The dematerialized satisfaction survey

What is an event survey?

An event survey is a tool employed to gather feedback from attendees before, during, or after an event. It's designed to gauge satisfaction levels, understand attendee preferences, and capture insights to improve future events.

The crux of a successful event survey lies in asking relevant questions. For instance, you might want to know if the event met the attendees' expectations or if they would recommend this event to a friend or colleague. You may also inquire about their experiences at similar events, or how this event compares to other events they've attended.

The format of the questions is also important. Multiple choice questions are often used for their ease and speed, but allowing attendees to express their thoughts in their own words can provide more nuanced feedback. You might also ask them to rate different aspects of the event, from the quality of the content to the functionality of the virtual platform. Remember that both positive and negative are valuable.

Positive feedback shows what you're doing right and should continue doing, while negative can reveal areas for improvement. Even if it might seem challenging to hear, negative opinions can provide the most impactful insights for improving your events. In addition to the event itself, you could also ask questions about your event marketing strategy. For instance, how did they hear about the event? Was it through a friend or colleague, or did they see an advertisement? This information can help you allocate your marketing budget more effectively for future events. Finally, the response rate is a crucial aspect to keep in mind. The higher the response rate, the more data you have, leading to more reliable results and stronger insights for your future events.

Why are event surveys important?

Event surveys, encompassing pre-event, mid-event, and post-event survey questions, provide feedback from attendees. They enable event organizers to understand what worked well and what didn't, thereby playing a crucial role in refining and improving future events.

Pre-event survey questions help gauge attendee expectations and preferences even before the event commences. They can help you understand why attendees chose to attend this event and their thoughts on the registration process. This enables you to make any necessary adjustments, ensuring a smooth experience for your attendees.

Post-event survey, even if kept short, are instrumental in measuring satisfaction and understanding the event's success. Post-event survey questions often focus on different aspects of the attendee experience, such as the event venue, the content presented, and the overall organisation. The open-ended question in these surveys allow attendees to express their thoughts in detail, providing a more in-depth perspective on their experience. Such feedback, both positive and negative, is crucial to enhance attendee satisfaction for future events.

Furthermore, surveys are an effective way to gauge the success of your marketing efforts. By asking attendees how they heard about the event, you can get a sense of which marketing channels are most effective, helping you optimise your strategy for future events. In essence, event surveys are a powerful tool to collect feedback and gain insights, all of which contribute to the continuous improvement and success of your events.

When should I conduct an event survey?

Surveys can be conducted at different stages of an event: pre-event, mid-event, and post-event survey. Each type of survey serves a distinct purpose and provides valuable insights for the event organiser. Pre-event surveys are a good starting point to understand attendee expectations. By asking the right pre-event question, such as their objectives for attending or their interest in certain topics, you can tailor your event to better meet their needs.

This could be particularly relevant for hybrid events, where the needs of in-person and virtual attendees may differ. Mid-event allow for real-time adjustments based on attendee feedback. These might include questions about the event's pace, the effectiveness of networking opportunities, or any technical issues attendees might be facing with a hybrid or virtual platform. Immediate responses can help you address any issues promptly and improve the overall attendee experience.

Post-event surveys are key to measure attendee satisfaction and success. Multiple choice questions can provide a quick overview of satisfaction levels, while an open-ended question can offer more detailed insights. Both positive and negative feedback are important. While positive feedback reaffirms what aspects of the event meet or exceed expectations, negative highlights areas for improvement, providing the most valuable feedback for future enhancements.

Remember, the main goal of this post-event survey is to continually improve your events based on the feedback you receive. By effectively measuring attendee satisfaction, you can ensure that each event is better than the last.

What types of questions are possible for your event survey?

Your survey is uniquely yours! You can personalize your survey questions to ask, tailoring them to fit your specific needs. This could range from free response queries to compulsory or optional answers, even including check boxes and the open-ended question. There are a variety of survey types you can utilise. For instance, a before event survey can help you gauge your event attendees' expectations and preferences.

After the conclusion of your event, a post-event survey can provide you with valuable feedback on the event's success, allowing you to understand what worked and what could be improved. How did your attendees hear about this event? What did they think of the virtual event? These are just a few examples of the kind of questions you might include in your survey. The data gathered from these surveys can be vital in planning your next event and upcoming events. Not only does it enable you to make improvements, but it also allows you to better understand your audience and ensure their needs are being met.