Meetings

Daily Buzz: Getting Attendee Feedback

Feedback is key to creating better events—are you asking for it in a way that attendees will respond to? Also: How to prevent burnout.

According to the State of the Event Industry survey by EventMB, 91 percent of planners say attendee satisfaction is the biggest measure of a meeting’s success.

But actually getting that feedback can be a challenge. Attendee surveys are perhaps the easiest way to do it, but only if they’re done right, as otherwise you run the risk of annoying guests. Here’s what you can do to craft an attendee survey that will garner responses, from PCMA Convene:

  • Make the survey accessible.
  • Keep it short and show a progress bar.
  • Pre-populate what you can.
  • Let attendees know beforehand you’ll be sending a survey out.

Other than using a survey, meeting professionals also have to become great listeners and observers. For example, pay attention to how guests are sitting at a meeting or the conversations happening around the event on social media. They might not be as clear-cut as a questionnaire, but both body language and the tone in social posts can give insight into how attendees are really feeling about your conference.

Steps to Avoid Workday Burnout

Burnout can happen to anyone at any time—and is especially inconvenient if you’re  in the middle of a big project. The key is to take steps to manage any work frustration or fatigue you might be feeling before it hits a crisis point, says Gwen Moran in a post for Fast Company.

For one, you should find your stress sweet spot, or “the point where we feel like we have the resources to handle stress in a good way.” At that point, the stress won’t be so extreme as to overwhelm you, but it will still motivate in a way that boosts performance.

Your stress sweet spot will also help you discover your boundaries in terms of what work is manageable and what leaves you running out of steam. When you teeter on that line, structure your workday so you get high-value work out of the way first. Also remember to take breaks as needed.

Other Links of Note

When is the best time to post on social? Harvard Business Review research says publishing content according to your audience’s circadian rhythms could boost profitability.

Search engine optimization can get technical. Search Engine Journal breaks down some of its complexities for the nontechnical marketer.

American adults spend more than three hours a day staring at their phones. CMSWire gives nine tips to boost your mobile marketing strategy and get their attention.

(Warchi/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Jeff Hsin

By Jeff Hsin

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