Step 9: Solicit Immediate Feedback

Before you ask for feedback, consider preparing in advance your survey or methodology for collecting responses from your audience. The most valuable answers will be those collected immediately following the presentation - or within a few days -while the experience is still fresh in their minds. Statistically, you should expect about a 1%-5% response from surveys with no compensation or special freebie offered for filling them out. You'll do much better if you offer something of value for the time given to respond. Also, remember people are busy - send your survey more than once to gather as many responses as possible, but no more than three times.

• What method will you use to survey participants?
• How successful was your event? How effective was the speaker?
• Did attendees get what they expected?
• What feedback would help the speaker(s) improve the program next time?
• How do you gauge attendees’ excitement about having spent their time at your event?
• Would they attend future events?
• Will they recommend your programs to others?
• Who will develop, distribute and analyze post-event surveys?

Adding your own, more specific questions will give you additional value. One last thing - don't forget to thank your attendees! They notice when they're appreciated!

View our Checklist for a Successfully Managed Web Event.