Here’s a surprising stat: Companies that use surveys regularly see 30% more participation than those that don’t. From company all-hands to classroom lectures and large hybrid events, asking the right questions can make all the difference.

But here’s the catch: boring or confusing questions get ignored.

Asking the right questions is just the start. That’s where interactive presentation software comes in, turning simple surveys into fun and engaging experiences that boost participation and make every occasion memorable.

Why Great Survey Questions Matter More Than You Think

We live in an age of information overload, where everyone’s fighting for attention. Your survey questions aren’t just data collection tools; they are your chance to show people you genuinely care about their thoughts and experiences. When done right, surveys become conversations that strengthen relationships and drive real improvement.

Think about the last survey you genuinely enjoyed. It likely felt like someone truly valued your input rather than just ticking boxes. That’s the power of well-crafted questions that can be combined with interactive survey tools like live polls, quizzes, or virtual engagement platforms to make participation feel natural and enjoyable.

Here are Some of the Best Survey Questions to Boost Engagement Anywhere

Survey Questions for Events & Conferences

Icebreaker Questions:

  • What one word describes how you’re feeling today?
  • Where did you travel from to attend today?

Mid-Event Check-ins:

  • Which speaker has been your favorite so far? 
  • What topic do you wish we had covered?

Post-Event Feedback:

  • What’s one thing we could improve for next time? 
  • How likely are you to recommend this event? 

Survey Questions for Workplace Teams

Team Culture & Communication:

  • How connected do you feel to your team right now?
  • What would help make meetings more productive? 

Weekly Retros or Standups:

  • What’s your biggest win this week?
  • How confident are you about hitting your goals this sprint?

Manager Feedback:

  • What’s one thing your manager does well?
  • Where could we provide more support?

Survey Questions for Classrooms & Learning Spaces

Before the Lesson:

  • What do you already know about today’s topic? 
  • What are you most curious to learn?

During the Lesson:

  • Which of these facts surprised you most? 
  • Rate how well you understand this concept so far.

After the Lesson:

  • What’s one question you still have?
  • If you had to teach this topic, where would you start?

Just-for-Fun & Social Polls

Icebreakers or Social Moments:

  • If you could have any superpower, what would it be? 
  • What’s your go-to comfort snack?

Holiday Events or Virtual Parties:

  • What’s the best Halloween costume you’ve seen?
  • What would you name our team mascot?

Survey Questions for Virtual Meetings and Hybrid Events

Technical Experience Questions

Platform and Access:

  • How was your overall technical experience today?
  • Did you have any trouble joining or staying connected?
  • How was the audio and video quality for you?
  • Were you able to participate in all the interactive elements?
  • What would improve your virtual experience? 

Engagement and Interaction:

  • Did you feel as engaged as you would in an in-person event?
  • Which interactive features did you find most valuable?
  • How comfortable were you using the live polls and other tools?
  • What would encourage you to participate more actively?
  • Did you feel connected to other participants?

Hybrid Event-Specific Questions

Experience Comparison:

  • Did you feel equally included whether you were virtual or in-person?
  • How well could you interact with participants in the other format?
  • What would improve the experience for your format?
  • Did you feel you missed anything by not being in the other format?
  • Would you choose the same format again?

Creative Survey Questions That Spark Engagement

Icebreaker and Fun Questions

Getting to Know You:

  • If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be and why?
  • What’s your go-to productivity hack?
  • Share one thing that made you smile this week
  • What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
  • If you could master any skill instantly, what would it be?

Rapid-Fire Questions:

  • Coffee or tea?
  • Morning person or night owl?
  • Beach vacation or mountain adventure?
  • Books or podcasts?
  • Plan everything or go with the flow?

Creative Feedback Questions

Alternative Approaches:

  • If this event were a movie, what genre would it be?
  • Describe today in three emojis
  • What color represents your experience today?
  • If you could give this event a theme song, what would it be?
  • What weather would describe your mood right now?

Industry-Specific Survey Questions

For Training and Development Events

Learning Assessment:

  • What’s the most practical skill you learned today?
  • How confident do you feel applying these concepts?
  • What additional training would be helpful?
  • Which examples were most relevant to your work?
  • How will you measure success in implementing these ideas?

For Marketing and Sales Events

Business Impact:

  • Which strategy are you most excited to test?
  • What’s your biggest marketing challenge right now?
  • How do you typically measure campaign success?
  • What tools are you currently using?
  • Where do you see the most opportunity for growth?

For HR and Company Culture Events

Employee Engagement:

  • What makes you feel most valued at work?
  • How well do our company values align with your values?
  • What would make you more excited to come to work?
  • How can we better recognize great work?
  • What would improve your work-life balance?

How to Use Slidea for Surveys (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Log In

Visit Slidea and sign in or create a free account.

Step 2: Start Your Presentation

Click “Create New Presentation” and name it, like Team Survey or Post-Event Feedback.

Step 3: Pick Slide Types

Choose formats based on your question style:

Word Cloud

Use this when you want participants to describe something in a single word.

Example: “Describe today in one word.”
➤ This creates a visual word cloud where the most common responses appear larger, helping you quickly understand the group’s overall sentiment.

Live Polls

Ideal for multiple-choice questions that show real-time results.

Example: “Which speaker did you enjoy most?”
➤ Participants vote instantly, and results can be displayed as a graph or chart to spark discussion or quick analysis.

Open-Ended Questions

Best for collecting detailed, qualitative feedback.

Example: “What could we improve?”
➤ Participants can express their thoughts freely, offering valuable insights and suggestions.

Ranking

Use this to let participants prioritize options based on importance or preference.

Example: “Rank the following based on value: workshops, panel discussions, networking.”
➤ Helps identify what mattered most to your audience for future planning.

Step 4: Add Questions

Enter your question, add choices if needed, and optionally set a timer.

Step 5: Customize Design

Select colors or backgrounds, use icons or GIFs, and match fonts to your theme.

Step 6: Preview and Share

Check with the preview button, then go live or share via QR code, link, or number code. Participants can join from any device without downloading anything.                                  

 Create Your Own Presentation

 Pro Tips to Maximize Survey Engagement

  • Start with an icebreaker question to warm up your audience
  • Use word clouds for fun or open-ended responses
  • End with a feedback poll so you learn and improve next time
  • Embed Slidea into your Zoom/Meet calls for virtual meetings
  • Use live displays on big screens at hybrid events

Best Practices for Survey Design

Keep It Conversational: Write your questions like you’re chatting with a friend. Use “you” and skip fancy or stiff words.

Mix Question Types: Combine rating scales, multiple choice, and open-ended questions to keep things interesting and gather different types of insights.

Show Immediate Value: When possible, share insights or results right away so participants see the immediate impact of their contributions.

Creating Survey Experiences People Actually Want

Before the Survey:

  • Explain why their input matters
  • Set expectations for time commitment
  • Share how you’ll use the results

During the Survey:

  • Use audience engagement tools to make it interactive
  • Show progress and keep momentum going
  • Provide immediate value through insights or tips

After the Survey:

  • Share key findings with participants
  • Explain what actions you’re taking based on feedback
  • Thank people for their time and input

Final Thoughts

Great survey questions are more than just data collectors; they’re conversation starters. When paired with the right digital engagement tools, they reveal what your audience truly values. The real magic happens when you combine thoughtful questions with live polling platforms or real-time quiz software like Slidea. Whether it’s a word cloud lighting up the screen or a poll that sparks discussion, your audience feels seen, heard, and involved.

No matter the setting, whether it’s virtual meetings, hybrid events, or in-person sessions, Slidea makes it easy to turn responses into real-time insights and lasting memories.

Curious to see the difference? Try Slidea today and start creating surveys people actually want to answer.

FAQs

1. Why use surveys during events or meetings?
 They boost engagement, gather feedback, and help you understand your audience better.

2. What makes a good survey question?
 It’s clear, relevant, and easy to answer, with no guesswork needed.

3. Can I use the same survey for different groups?
 Yes, just tweak the wording to suit your audience (teams, students, guests, etc.).

4. How many survey questions should I ask?
 Keep it short; 3 to 5 questions work best for live sessions.

5. What’s the best way to run a live survey?
 Use an interactive presentation tool to ask questions and show results instantly.