The age-old question of what’s going on in other people’s heads is especially relevant at meetings and events. To design a truly appreciated, memorable experience, you need to start from attendees’ prior knowledge, needs, and interests—but how do you know what they want without reading minds?
While none of us can read thoughts, we can uncover what friends, colleagues, and participants are thinking. If you have access to an event app, there are simple tactics you can use before, during, and after your meetings to learn attendees’ expectations and opinions, help them feel heard and seen, and give them real influence over both your meetings and the surrounding organization.
Collect More Honest Opinions—Enable Anonymous Participation
We’ve all been there: a question is asked to the room, a few confident hands go up, others glance around uncertainly, and many stay silent. It isn’t always easy to share thoughts openly—whether it’s a yes/no vote or a nuanced viewpoint.
That’s where the event app shines. Let participants respond anonymously in the app so everyone can contribute on their own terms.
Gather Input Before the Meeting
Use the app’s survey/dialog features to collect ideas and requests in advance.
- Build a short survey to guide feedback on your proposed agenda or theme.
- Create an open “ideas box” for free-form suggestions, questions, and wishes.
Invite early participation with a push notification linking directly to the form so it’s effortless to get started.
Take the Pulse During the Meeting
Kick off with a quick brainstorm to put everyone in the right mindset.
Ask a session-relevant question (e.g., “Which area did we score highest on in the last employee survey?”) and let attendees submit answers anonymously in the app.
Show the results as a word cloud on the big screen, discuss for a couple of minutes, then move into the agenda. You’ll create a common starting point—and attendees will remember more of what’s discussed.
Capture Fresh Feedback Right After Each Talk
It’s hard to recall detailed reactions later when the overall evaluation arrives. Make feedback effortless in the moment.
Schedule a push reminder to go out after every session prompting attendees to:
- open that agenda item,
- rate it 1–5, and
- add an optional comment.
You’ll gather higher-quality insights while impressions are still fresh.
Keep Improving—Post-Event Surveys That People Actually Answer
The classic conference evaluation still works—if you make it easy.
- Build your post-event survey in the app.
- Send push notifications after the event to nudge completion.
- Carve out dedicated time (e.g., the last 15 minutes of the program, or as people board the bus) so everyone can reflect and respond thoughtfully.
Do These Tips Really Work?
Yes. These recommendations are grounded in real experiences—our own and our customers’. When you lower the barrier to participation, protect anonymity when appropriate, and meet attendees where they are (on their phones), you get more voices, better data, and stronger outcomes.
Bottom line: You don’t need telepathy to understand your audience—just a well-used event app and a plan for before, during, and after.
