Survey · Event
Event planning survey template
Goes to the audience you hope to attract, not the people already signed up, and asks about topics, format, day, length and what they weigh up when deciding. Anyone who says they're unlikely to come is asked what's stopping them, and people who want first word on dates can leave an email.
Try it live
Try it as a respondent
Every question, and where it leads
The conversation
What a respondent is asked, in order.
We're planning an event and want to build it around what you'd actually come to. This takes about two minutes.
Which best describes you?
Which topics would you most want covered?
Which format would you be most likely to attend?
How long should it be?
When could you realistically make it?
Rank what matters most when you decide whether to go
If we ran an event along these lines, how likely would you be to come?
What would stop you from coming?
What would make this event a must-attend for you?
Want to hear first when the date is set?
Where should we send the news?
Ends with
Thanks for helping us plan it
The flow
Where each answer leads. Every route here is editable once the form is yours.
Single select
Multi select
Single select
Single select
Multi select
Ranking
Opinion scale
Long text
Long text
Yes / No
What this template uses
- Single select
- Multi select
- Ranking
- Opinion scale
- Long text
- Yes / No
- 3 branches
Questions to consider
- Which decision are you trying to make with this survey: topic, format, timing, or whether to run the event at all?
- Who do you want in the room, and are you sending the survey to them rather than to your existing regulars?
- Do you already know the rough cost of a ticket, and should you test it with a question?
- Which options would you genuinely consider, so the survey doesn't ask about formats you'd never run?
How to use the responses
Count the top-ranked decision factor first: if cost or travel leads, format and location matter more than the speaker list. Compare the preferred format and timing among people who said they were likely to come, since those are the answers that fill seats. Read every reason for not coming, group them, and fix the ones you can, then email everyone who asked to hear first as soon as the date is set.
How to customize and share it
- 1Swap the topic options for the subjects you could realistically cover.
- 2Adjust the format, length and timing choices to the ones you are actually weighing up.
- 3Share the link with your mailing list, community or social channels a few months before you plan to book a venue.
Frequently asked questions
What questions should an event planning survey ask?
Ask about preferred topics, format, length, timing and what people weigh up when deciding to attend. Add a likelihood question so you can tell real interest from polite interest.
When should I send an event planning survey?
Before you book a venue or speakers, while the format and date can still change. For most events that means a few months ahead.
How is an event planning survey different from a pre-event survey?
A planning survey goes to potential attendees before the event is designed. A pre-event survey goes to people who have already registered, to prepare for them.
How can I tell if people will really come?
Ask how likely they are to attend and what would stop them. Weight the preferences of people who said they were likely to come more heavily than the rest.