60+ Pre-Event Survey Questions to Help You Crush Your Next Event

So, you’re planning this killer event and need to know what your audience is thinking. Well, pre-event survey questions are a great place to start.

In this article, we will:

• What is a pre-event survey?
• Bonus Questions – Pre-Meeting Survey
• Different pre-event survey questions [With template]
• Frequently asked questions about pre-event surveys.

What is a Pre-Event Survey?

Pre-event survey questionnaire feedback from your audience on the following areas:

• Audience expectations
• Audience preferences
• Location
• Event timings
• Event channel

This information will help your team plan and execute an event that matches and exceeds your audience’s expectations. In other words, think of your event as a product and pre-event surveys as your concept test. 

Before we get into the details, if you need a free pre-event survey questionnaire, SurveySparrow has covered you. Feel free to check out the survey template below and tweak it to fit your needs easily.

Just create a free account by signing up with your email and use it as much as you like.

3 Types of Pre-Event Survey Questions

While there are various types of survey questions you should ask during a survey, there are 3 particular ones to focus on here. They are as follows.

1. Quantitative
2. Qualitative
3. Binary

Let’s discuss each in detail

Quantitative Survey Questions

As the name indicates, these are the ones that provide you with quantifiable answers. It allows for statistical analysis and can be used to measure trends and patterns. The questions are usually closed-ended with pre-defined response options.

An example is NPS® survey questions like –

“On a scale of 0-10, how likely are you to suggest our products to a friend or a family member?”

Qualitative Survey Questions

These are open-ended questions, allowing survey respondents to provide detailed responses. The main of these questions is to understand the emotions, preferences, and opinions of the respondents. Unlike quantitative questions, the answers to qualitative feedback questions will be difficult to analyze.

An example of qualitative questions is as follows.

“How can we improve your satisfaction level with our product?”

Pro Tip:

It will be easier to analyze these question answers, if you are using tools in SurveySparrow. The tool offers an AI-powered text analytics feature – CogniVue – that can help you understand the respondent emotions, key drivers, and so on.

Binary Survey Questions

These are simple yes or no questions, thus the name binary. There will be only two options for respondents to choose from. It can be “Yes or No”, “Agree or Disagree,” or any other similar options.

An example of such questions is –

“Was our support team helpful in resolving the issue?”

Different Pre-Event Survey Questions You Need to Ask Your Audience

The following are different sets of questions you must ask in a pre-event survey. For your convenience we have made it into different sections.

#1. General Pre-Event Survey Questions

The questions below have three goals. The first is to learn more about your target audience if you’re planning a corporate event. Secondly, you have to know whether they are new attendees or returning attendees. And finally, find out the roadblocks that prevent them from attending. 

With that said, let’s take a look at the survey questions.

1. What is your name/job title?
2. What is the name of your organization?
3. Have you registered for the event?
4. Please tell us why you will not be attending. (if applicable)
5. Did you participate in last year’s event?
6. How do you feel about the registration fees/process?
7. What topics or speakers are you most looking forward to at the event?
8. How likely are you to recommend this event to a friend or colleague? (Please rate on a scale from 1 to 10)
9. What would make this event more appealing to you?
10. Can you share any specific expectations or goals you have for this event?

#2. Pre-Event Survey Questions: Participant Expectations

Participant expectations can intensely affect an audience’s satisfaction levels. So, these questions are to ensure that these expectations are fully understood. While these expectations might differ based on the event type, there are usually some typical demands. 

11. First things first – what are you hoping to gain from this event?
12. Please rank the following aspects of this event based on how important they are to you.

• Networking 
• Having fun
• Quality and accessible content 
• A continuous flow of information
• Hands-on learning 
• Swift service and a good event environment

13. What platform do you check most often? We’ll use this to communicate with you.

• Email
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Linkedin
• Other

14. How do you prefer to learn during an event? (e.g., workshops, keynote speeches, panel discussions, interactive sessions)
15. What challenges or barriers have you faced in attending similar events in the past?
16. What specific topics or speakers would you like to see at the event?
17. How important is the opportunity for hands-on experiences or interactive elements to you?
18. If there were one thing we could do to enhance your event experience, what would it be?
19. What are your expectations regarding safety and health measures at the event?
20. Can you provide any dietary restrictions or accessibility needs we should be aware of to make your experience more comfortable?

#3. Pre-Event Survey Questions: Channels

This question type actually has two purposes: Finding out which of your event marketing channels are working best for you. The second is to let you know how your audience prefers to engage with you and which format. 

Oh, and do throw in ice-breaker questions just for fun! These questions can help you personalize your messages for each respondent – trust us, they’ll appreciate it. 

21. So, how did you hear about this event?
22. Virtual, hybrid, or in-person. What type of event do you prefer, and why?
23. Please tell us what event format would work best for you?
24. What song do you like to rock out to when nobody’s watching? (Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with us.)
25. Which social media platform do you use the most to follow event updates?
26. Have you ever been a speaker or a panelist at an event? If so, what was the topic?
27. What’s the most memorable event you’ve attended and why?
28. If you could choose any location for an event, where would it be and why?
29. What’s your go-to snack or drink during event breaks?
30. Can you share a fun fact about yourself that not many people know?

#4. Pre-Event Survey Questions: Timing

As they say, timing is everything. Your audience is scheduling some hours out of their precious time for your event. So it makes sense to understand their schedules and know what works for them. 

31. When do you plan to arrive/log in?
32. If given a choice, when do you prefer to attend the event?
33. How long do you expect the event to be?
34. Would you be interested in attending pre-event activities or workshops if they were available?
35. How much notice do you need before an event to ensure your attendance?
36. For multi-day events, do you prefer consecutive days or spread out over several weeks?
37. What time of day do you find most convenient for attending events?
38. Do you have any scheduling conflicts that could prevent you from attending the event?
39. Are you interested in evening or weekend events, and would they better accommodate your schedule?
40. How likely are you to attend additional sessions or activities outside of the main event hours?

#5. Pre-Event Survey Questions: Location

“Yes, cuisine and entertainment are also important factors,” states Jeff Kear at the Planning Pod, “But the venue sets the scene; dictates many choices related to the event, and influences the experiences of your guests probably more than any other factor.”

41. Where would you like to have the event? 
42. What do you think about our chosen location?
43. On a scale from 1 to 5, rate the areas below.
44. On a scale of 1-5, how accessible is the place?
45. How important is the proximity of the venue to public transportation? (1-5)
46. What are your preferences for parking availability at the event location? (1-5)
47. Rate your preference for in-venue dining options. (1-5)
48. How important are accommodations (hotels, inns, etc.) available near the event venue to you? (1-5)
49. Rate the significance of the venue’s aesthetic or theme aligning with the event. (1-5)
50. How crucial is the presence of tech amenities (Wi-Fi, charging stations, etc.) at the venue? (1-5)

#6. Pre-Event Survey Questions: Participant Preferences 

Keeping up with everyone’s preferences can be a challenge! But these pre-event survey questions will help you plan ahead and provide a welcoming, more personalized experience for each of your guests. 

51. Which speakers/classes/events are you looking forward to the most?
52. Which event information is confusing or hard to find?
53. Do you have food allergies or diet preferences we ought to know about?
54. Do you have any special needs that we can help accommodate?
55. What type of networking opportunities are you most interested in?
56. How do you feel about using technology during events (e.g., apps, live polling)?
57. What’s your preferred method of receiving event updates (email, social media, text messages)?
58. Would you be interested in participating in interactive sessions or workshops?
59. Is there a specific theme or topic you’d like to see more of at the event?
60. What suggestions are you for making this event more sustainable or environmentally friendly?

Bonus: Pre-Meeting Surveys Questions

Pre-meeting surveys are those surveys that are conducted to get information on meeting attendees. It’s a sub-part of pre-event surveys with a specific focus on scheduling and conducting meetings.

The following are some pre-meeting survey questions you can ask

Here are some survey questions you can ask in a pre-meeting survey.

1. What do you want to achieve with the meeting?
2. Are there any specific topics in your mind you want to discuss in the meeting?
3. Will you be able to attend the meeting?
4. How do you prefer to attend the meeting – physically or virtually?
5. Do you need any assistance with respect to attending the meeting?
6. How would you like to receive the meeting follow-ups?
7. Do you have any suggestions for improving the meeting?
8. Do you have any concerns regarding the way the meeting is conducted
9. What time of the day does work best for you for the meeting?
10. How can we ensure that the meeting is valuable to your time?

Did you know? 

You can create any survey from scratch within seconds with SurveySparrow. Yes, the tool offers an AI feature that helps you with this. Simply put in the type of survey you want as the prompt, and SurveySparrow will do the rest!

FAQs

Why is pre-event communication with participants necessary?

Pre-event communication with participants is a great way to build buzz around your event. But it is also a golden opportunity to discover exactly what your audience expects. What you do or don’t do in the pre-planning stage will influence the attendee turnout and later experience. So, use pre-event surveys to get the information you need. 

What is the first question that needs to be asked before holding an event?

What kind of event are you planning? Is it a limited-seat conference, a one-hour webinar, or an informal meetup? 

The answer to this question will influence all other factors like topics, keynote speakers, location, budget, and services. 

Wrapping Up

That’s it, folks. We hope these pre-event survey questions have you covered. Let us know if we missed anything – we’ll put it on the list!

Once the event is over, you can follow up with post-event survey questions to create an even better experience the next time. Happy surveying!