An event’s success is not all about the number of people who attended or how easy it was to check in. It lies in the details that only pre and post-surveys can uncover. Whether it is before or after the event, the right questions can help you figure out what’s working and what needs fixing. And in 2025, with more events being hybrid or tech-assisted, surveys are more important than ever.
Looking for the best pre and post-event surveys? If yes, you are in the right place. This blog will walk you through 51+ important pre-event survey questions and post-event survey questions to ask your attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors.
Table of Contents
What is a Pre-Event Survey?
A pre-event survey is sent out to your target audience before the event starts. It could go out to people who’ve registered through your event registration platform, or those who’ve shown interest but haven’t committed yet. The goal is simple: to understand what your attendees, sponsors, or exhibitors are expecting.
Why Pre-Event Surveys Matter
When you take the time to ask people what they’d like to see before an event, it is not just about making a decent choice. It is a smart way to plan things out. A pre-event survey offers some pretty useful benefits:
You can choose speakers that your audience is excited to hear from. Getting input straight from the people who’ll be attending helps ensure you pick the right fit.
You will also get a handle on any dietary restrictions or accessibility needs. This kind of feedback is really important so everyone can enjoy the event without any issues.
Another advantage is that you can change the sessions or activities based on what people are asking for. If you know what interests them, you can adjust the agenda to better fit their desires.
Let’s not forget about the check-in process. By knowing who is coming, you can improve how you manage check-ins and badge printing, making it all run a lot smoother.
And speaking of attendance, having a better idea of how many people plan to show up can help with event ticketing. It allows you to prepare accordingly and avoid underestimating your crowd size.
In simple words, pre-event surveys are a great way to avoid any unexpected surprises, whether they are good or bad. By gathering this information in advance, you set yourself up for a much more successful event.
Key Questions to Ask in Pre-Event Surveys
Now let’s get to the actual questions. We have split them into three groups: attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors. Each of them has different goals and expectations, so asking them the same set of questions doesn’t help.
Pre-Event Survey Questions for Attendees
- What made you interested in this event?
- What topics or sessions are you most excited about?
- Are you attending in person or virtually?
- How did you hear about this event?
- Which speakers would you like to see?
- What are your goals for attending this event?
- Are there any dietary restrictions we should know about?
- Do you have any accessibility requirements?
- What time slots do you prefer for sessions?
- Would you like to participate in networking activities?
Pre-Event Survey Questions for Exhibitors
- What are your main goals for exhibiting at this event?
- Who is your target audience?
- How much booth space do you need?
- What power or internet requirements do you have?
- Will you need help with event badge printing for your staff?
- Are you planning any live demos or giveaways?
- Have you exhibited with us before?
- What kind of promotions would you like us to help you with?
Pre-Event Survey Questions for Sponsors
- What are your sponsorship goals?
- Which sponsor tier have you selected?
- Would you like speaking opportunities?
- Are you interested in co-branded marketing?
- Will your team need assistance with event check-in or event ticketing?
- What kind of visibility are you hoping for at the event?
- Would you like access to attendee lists for follow-up?
- What other events have you sponsored before?
Pro-Tip for Pre-Event Surveys
You know, people get tired of surveys fast, so try to stick to 8-10 questions at most. If you are sending them to attendees, make it simple. Use the tools in your event registration platform to automatically send the surveys after someone signs up. This way, it feels like just part of the process instead of extra work.
Additionally, want to gain more attendance? Consider these strategies:
Why Are Post-Event Surveys Important?
Post-event surveys are really useful because they help you see if your event was a hit. You might think your sessions were engaging, but the audience could have felt confused by the end. Your event ticketing process might look good, but if people had to wait in long lines at check-in, that could leave a bad impression.
Getting feedback after your event helps you:
- See how well your speakers performed.
- Find out which sessions people loved.
- Learn about what didn’t go over well.
- Check how the sponsors did.
- Improve your registration process for next time.
Honestly, feedback is the best way to know how everything went.
For all the event organizers out there, having different tools to gather this feedback can really help you when planning future events. It is about figuring out what works and what doesn’t, so don’t skip those post-event surveys!
Key Questions to Ask in Post-Event Surveys
Just like before, we will split this section into three parts: attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors.
Post-Event Survey Questions for Attendees
- How satisfied were you with the event overall?
- Which sessions did you enjoy the most?
- Which sessions didn’t meet your expectations?
- How would you rate the venue and amenities?
- Was the event check-in process smooth?
- How was the quality of the networking?
- Did the speakers meet your expectations?
- Was the event badge printing process efficient?
- What could we improve next time?
- Would you attend this event again?
- Would you recommend this event to others?
Post-Event Survey Questions for Exhibitors
- Was the event audience relevant to your brand?
- Did you achieve your goals from the event?
- Was your booth location and layout adequate?
- Did you have all the resources you needed?
- Were there enough networking opportunities?
- How helpful was the support staff?
- Did you face any technical issues?
- Would you exhibit at this event again?
- How could we make it better for exhibitors?
Post-Event Survey Questions for Sponsors
- Was the branding opportunity as expected?
- Did your sponsored activities get good visibility?
- Were you satisfied with your ROI?
- How effective was the communication before and during the event?
- Were the event ticketing and badge printing systems helpful in managing your team?
- Would you be open to sponsoring again?
- What additional sponsorship perks would interest you?
- How can we support your brand better next time?
Pro-Tip for Post-Event Surveys
The best option is to send a thank-you message with the survey. Don’t just drop a form in their inbox and disappear. Let them know their opinion matters. And maybe offer a small incentive like early access to next year’s event registration platform, or a discount on tickets.
If you’re collecting feedback at a large event, Place QR codes near the exit. Those who don’t scan and fill it out, you can follow up later via email.
Final Words:
The best events don’t end when the last guest leaves.
They continue through the data, feedback, and insights you gather, before and after. Pre-event and post-event surveys give you the full picture. They help you shape future events around what matters.
So, ask better questions. And listen. Your next event will thank you for it.
Best part? Using the right tech for events, like registration and ticketing platforms, plus QR codes, can make surveys a key part of the experience instead of something you think about later.
