Post-event surveys are a powerful and essential tool for gathering feedback and insights that can significantly impact the success of events to come. By understanding attendee experiences and identifying areas for improvement, you can ensure that your association stays relevant to its members year after year.

Crafting and sharing an effective survey requires more than just throwing a few questions together. You want your surveys to truly reflect your event objectives, lead to increased response rates, and provide more actionable feedback. In this guide, we’ll explore five best practices for using post-event surveys to continuously improve your association’s event planning process.

1. Define clear objectives.

Before drafting your post-event survey, define clear objectives to guide your question development. Identify specific aspects of your event that you need feedback on, such as:

• Overall attendee satisfaction
• The event registration process
• The popularity of individual sessions or speakers
• The quality of event logistics

Then, structure your survey so that each question directly relates to one of these areas. Clear objectives not only help create a more focused survey but also facilitate easier analysis of results. By precisely defining what you want to learn, you set the stage for gathering valuable insights.

This targeted approach allows you to collect data that’s relevant and purposeful, rather than broad and vague.

2. Keep the survey short and focused.

Concise surveys increase completion rates and avoid respondent fatigue. Identify five to 10 survey questions that align with your event objectives, focusing on critical areas like overall satisfaction, session effectiveness, and venue quality. For example, you might ask:

• On a scale of 1-10, how satisfied were you with the event?
• On a scale of 1-10, how likely are you to recommend an event like this to a friend or colleague?
• Which topics or sessions did you most enjoy?
• Are there any accessibility features or accommodations that would have made your event experience better?
• What improvements, if any, would you like to see at our next event?

Prioritize multiple choice and rating scale survey questions for easy answering and analysis. Include a few optional open-ended questions for more in-depth insights.

3. Use simple and clear language.

The language you use in your post-event survey can make a significant difference in how respondents interpret and answer your questions. When respondents are confused by a question, they may skip it, provide inaccurate answers, or abandon the survey altogether.

For example, you might revise a question such as, “Can you please rate your satisfaction with the event’s logistical operations?” to “On a scale of 1-10, how well do you think the event was run and managed?”

Clear, straightforward language ensures that everyone can easily understand and complete your questions, regardless of their background or familiarity with event jargon.

4. Time your survey distribution.

Send your post-event survey within 24 to 48 hours after the event concludes. This timing ensures the experience is fresh in attendees’ minds, encouraging more thoughtful and specific responses. Avoid sharing it immediately after the event, as attendees may need more time to reflect.

Consider sending a polite reminder a few days later to increase response rates. Communicate the survey’s closing date to create urgency. Strategic timing maximizes responses, giving members enough time to respond while they still remember the details of their event experience.

5. Analyze and act on the feedback.

After collecting responses, analyze the data to identify patterns and trends. Categorize feedback according to your survey objectives and look for recurring themes. Summarize quantitative data in charts and graphs while carefully reviewing qualitative responses for key insights.

Prioritize areas that need immediate attention and create an action plan for addressing critical issues in future events. Share findings with your team and, when appropriate, with attendees, to close the feedback loop.

By acting on survey feedback, you improve future events and show attendees that your association values their opinions in shaping your event strategy.