You just got home from your big event. Chances are you probably need some sleep, but you feel deeply satisfied with your organization’s hard work, hope your attendees had a wonderful time and are trying to remember if you paid that caterer…
Now, you’re coming down from the post-event excitement and wondering what to do next. You have dozens of business cards on your desk. You start to wonder if your guests really did have an awesome time and you start to question if anyone actually learned anything. How do you handle all of this?
Well, we’re here to help! Below are 5 simple steps to help you gain feedback from and communicate with your attendees, coworkers, and other guests after a conference:
- Say thank you – First and foremost be sure to thank your staff, volunteers and faculty. This is the most important action you could possibly take. Thanking them will not only let them know how much you care, but also make them feel an important part of the team. You can do this via phone, email or the more friendly and endearing way of a handwritten note. When thanking your employees or co-workers, we suggest having a little thank-you lunch or simply go around the office telling them how awesome they are.
- Connect with new people - If possible, communicate with everyone new you met. Thank them for attending, but also attempt to kindle a friendship or business relationship. After all, isn’t that why you hung on to those business cards?
- Explain event outcomes - Let them know which of your goals were accomplished and which weren’t. If you were trying to raise money, let them know how much you raised. If you had a goal to build community, share stories that reflect how well that happened.
- Ask for feedback - You can do this in the form of another email, a quick survey, or even a meeting of your planning team. Ask questions such as, “What was your favorite part of the conference?” and “Would you recommend this event to a friend?” This will help you know what to change and what to keep the same for the future.
- Review what others are saying - Check Twitter and Facebook to see if anyone has been talking about your event. If so, what were they saying? I believe people are more likely to share their true thoughts with their friends on social media than they are when you send them a survey.
What do you typically do after returning from one of your events? Care to share?