Event feedback is one of the best ways to learn about your event and what your attendees liked and didn’t like. Having the right information regarding your feedback for an event helps you figure out how well your event went.
Not only attendee feedback, but insights from all your stakeholders, exhibitors, or sponsors matter a lot. It helps improve everyone’s overall experience for the future. The more constructive event feedback you get, the better. Even if it’s negative, it’s valuable input for your event.
But the problem arises when you need to collect feedback for an event from attendees. Most often, attendees find it a hassle to complete those long, boring survey forms.
For this reason, many post-event feedback sessions, emails have low open rates. However, to deal with such a case, all you need is the right feedback tools and a strategy to get your answers.
In this blog post, we‘ve mentioned the best ways to collect event feedback. Additionally, we’ve highlighted tools and strategies you can use to gather feedback from the users.
Why Does Event Feedback Matter?
Collecting feedback is a personal choice for many event organizers. But what defines good event planners and conference organizers? What exactly separates them from exceptional ones? It’s always the efforts invested in getting event feedback during an event and then taking action upon it.
But why does it matter?
It’s because it’s a smart way to improve your events, boost attendee satisfaction, and grow your audience. However, it’s an overlooked part of event planning, but feedback directly relates to future events. It gives you a hint about what your users are thinking or feeling, like it’s all the insights that are useful for every event professional.
User feedback is something that shows you your weak points. You can easily identify what your attendees need and even spot emerging trends in the market. For instance, at a trade show, if your attendees mention an issue in the event check-in tools, you know where to put your energy and focus.
Remember, it’s not always about fixing problems.
Event feedback helps you meet expectations, build trust, and create loyalty. It also makes your hard work stand out.
- Whether your event is already successful or still growing, always collect feedback using various feedback tools and strategies to make it easy.
8 Proven Event Feedback Strategies and Tools: Gather Post-Event Insights
According to a study, about 85% of event planners see attendee satisfaction as a key factor in measuring event success. Therefore, to know about your attendees, here are the top event feedback methods that you can use to gather insight post-event.
1. Instant Feedback for an Event Using Emoticon-Based Feedback Kiosks
Have you ever been to an event where you just tap buttons on a machine to give your feedback? If yes, then you need to follow the same thing to get feedback, and if you haven’t, then here is one of the easiest and most engaging event feedback tools for you. And that’s an emoticon-based feedback machine; these machines are also known as smiley feedback kiosks.
These machines are small terminals or touchscreens with four or five buttons showing faces. It can range from very happy to very unhappy. You can place these machines at key points in your venue, such as entrances, exits, near session halls, or food counters. Attendees need to simply press the button that matches how they feel in that moment. For example, you can add questions related to the check-in experience, installation of the app, a keynote session, or even the food service.
This method works well for collecting large volumes of feedback quickly. There’s no typing involved here, only one tap. You can consider this event feedback strategy for conferences, trade shows, exhibitions, corporate events, and even large public gatherings.
2. Gather Feedback for an Event Using a Mobile Event App
Make use of your mobile event apps, as they’re one of the easiest ways to collect feedback. Incorporate feedback features into your app (customize it), and afterwards, you can have real-time insights without much extra planning. Plus, built-in features such as push notifications can automatically remind your attendees to leave feedback after each session.
However, if you need live insights, then you can use live polls and live Q&A sessions on the app only. Once attendees are done, you can share their feedback live on the screens. Aside from surveys, event apps also support live polls, emoji reactions, one-to-one networking, exchange of digital cards, and more. The best part? You get instant, organized data to analyze and act on, without waiting for post-event reports.
Confused Between Event App vs Event Website?
3. Try Comment Cards for Open-Ended, Honest Feedback
Providing comment cards to attendees and gathering feedback from them can be one of the best event feedback strategies that you can consider. These cards are best when you need to know about your open-ended insights instead of getting responses to specific questions only. Implement comment cards at the center of the venue; you can use registration desks, lounge areas, and exit points to place them. Make sure to provide pens. Assign an event team member who can collect these cards, then don’t forget to review every card carefully. Aren’t comment cards a simple and low-tech solution to get that authentic feedback?
4. Host an Open Conversation Session
Sometimes, event feedback methods such as forms & surveys fail. They don’t let you know the full story. You might miss the honest opinion attendees might have. Therefore, one of the great event feedback examples to collect detailed and thoughtful feedback is to host a live session! Using a live discussion or webinars, you can create a space for attendees where they can feel comfortable sharing their real thoughts.
Besides, these sessions are perfect and ideal if you really want to know about what worked well or what could be improved. It’s completely your choice whether you want to host them at in-person conferences or as part of your virtual/hybrid events. Many platforms, like Dreamcast, support features like breakout rooms, immersive webinar experiences, live polls, chat options, and Q&A sessions, as all these options help in easy feedback collection.
“ It’s not just about collecting opinions; it’s about starting a conversation that helps you grow.’’
5. Use WhatsApp for Post-Event Feedback
The majority of people use WhatsApp. As a result, it has now become one of the most powerful tools for gathering feedback after events. With amazing tech solutions like WhatsApp automation, you can easily send follow-up messages to participants and capture their responses in real time. It’s also a budget-friendly method that doesn’t require elaborate technology or complex systems, making it perfect for any small- to medium-sized event.
Here are a few creative ways to collect post-event feedback via WhatsApp:
- Polls: Send out quick polls to get instant reactions about the sessions, the food, or the overall experience.
- Send Question & Emoji Reaction: Create a feedback questionnaire (include only 10) and ask your attendees to react with an emoji (thumbs-up or thumbs-down).
- GIF/sticker responses: Use engaging GIFs or stickers to make event feedback fun and informal. Ask attendees to respond with topic-related reactions.
- Text messages: Distribute a short list of feedback questions or ask for short 1–2 line opinions via text.
- Use QR code: Send a QR code on WhatsApp, which redirects to your event website. Ask your attendees to provide feedback.
- Voice notes: Send voice messages to the participants. Use the WhatsApp broadcast channel and let participants give you voice feedback. This means you no longer have to type, and you know what makes your audience tick.
- Event Reminders: Now that an updated version of WhatsApp is here, you can schedule reminders and feedback requests. This practice keeps attendees engaged even after the event. Also, you can add reminders about your upcoming events.
6. Create a Feedback Wall for Visual and Interactive Insights
Make the biggest impact with the simplest and easiest event feedback examples, such as creating a feedback wall. When you create a wall, especially for gathering thoughts of event attendees, you provide the chance to share unique ideas, spark conversations, and see how others felt at the event.
Therefore, set up an area at your event where attendees can leave their feedback. Ask your attendees to use stickers, Post-it notes, cards, or even permanent markers to design the wall. Such interactive event feedback strategies not only provide useful feedback but also build engagement while giving you new ideas for the next event. Here are some questions to consider for a part of your feedback wall:
- “What did we do well today?”
- “What could we improve for next time?”
- “What was your favorite part of the event?”
Be sure to leave plenty of time for people to participate throughout the event so everyone has a chance to add their thoughts.
While giving feedback can sometimes feel boring, making the process fun and creative will encourage more responses.
“ Think outside the box! Use colorful supplies, interactive prompts, or even themed walls to get people excited about sharing their experiences. ”
7. Exit Badge Bins
One of the best event feedback strategies involves bins. Yes, you heard it right! You can use badge bins at the time of the attendees’ exit. Exit badge bins are a creative and eco-friendly way to collect instant feedback at the end of an event. You need to place these bins at the exits, and attendees are asked to drop their name badges into a bin that reflects their event experience. This includes “I loved the event” or “Not Satisfied.” Moreover, this method works best for two reasons:
- Quick Feedback: Event organizers can get quick insights into overall attendee satisfaction.
- Follow-Up Opportunity: Since badges have attendees’ names and contact information, it allows organizers to follow up with those who dropped their badges into the “Not Satisfied” category. Later, organizers can reach out and have a conversation with attendees regarding improvement ideas.
Additionally, this feedback example also promotes badge recycling, helping reduce waste after large-scale events.
However, one thing to keep in mind is that some attendees might feel uncomfortable giving negative feedback. This is common at business events. As a result, the data can be slightly biased. Therefore, to overcome this, include other methods like anonymous digital surveys via a mobile app or comment cards.
8. Use Social Media Communities for Honest Feedback
Social media isn’t just for event promotion; nowadays, it’s a goldmine for real feedback.
Before your event, create a dedicated community on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, or even Instagram. Invite your attendees to join. This space lets them ask questions, share ideas, and connect with others before and after the event. After the event, these groups become a powerful tool to collect feedback naturally. People often share what they loved—or didn’t—without being asked. Moreover, you can also use mostly used platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn to collect feedback in creative ways.
- On Instagram: You can use its features like polls, question boxes, and emoji sliders in your stories to gather quick opinions.
- On LinkedIn: As is for all professional connections, consider sharing post-event highlights and asking followers what they enjoyed most or what could be improved.
The comments often give valuable feedback from professionals who attended. Also, encourage attendees to post about the event using a custom hashtag.
This way, you can collect feedback from everywhere. Social media not only acts as an event feedback tool but also boosts long-term engagement with your audience.
Conclusion
At the end of this blog post, you are aware of the importance of collecting valuable feedback for an event. If you’re not into gathering any feedback during your events, conferences, or meetings, then it’s time to start. Whether it’s bad or good feedback, take it positively because both are valuable and helpful to your event. If the feedback collection process is tedious, attendees won’t engage.
Therefore, use simple forms, an easy way to collect feedback. Consider following up with emails via social media. Remember to maintain a balance and include a mix of various event feedback tools or methods without overwhelming attendees. Also, when someone shares their feedback, show gratitude and kindness, and tell them how much it means to you!
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I send out an event feedback survey?
Right after the event ends, the experience is still fresh in attendees’ minds.
Should event surveys be mobile-friendly?
Yes! Mobile-optimized surveys are easier for attendees to complete on the go.
How can RFID or NFC badges be used for event feedback?
RFID or NFC badges let attendees give feedback by simply tapping their badge on a device or station. These stations are placed around the event with options like smiley buttons or yes/no choices. When someone taps, their response is recorded instantly.
Does survey design matter?
Absolutely. A clean, branded design leaves a good impression and encourages more responses.
Can I promote my next event in the survey?
Yes! Mentioning your next event can help gauge interest and build early excitement.
How to Use Push Notifications via Mobile App for Feedback?
You can send push notifications through your event app to remind attendees to give feedback. Make the message fun or interesting so people notice and want to respond.
