Organising an event is a complex undertaking that takes time, energy and resources. Whether it is in person, hybrid or virtual, the final goal is always the same: to create an unforgettable experience for attendees. At the same time, anyone working in event management also has to keep the budget under control and optimise the resources available — now perhaps more than ever. That is why having tools that help you save time, energy and money without compromising the quality of the experience for attendees matters more and more.
Surveys and polls can be two of those tools in at least three ways, all of them easy to fit into any organisational structure in the events world, whatever the type and size of the event.
1. Surveys and polls to identify attendee needs, preferences and trends
Even before the event, surveys and polls can be used to gather valuable information on attendee preferences and trends. Analysing this data shows you how to steer the planning and delivery of the event towards the activities and themes that carry the most value, and how to avoid investing time and resources in activities that may be of no interest and would therefore turn into losses, if not outright waste.
The secrets to doing all this? There are two.
The first: build a set of questions that lets people express themselves clearly and precisely, so that the answers translate directly into concrete actions and practices.
The second: ask people to comment only on the areas or topics where their contributions can genuinely be taken into account and acted on, at least in part. Otherwise the backlash is guaranteed.
2. Surveys and polls to optimise the running of the event
During the event, surveys and polls can be used to keep track of attendee satisfaction and make corrections or changes in real time. Managing activities becomes more efficient and the quality of the experience stays high. When they are built for the purpose, surveys and polls can also help identify technical or logistical problems before they turn critical, saving time and energy in handling and solving them.
Here, of course, the criteria to keep in mind are the timing of the measurement activities, so that they deliver precise, clear and usable information, and the speed of data analysis, so that the findings quickly become solutions and actions.
3. Surveys and polls to create ambassadors
Finally, surveys and polls are also an excellent way to achieve two further results that translate immediately into savings for the organisation and for the event. By asking people to say what they want and expect from the event, you activate them. And, as we know, people who are involved in an event’s strategic choices from the start not only feel more motivated to attend, which reduces no-shows and cancellations, but often commit to bringing other people along too, triggering the most effective form of promotion there is: word of mouth.
In these three ways, surveys and polls turn from “simple” feedback and engagement tools into genuine strategic levers for organisers who want to get the most out of their event. Moreover, they have become a normal part of any participatory activity: people expect them, and they expect to have their say. Often they cannot wait. So it is worth using the full potential of these tools in substance and not only in form, given how versatile they are.
Of course, you need the right tools not only to build them, but also to run them, to collect the answers and to turn them into clear, usable information.
We have thought of that too — just click below.