Set Up and Manage Session Feedback | Zoho Backstage

Session Feedback

Overview

Capture detailed feedback from attendees to understand how your sessions performed. The session feedback form helps you learn what worked well, what can be improved, and how attendees felt about the speaker and session content. You can use this information to fine-tune future sessions and improve audience engagement.

To collect feedback, make sure the session feedback setting is enabled before the session starts. After the session is complete, attendees can access the form through the Agenda tab of the event website, and you can view the responses under the Feedback tab of the specific session.

Enabling the Session Feedback Form  

Enable session feedback to allow attendees to share their thoughts after the session ends. This must be turned on in session settings before the session begins.


  1. Navigate to Manage > Sessions from the Dock.
  2. Click the Session Settings link in the top-right corner of the session details view.
  3. Toggle Get Session Feedback to enable feedback collection.


Info
The session feedback form will only be available to attendees once the session is marked as completed.

Customizing the Session Feedback Form

Tailor the session feedback form to collect the insights you need. Add new fields, modify existing ones, or include consent sections to meet your requirements.


  1. Navigate to Manage > Sessions from the Dock.
  2. Click the Session Settings link in the top-right corner.
  3. Click the Edit Session Feedback Form link. The Form Builder will open.
  4. The left panel of the builder includes:
    1. Quick Fields



    2. Custom Fields



    3. Advanced Fields
Info
The Edit Session Feedback Form link will appear only after enabling session feedback in settings.

Adding a New Field   

Insert new fields into your feedback form using the drag-and-drop builder. You can add standard, custom, or advanced fields depending on your needs.
  1. Click the Session Settings link from the session details view.
  2. Click the Edit Session Feedback Form link to open the Form Builder.
  3. Drag a field from the Quick Fields or Custom Fields section and drop it into the Preview area.
    1. (Optional) Use the drag handle to reposition the field within the form.
  4. Click Publish to apply the changes to the event.
Info
From the Advanced Fields section, you can include:
  1. Terms and Policies
  2. Purpose of Data Collection

Editing Form Field Properties  

Customize each field’s content, layout, and behavior. You can rename fields, add placeholder text, set them as mandatory, define character limits, or add logic-based subfields. This ensures the form captures exactly the data you need.
  1. Navigate to Manage > Sessions from the Dock.
  2. Click the Session Settings link in the top-right corner.
  3. Click the Edit Session Feedback Form link. The Form Builder will open.
  4. Click on a field to open the Field Properties Panel.
  5. In the General Tab:
    1. Title: Enter the field label visible to attendees.
    2. Field Name: Enter the internal name shown in Backstage.
    3. Placeholder: Add help text that appears inside the form field.
    4. Description: Include a brief explanation below the field.
  6. For decision-based fields (dropdowns, checkboxes, radio buttons):
    1. Default value: Pre-select an option.
    2. Subfields: Add conditional follow-up questions.
    3. Allow new options: Let respondents add new entries.
    4. Allow multiple selection: Enable multiple choices.
  7. Field Requirements:



    1. Toggle Mandatory to make the field required.
    2. Use Minimum Length and Maximum Length to set character limits for text fields.
  8. Layout and Visibility:



    1. Choose One Column or Two Columns layout.
    2. Show or hide the field from the Visibility tab.
  9. Click Publish to apply the changes to the event.
Info
Default (built-in) fields cannot be hidden or renamed.

Setting Up Specific Fields

Terms and Policies

  1. Select the Terms and Policies checkbox from Advanced Fields.
  2. Choose the display mode:
    1. With Checkbox: Attendees must accept terms by checking a box.
    2. Without Checkbox: Displays a message indicating consent upon submission.
      1. (Optional) Modify the message content.

Purpose of Data Collection

  1. Select the Purpose of Data Collection checkbox from Advanced Fields.
  2. Choose the display mode:
    1. With Checkbox: Requires attendee consent.
    2. Without Checkbox: Displays a statement about data privacy.
(Optional) Customize the message text.

Rating Field

Add a rating field to your session feedback form to capture attendees’ impressions in a quick, visual format. You can choose between star icons, numbers, or emojis to represent different rating styles.

  1. Navigate to Manage > Sessions from the Dock.
  2. Click the Session Settings link in the top-right corner.
  3. Click the Edit Session Feedback Form link. The Form Builder will appear.
  4. Drag the Rating field from the Custom Fields section into the Preview panel.
  5. Click on the Rating field to open the Field Properties Panel.
  6. In the General tab:
    1. Title: Enter the label you want attendees to see.
    2. Field Name: Enter a unique internal name for this field. This name is used to generate URLs for pre-filling form data and must be unique within the form.
    3. Description: Add optional supporting text that appears below the field.
  7. Select the Rating Type:
    Choose how you want attendees to give their rating.
    1. Icon:



      1. Choose between 5 or 10 icons using the Count dropdown.
      2. Pick a visual style from the available icon designs.
    2. Number:



      1. Choose between 5 or 10 steps using the Count dropdown.
      2. Enter a label for the first value (e.g., Poor) and a label for the last value (e.g., Excellent) using the Label 1 and Label 2 fields.
    3. Emoji:



      1. Choose a scale of 5 or 10 emojis.
      2. For a 10-point scale, the default emoji labels are: Poor, Below Average, Mediocre, Fair, Average, Above Average, Good, Very Good, Excellent, Outstanding.
      3. For a 5-point scale, the default emoji labels are: Poor, Below Average, Average, Very Good, Excellent.
      4. Edit the labels to customize them.
  8. Make the field required (optional):
    1. Toggle Mandatory to make the rating field required for form submission
  9. Click Publish in the top-right corner of the Form Builder to apply updates to your form.

Deleting a Field

  1. Navigate to Manage > Sessions from the Dock.
  2. Click the Session Settings link in the top-right corner.
  3. Click the Edit Session Feedback Form link. The Form Builder will open.
  4. Click on the field you want to delete.
  5. Click the Delete icon.
  6. Confirm deletion in the dialog box.
Info
Default fields cannot be deleted.

Viewing Session Ratings and Feedbacks

After a session is completed, you can review attendee ratings and written feedback to evaluate its impact and overall reception. Use this data to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
  1. Navigate to Manage > Sessions from the Dock.
  2. Find your session and click View Details.
  3. Go to the Feedback > Rating tab to view rating scores submitted by attendees.



  4. Go to the Feedback > Feedback tab to read written feedback and comments shared by attendees.


Use this information to refine your session content, improve speaker engagement, and shape future event experiences.

Exporting Session Feedback

Download a spreadsheet of collected responses with optional password protection. 


  1. Navigate to Manage > Sessions from the Dock.
  2. Click View Details for the completed session.
  3. Go to the Feedback tab.
  4. Click the Export button.
    1. (Optional) Select Password protect the file and set a password.
  5. Choose the export format: XLSX or XLS.
  6. Click Export.
If you have any questions, please contact support@zohobackstage.com.