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Post Event Survey

How do you run a post event survey that people complete?

A post event survey is the questionnaire you send to attendees after an event to learn what worked and what to change. Its value depends on three things: sending it while the event is still fresh, keeping it short enough to finish, and doing something visible with the results.

This guide covers timing and length, gives a copy-ready template and the invitation email that goes with it, and then deals with the part most teams skip: reading the answers and turning them into changes. If you need a larger bank of questions by purpose, the event survey questions guide has one.

Updated by the Eventdex team

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When to send a post event survey

Send it soon. Attendees remember specifics for a day or two and then the event blurs into the rest of their month. Set the date in the plan before the event, and write the survey in advance.

A post event survey schedule
WhenWhat to doWhy
During the eventShort ratings after each session, if you use themFeedback is most accurate straight after the session
Same day or next morningSend the main survey with a thank-you noteThe experience is still fresh and the email is expected
3 to 4 days laterOne reminder to people who have not answeredMost late answers come after a prompt
One to two weeks laterClose the survey and start reading the resultsAnswers after this point add little
Within a monthTell attendees what you will changeIt shows the survey mattered and helps next year's response

How long it should be

Aim for a survey that takes about three to five minutes: roughly eight to twelve questions, mostly quick rating or choice questions and one or two open ones. Tell people the length in the invitation, because 'this takes three minutes' is a reason to start.

Different audiences need different surveys. Attendees, speakers, sponsors and no-shows have different experiences, so send each a short survey that fits rather than one long one for all.

A post event survey template to copy

Replace the brackets and delete anything you will not act on. The questions are ordered from easy to open, so people finish.

Post event survey template

POST EVENT SURVEY: [Event name], [Date]
Thank you for joining us. This takes about three minutes, and your answers decide what we change next time.

1. Overall, how satisfied were you with the event? (1 to 5)
2. How likely are you to attend next year? (1 to 5)
3. How likely are you to recommend it to a colleague? (1 to 5)
4. Why did you attend? (learn / network / meet suppliers or partners / other)
5. Did the event meet that goal? (not at all / partly / fully)
6. Which sessions did you attend? (select all)
7. Which session was most valuable? (list)
8. The content was relevant to my work. (strongly disagree to strongly agree)
9. Registration and check-in were easy. (strongly disagree to strongly agree)
10. The venue or platform worked well for me. (strongly disagree to strongly agree)
11. What was the best part of the event? (open text)
12. What is the one thing we should improve? (open text)
13. Would you like us to contact you about your answers? (yes / no)  Email: [optional]

The email that gets the survey answered

The invitation decides the response. Put the length and the reason in the first two lines, and make the link easy to find.

Survey invitation email

Subject: Three minutes to help shape [Event name] next year

Hi [First name],

Thank you for joining us at [Event name] on [date]. It was a pleasure to have you there.

We would like your honest view of what worked and what did not. The survey takes about three minutes and the answers decide what we change for next time.

[Take the survey]

The survey closes on [date]. If you missed a session, the recording and slides are here: [link].

Thank you,
[Name]
[Organization]

How to act on the results

A survey is only worth sending if the answers change something. After it closes, work through these steps:

  1. Check who answered

    Compare respondents with attendees by role or ticket type. If one group is missing, treat the results as a view of the others only.

  2. Read the ratings by topic

    Compare sessions, speakers, venue and registration side by side to find the lowest and the highest.

  3. Read every open answer once

    Tag each with a theme such as venue, food, content or timing, then count the tags. The count shows what comes up most.

  4. Pick three changes

    Choose the three that matter most and are within your control. A list of twenty gets no action.

  5. Assign owners and dates

    Each change needs a name and a date, and goes into next year's planning timeline.

  6. Tell the attendees

    Send a short note, 'You said, we will', so that attendees see the survey was read.

Post event surveys on Eventdex

Eventdex surveys can be built and sent from the same platform that holds the event, which keeps the answers beside attendance data. From the feature page and the product pages:

  • In-app surveys and results

    Surveys run inside the Eventdex event app, with customizable questions and results shown in a dashboard, by session, speaker or theme.

    Event survey software

  • Attendance and reports

    Eventdex tracks check-in and session attendance, so survey scores can be read alongside who actually came.

    In-person event platform

  • Email for event communications

    Email campaigns are available for event communications to registered attendees, with your own templates, scheduled or sent at once.

    Event planning software

The Eventdex platform

From event day to survey results in one place

Further reading

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FAQ

Post Event Survey: common questions

What is a post event survey?

A questionnaire sent to attendees after an event, asking how satisfied they were, which parts worked and what to change. It is the main way to learn what the people who came thought.

When should you send a post event survey?

Within a day of the event ending, with one reminder a few days later. Waiting longer reduces how much people remember and how many answer.

How long should a post event survey be?

About three to five minutes, which is roughly eight to twelve questions. Tell respondents the length when you invite them.

How do I get more people to answer?

Send it quickly, keep it short, say how long it takes, make the link easy to find, send one reminder and show afterwards what changed. In-event surveys asked straight after a session also catch people who would not open an email.

Should no-shows get the survey?

Send them a different, shorter one. Ask why they could not come and whether they want the recording or an invitation next time. See the event follow up email guide for the message.

Collect post-event feedback on Eventdex

Start with a free interactive floor plan, or talk to an event specialist on +1 (866) 434-5088.

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