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8 ways to get feedback during and after your next event

event feedbackAnswers from Your Attendees
Given how much time and work can be involved in planning an event, chances are good that if you're going to be hosting something in the next couple months -- a fundraiser, customer or client appreciation party, an open house, or another gathering -- then you've already started the planning process.

How will you know that you've done a good job with your event marketing? Here are some ways you can find out, while your event is still taking place and after it's all over.

Party in Progress

While your event is taking place, social media can make it easy to "eavesdrop" on what your attendees are saying and gather some instant feedback:

1. Monitor your unique Twitter hashtag: If you've created a hashtag for your event (such as #holidayfun11), and that's something I recommend, then make sure everyone knows what it is by including it on your email invitation, registration form, and on signs throughout the venue. Then encourage attendees to use it whenever they tweet about your event. This will allow you as the host to search for the hashtag and follow the conversation easily.
 
2. Collect the Twitter handles of your attendees: Make this part of the registration process so you can create a Twitter list of event attendees to monitor during (and after) the event. Also, use attendees' Twitter handles on name tags; this will encourage people to connect with each other and tweet about the event.

3. Encourage attendees to post photos: When attendees post pictures (to Twitter, your Facebook Page's wall, or a site like Flickr), you know what it is they are enjoying about your event. In addition to feedback, you'll get some great shots that will help you document what's taking place.

4. Set up searches for the event and keywords: Some people may not use your Twitter hashtag to talk about your event. Be sure to set up Google Alerts and Twitter searches to catch those straggling comments.

5. Set up a QR code to a short survey at the event: Hang QR codes around the event venue to get quick, instant feedback while it's still fresh in your attendees? minds.

When the Fundraiser Is Finished

After all your guests have gone home, and people have had a chance to digest what they learned, ate, or did, that's the time to get more substantial feedback.

1. Send a survey: Within days of your event, send a survey that asks attendees if their expectations were met, how rewarding the event was for them, and any other questions you may have. You can also use what feedback you learned on social media during the event and follow up with a question or two to see how widespread the thoughts are.

2. Say "thank you": Be sure to thank attendees who posted to social media about the event. This could spur more feedback you wouldn't have gotten otherwise, and will encourage those people to keep interacting with you in the future.

3. Plan and promote your next gathering: Perhaps no piece of feedback will be as valuable as the number of attendees who also attend your next event. So get one on the calendar and let your loyal customers, clients, and supporters know.

Feedback is one of the most important aspects of any event because it can tell you if all your work was worth it from your attendees' perspective. Staying on top of what those people are saying will ensure that your future gatherings will help you continue your momentum.