Event feedback survey
Most post-event surveys ask "how was it?" and get a polite seven out of ten. This one ties every answer to a specific session and asks what people will do differently because of it. That tells you which talks earned their slot and what to drop next time.
Best for: Event organizers, marketers and community teams running webinars, meetups, talks and workshops.
Use this template freeWhich session or event is this feedback about?
A live preview of this template. Click through it. Nothing gets sent.
The questions
- 1Which session or event is this feedback about?Single selectTies each response to one session, so a strong talk and a weak one don't blur together.
- 2How likely are you to recommend this event to a colleague?NPSEvent NPS. Tells you whether the format is worth running again.
- 3What's one thing you'll do differently after attending?Long textA concrete change in what someone does is a better sign of value than any rating.
- 4What was the most useful part of the session?Long textTells you what to keep.
- 5What should we cut or change next time?Long textTells you what to drop. Asked on its own, people find it easier to name a cut.
- 6How would you rate the session overall?RatingA quick number to compare events over time. The written answers carry the detail.
- 7What topic would you want us to cover next?Short textBuilds the next agenda from the people who showed up.
Sample replies, counted
These replies are made up to show the method.
Asked: What's one thing you'll do differently after attending?
Going to try the 5-question exit survey from the second talk on our trial accounts this week.
Will try a tacticsteal the onboarding checklist slide for my team
Will try a tacticNothing really, it was mostly stuff I knew already.
Nothing newI'm going to message the speaker about the pricing page teardown and see if she'd look at ours
Follow up with someoneBook a call with the two people from my breakout table who work on the same kind of product
Follow up with someonehonestly not much, too basic for where we are
Nothing newWe're switching our Monday metrics review to the one-page format they showed.
Will try a tactic
| Label | Replies |
|---|---|
| Will try a tactic | 3 |
| Nothing new | 2 |
| Follow up with someone | 2 |
Three of seven left with a tactic to try and two plan to follow up with someone, but two found it too basic. Check which session those two picked before you decide whether the level was off or just one talk.
How to run it well
- Send it as soon as the session ends, while people still remember the details and before their day moves on.
- Put the "what will you do differently" question near the top. A planned change in behavior says more than a star rating.
- Ask "keep" and "cut" as two separate questions. One open feedback box mostly collects praise.
- Tag every response by session, so one great talk and one weak talk don't average into a meaningless middle.
- Use the "next topic" answers to draft your next agenda. People are telling you what they'd show up for.
When not to use this: If you want to know why people didn't come, or whether they'd come at all, this is the wrong form. Run a market research survey with the people you invited instead.
FAQ
When should I send an event feedback survey?
Should I ask for a rating or open feedback?
Where the method comes from
- The Kirkpatrick Model, Kirkpatrick Partnerskirkpatrickpartners.com
- Writing Survey Questions, Pew Research Centerpewresearch.org
- Introducing: The Net Promoter System, Bain & Company (2011)bain.com
Related templates
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