How do you report event evaluation results?

1 Define your goals and objectives

Before you start writing your report, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with it. What are the main questions you want to answer, the key messages you want to convey, and the actions you want to inspire? How will your report align with your event goals and objectives, and how will it demonstrate your value and impact? Having a clear purpose and direction will help you structure your report and focus on the most relevant and meaningful data.

2 Choose your format and style

Depending on your audience, purpose, and type of event, you may choose different formats and styles for your report. For example, you may opt for a formal written report, a visual infographic, a slide deck, a video, or a combination of these. You may also use different levels of detail, language, and tone for different groups of stakeholders. For example, you may provide a summary report for your sponsors, a detailed report for your team, and a feedback report for your attendees. Whatever format and style you choose, make sure it is clear, concise, and consistent.

3 Select and present your data

The next step is to select and present the data that supports your goals and objectives. You may have collected various types of data from different sources, such as surveys, feedback forms, social media, analytics, attendance, revenue, expenses, etc. You need to filter and organize this data to highlight the most relevant and important information. You also need to present it in a way that is easy to understand and interpret, using graphs, charts, tables, images, quotes, testimonials, etc. You may also use benchmarks, comparisons, and trends to show your progress and performance.

4 Analyze and interpret your data

Presenting your data is not enough; you also need to analyze and interpret it to show what it means and why it matters. You need to explain the results, outcomes, and impacts of your event, as well as the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. You need to link your data to your goals and objectives, and show how you met or exceeded them. You also need to provide insights, learnings, and recommendations based on your data, and suggest ways to improve your event planning and management in the future.

5 Engage and thank your audience

Your report is not only a tool to inform and persuade your audience, but also to engage and thank them. You need to make your report relevant and interesting for your audience, and show them how they contributed to and benefited from your event. You also need to express your appreciation and gratitude for their support, participation, feedback, and collaboration. You may also invite them to stay in touch, follow up, or join your next event.

6 Proofread and distribute your report

The final step is to proofread and distribute your report. You need to check your report for any errors, inconsistencies, or gaps in your data, analysis, or presentation. You also need to ensure that your report follows any guidelines or requirements from your stakeholders or sponsors. You may also ask someone else to review your report and give you feedback. Once your report is ready, you need to distribute it to your audience in a timely and appropriate manner, using the best channels and platforms for each group.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?