale Questions
- What it is: Likert scale questions measure attitudes or opinions on a scale, typically ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree.
- How to measure it: Ask questions like, "I gained new insights and perspectives from attending this event," with response options from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Analyze data by calculating average scores and distribution.
- Why it matters: Likert scale questions gauge attendee satisfaction and perceptions. They help identify strengths and areas for improvement with measurable insights.
Demographic questions
- What it is: Demographic questions gather information about attendees' backgrounds, such as age, gender, occupation, and location.
- How to measure it: Use questions like, "What is your age group?" with options like 18-24, 25-34, etc. Collect and analyze data to understand the composition of your audience.
- Why it matters: Demographic questions help tailor your event to meet the needs of different audience segments. They provide insights into who is attending, how to cater to diverse groups better, and where to focus marketing efforts.
28 event survey questions for every stage
Pre-event survey questions
1. Which of the events or speakers are you most excited about?
- Type: Open-ended
- How to process results: Categorize responses to identify popular topics and speakers.
- Follow-up: "What specifically interests you about this event/speaker?"
2. How do you feel about the cost of the event?
- Type: Likert Scale
- How to process results: Calculate average satisfaction scores.
- Follow-up: "What would make the event more valuable for the price?"
3. How do you feel about the location of the event?
- Type: Likert Scale
- How to process results: Aggregate satisfaction scores.
- Follow-up: "What location factors are most important to you?"
4. Are you staying at one of the suggested hotels?
- Type: Yes/No
- How to process results: Calculate the percentage of attendees staying at suggested hotels.
- Follow-up: "If no, where are you staying and why?"
5. How did you hear about the event?
- Type: Multiple choice
- How to process results: Tally responses to identify effective marketing channels.
- Follow-up: "What about this channel caught your attention?"
6. What are you hoping to get out of the event?
- Type: Open-ended
- How to process results: Group responses into common themes.
- Follow-up: "How can we best help you achieve this goal?"
7. What are you looking forward to the most?
- Type: Open-ended
- How to process results: Identify recurring themes.
- Follow-up: "Why is this important to you?"
8. What can we do to make the registration process easier?
- Type: Open-ended
- How to process results: Identify common issues and suggestions.
- Follow-up: "Did you encounter any specific difficulties?"
9. Is there information about the event you couldn't find or access easily?
- Type: Open-ended
- How to process results: Highlight frequently mentioned information gaps.
- Follow-up: "What information was hard to find?"
Mid-event survey questions
10. How was the check-in process?
- Type: CSAT (Customer Satisfaction Score)
- How to process results: Calculate average satisfaction score.
- Follow-up: "What could we do to improve the check-in process?"
11. How would you rate this year's keynote speaker?
- Type: Likert Scale
- How to process results: Calculate average rating.
- Follow-up: "What did you enjoy or dislike about the keynote?"
12. Which speaker or event have you found the most informative so far?
- Type: Open-ended
- How to process results: Identify popular speakers and event sessions.
- Follow-up: "What made this session informative?"
13. Is the conference layout easy to navigate and well-marked?
- Type: Yes/No
- How to process results: Calculate the percentage of positive responses.
- Follow-up: "If no, what improvements would help?"
14. Are the speakers relevant to your needs?
- Type: Likert Scale
- How to process results: Calculate the average relevance score.
- Follow-up: "Which topics would be more relevant to you?"
15. If you could change one thing about the conference so far, what would it be?
- Type: Open-ended
- How to process results: Identify common suggestions.
- Follow-up: "Why is this change important?"
16. How would you describe the atmosphere or mood of the conference?
- Type: Open-ended
- How to process results: Group responses into common themes.
- Follow-up: "What contributes to this atmosphere?"
17. How would you rate the helpfulness of on-site event organizers?
- Type: Likert Scale
- How to process results: Calculate the average helpfulness score.
- Follow-up: "How could our organizers be more helpful?"
Post-event survey questions
18. How would you rate the event on a scale of 1-10?
- Type: Rating Scale
- How to process results: Calculate average rating.
- Follow-up: "What aspects influenced your rating?"
19. Which event or speaker were you most pleased with?
- Type: Open-ended
- How to process results: Identify favorite events and speakers.
- Follow-up: "What made this experience positive?"
20. Did you have ample time to network?
- Type: Yes/No
- How to process results: Calculate the percentage of positive responses.
- Follow-up: "How could we improve networking opportunities?"
21. What can we do to make next year's conference even better?
- Type: Open-ended
- How to process results: Identify common improvement suggestions.
- Follow-up: "What specific changes would you recommend?"
22. What kind of speakers would you like to see next year?
- Type: Open-ended
- How to process results: Group suggestions by topic or speaker type.
- Follow-up: "Why are these speakers important to you?"
23. Did the conference have a cohesive message?
- Type: Yes/No
- How to process results: Calculate the percentage of positive responses.
- Follow-up: "What could make the message clearer?"
24. Did you learn actionable information that will help you in your work life?
- Type: Yes/No
- How to process results: Calculate the percentage of positive responses.
- Follow-up: "What specific information did you find useful?"
25. What features should we add to the event?
- Type: Open-ended
- How to process results: Highlight frequently suggested features.
- Follow-up: "How would these features improve your experience?"
26. Given your experience, would you encourage others to attend next year?
- Type: Yes/No
- How to process results: Calculate the percentage of positive responses.
- Follow-up: "What would increase your likelihood to recommend?"
27. On a scale of 1-10, how likely are you to return next year?
- Type: Rating scale
- How to process results: Calculate the average likelihood score.
- Follow-up: "What factors influence your decision?"
28. Net Promoter Score (NPS) survey: How likely will you recommend this event to a friend or colleague?
- Type: NPS
- How to measure it: Subtract the percentage of detractors (0-6) from promoters (9-10) to get your NPS.
- Why it matters: NPS indicates attendee loyalty and satisfaction. A higher NPS suggests attendees are more likely to recommend the event, driving future growth.
How to maximize event survey response rates
Maximizing survey response rates ensures you get high-quality feedback to improve future events. Here are some strategies to boost response rates at various stages of the event journey.
Pre-event strategies
- Incentivize participation: Offer incentives such as gift cards, discounts, or entries into a prize draw for completing the survey.
- Set clear expectations: Let attendees know how long the survey will take. Transparency builds trust and encourages participation.
- Promote the survey: Mention the survey in all pre-event communications. Make sure attendees know it's coming and why their input is valuable.
During the event
- Real-time feedback: Use brief, on-the-spot surveys during the event. Mobile apps or QR codes can facilitate quick responses.
- Engage attendees: Ask staff to remind attendees about the survey and encourage them to participate.
- Visible prompts: Display reminders on event screens or signage. Keep the survey at the forefront of attendees' minds.
Post-event follow-up
- Immediate follow-up: Send the survey promptly after the event when the experience is still fresh in attendees' minds.
- Personalize requests: Personalize surveys to make them more appealing. Use attendees' names and reference specific sessions they attended.
- Reminder emails: Send survey reminder emails to non-respondents. A gentle nudge can significantly increase response rates.
Enhance the survey experience
- Engaging design: Use a visually appealing and easy-to-navigate survey design to enhance the user experience.
- Keep it short: Limit the number of questions to avoid survey fatigue. Focus on essential feedback.
- Include open-ended follow-up questions: Allow respondents to provide detailed feedback through open-ended follow-up questions, but keep these to a minimum—preferably one for optimal results and response rates.
- Thank respondents: Acknowledge and thank respondents for their time upon survey completion. This simple act of appreciation can boost future event participation and word-of-mouth marketing.
These strategies will help you maximize your event survey response rates and gather valuable feedback to enhance future events.
How to analyze and act on survey responses
Analyzing survey responses helps you turn raw data into actionable insights to improve event experiences. Use statistical analysis, charts, and graphs to make sense of the data. For example, after an event, use cross-tabulation to compare different attendee groups' feedback to reveal specific areas for improvement.
Consider this real-world scenario: After a large industry conference, 75% of attendees expressed satisfaction with the event overall, but only 50% were satisfied with the breakout sessions. Through follow-up questions, the organizers discovered that the session topics were too broad. They used this insight to tailor future sessions to more specific interests, leading to higher satisfaction in subsequent events.
Once you've analyzed the data, act on the insights. If attendees report issues with event logistics, such as poor sound quality, prioritize fixing these for future events. Share the improvements with attendees to show you value their feedback. Acting on feedback builds trust and encourages higher engagement and satisfaction at your next event.
Create event surveys with SurveyMonkey
Effective event surveys at every stage, including pre-event, mid-event, and post-event, are crucial for gathering valuable feedback and improving future events. With a wide range of event survey templates, SurveyMonkey makes creating and analyzing surveys easy, providing you with the data to enhance every aspect of your event. Sign up for free to start building event surveys with SurveyMonkey today.
NPS®, Net Promoter®, and Net Promoter® Score are registered trademarks of Satmetrix Systems, Inc., Bain & Company, and Fred Reichheld.
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