If you’ve ever tried to get honest feedback at a live event, you know the drill: paper surveys get tossed, QR codes go ignored, and most people just want to grab their free tote bag and leave. But if you actually want to know how your event landed with attendees—without badgering them or sifting through a pile of scribbled notes—a kiosk survey can save your sanity.
This guide is for event organizers, marketers, or anyone tired of guessing how things went. We’ll walk through how to use Delighted kiosk surveys to collect real-time attendee insights that are actually useful. No fluff—just clear steps, honest pros and cons, and some hard-won tricks to make your feedback process less painful.
Why kiosks beat old-school event surveys
Before we get into the weeds, let’s be clear: most event feedback systems are a pain. Email surveys get abysmal response rates. QR codes sound modern but rely on people’s willingness to use their phones (which, if you've ever watched someone try, is a stretch). Paper? Forget it.
Kiosk surveys, on the other hand, are simple: attendees tap a screen, answer a few questions, and move on. No login. No link. No fuss. If you set them up right, you get more responses—faster—and the data is actually useful.
But kiosks aren’t magic. If your questions stink or your setup is awkward, you’ll still get garbage data. So, let’s get into what actually works.
Step 1: Set clear goals (and keep them realistic)
Don’t fall for the trap of “let’s ask about everything.” Event attendees have zero patience for long surveys. Decide on one or two things you genuinely want to know, like:
- Did people enjoy the event overall?
- Was check-in smooth?
- Would they come back next year?
Pro tip: If you can’t read every response in five minutes, you’re asking too much.
Write your goals down. Share them with your team. This will keep you from adding “just one more question” later.
Step 2: Set up your Delighted kiosk survey
Delighted’s kiosk mode is built for quick, anonymous feedback on shared devices (think tablets at your exit doors). Here’s what to do:
- Create a new kiosk project
- In your Delighted dashboard, hit “+ New Project” and select “Kiosk.”
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Name it something clear, like “Spring Summit 2024 Exit Survey.” (You’ll thank yourself later.)
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Choose your feedback type
- NPS (Net Promoter Score) if you want a simple “Would you recommend?” score.
- CSAT (Customer Satisfaction) or thumbs up/down for something quicker.
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Don’t overthink it—simple scales get more honest answers.
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Write your questions
- Keep it to 1–3 questions, max.
- Start with an easy one (like a rating), then ask an open-ended follow-up if you must.
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Avoid jargon—nobody wants to answer “Please rate our registration workflow optimization process.”
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Preview the flow
- Test it as if you’re an attendee. Is it obvious how to start? Does it take less than 30 seconds?
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If you get bored or confused, so will everyone else.
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Set display options
- Kiosk mode should reset after each response—make sure it’s enabled.
- Check your device’s auto-lock settings. You don’t want the screen going to sleep mid-event.
What to ignore: Skip fancy branding or long introductions. The more friction, the fewer responses.
Step 3: Prep your devices (and your Wi-Fi)
Kiosk surveys are only as reliable as the tablets running them. Here’s what actually matters:
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Use sturdy, locked-down tablets
iPads are the standard, but any recent tablet works. Use a stand or case—handheld devices walk off. -
Connect to a reliable Wi-Fi network
Offline mode is risky. If your connection drops, you might lose responses. Test the network in your event space before the doors open. -
Charge devices fully—and bring chargers
Seems obvious, but dead tablets = zero feedback. -
Disable pop-ups and notifications
You don’t want someone’s Slack message showing up mid-survey. -
Bookmark the survey
Set your browser to “kiosk mode” if possible. Chrome and Safari both have options to hide the address bar and keep the survey full-screen. -
Test, test, test
Run through the whole process before attendees arrive. Fix anything clunky.
Step 4: Place kiosks where people will actually use them
Location is 90% of the game. Here’s what works:
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Near exits or registration desks
Catch people as they leave or check out. Don’t stick tablets in a corner—nobody will trek over. -
At session doors (if you want session-specific feedback)
Want feedback on a keynote? Put a kiosk by the door as people walk out. -
With a staffer nearby
Someone saying “Would you mind sharing your thoughts?” can double or triple your response rate. (No hard sell, just a nudge.) -
Make it obvious
Use a simple sign: “Tell us how we did (it takes 10 seconds!)”
What doesn’t work:
Putting surveys in the lounge area, or anywhere away from natural foot traffic. If they can’t see it, they won’t use it.
Step 5: Encourage honest responses (without being annoying)
You want real feedback, not just polite “fives.” Here are a few tricks:
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Keep it anonymous
Don’t ask for names or emails unless absolutely necessary. People are more honest when they’re not being tracked. -
Offer a tiny incentive—maybe
A free coffee or a raffle entry can help, but don’t make it your main pitch. It can skew results (“I want the prize, so I’ll just click anything”). -
Train your staff to ask
Give them a one-sentence script: “We’d really appreciate your feedback—just tap your answer here.”
If you sound desperate or pushy, people tune out. -
Use social proof
If attendees see others using the kiosk, they’re more likely to do it too.
Step 6: Monitor in real time (and fix issues fast)
One of the best things about Delighted’s kiosk surveys: you see results instantly. Here’s how to use that:
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Check response rates regularly
If you’re not getting much, move the kiosk or have staff try a different approach. -
Watch for technical hiccups
If responses suddenly stop, check the Wi-Fi and device status. -
Read comments as they come in
Sometimes you’ll spot a common problem (“lines at check-in were too long”) and can fix it during the event, not after.
Step 7: Review and use the feedback—quickly
You didn’t do all this just to let the data sit in a spreadsheet. Make it count:
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Download and skim the results immediately after the event
Don’t wait a week—memories fade fast. -
Share key takeaways with your team
Focus on 1–2 things to improve for next time. Don’t drown everyone in charts. -
Look for patterns, not outliers
Ignore the one person who hated the coffee. If 30 people mention slow check-in, fix that. -
Thank your staff (and attendees, if possible)
A little gratitude goes a long way if you want honest feedback again.
What works, what doesn’t, and what to skip
Works well: - Short, clear questions (1–3 max) - Kiosks in high-traffic spots - Staff giving friendly nudges - Real-time tweaks based on feedback
Doesn’t work: - Long surveys (people bail after question 2) - Asking for personal info (kills honesty and response rates) - Burying kiosks in quiet corners - Ignoring technical setup (dead tablets = dead feedback)
Not worth your time: - Overly fancy survey branding - Gimmicky incentives - Trying to analyze every single comment
Keep it simple, keep it honest, keep it moving
Getting real-time feedback at events isn’t rocket science, but it does take some planning and ruthless simplicity. Focus on asking just what you need to know, make it dead-easy for people to answer, and use what you learn right away. If something isn’t working, change it on the fly—don’t wait for next year. The best insights come from keeping things straightforward and being ready to adapt.
The rest is just noise.