Feedback surveys sent the week after an event get a handful of answers. By then people are busy, and the ones who reply are often the ones who were unhappy. You learn a little, and you learn it late.
Ask in the room instead, before people leave. Put a QR code on the last slide or by the exit, and keep it to a few taps. Then ask a follow-up only when it applies. Someone who loved the event can tell you the best part. Someone who thought it was okay can tell you what to fix. Nobody answers both.
A feedback form is also a chance to ask: would you like to talk to us?
Every template below asks for email and name first, so you know who said what and can follow up.
For talks and breakouts
People only rate the sessions they went to.
- Which sessions did you attend? Pick as many as apply.
- How was it? One question for each session they picked: excellent, good or not useful.
- What should we cover next time? Pick as many as apply.
Change the session names to your own agenda before the event.
See the session feedback template →
For the whole event
Ask at the end of your own event, while people are still there.
- How was the event overall? Excellent, good, okay or poor.
- What was the best part? Asked when they said excellent.
- What should we do better? Asked when they said okay.
- Would you come again next year? Yes, maybe or no.
- Would you like to talk to one of our experts? If yes, they pick a time.
The last question is the one most feedback forms forget. Some of your happiest attendees are ready for a conversation. Give them a way to ask for one.
See the post-event feedback template →
For a hands-on workshop or lab
A workshop has a clear goal: people should be able to do something they could not do before. So ask about that.
- How confident were you before the workshop? New to this, some experience or confident.
- And now? I can do it on my own, I need a bit more practice, or I am still stuck.
People who are still stuck are asked where they got stuck, and can book a help session with your team. People who need more practice are asked what would help most: a recording, practice exercises or a follow-up session.
- How useful was the workshop?
See the workshop self-assessment template →
Keep it short
- Ask while people are in the room, not the week after.
- Use taps, not typing. Keep one open question at most.
- Ask follow-ups only to the people they apply to.
- Always offer a next step for the people who want one.
Every template is free on every plan, and you can try each one on a phone on its page.