| 8 Ways an automated system makes it easier for | | | | In your online registration, give your registrants as |
| attendees, giving you MORE REGISTRATIONS: | | | | much detail on your event as possible. Provide links to |
| 1. Provide 24 hour, anywhere access. | | | | venue maps, further venue details, detailed agendas |
| Give prospective registrants anytime/anywhere | | | | and speaker bios. It is easy to automatically generate |
| access to your event information so that they can | | | | an "Event Details" web page that makes it easy to |
| easily find, refer back to, and recommend your event | | | | provide extra details that people need during their |
| to others. An automated system increases the ease | | | | registration process. |
| of access, enhancing the chances of people making a | | | | 6. Send instant confirmations |
| decision to attend your event. | | | | Give your registrants 'warm-fuzzies' by instantly |
| 2. Auto-fill information and steer attendees to your | | | | confirming that their registration is complete. Increase |
| goal. | | | | your conversion rates by offering an extra e-freebie |
| Make it easier for registrants to say yes by | | | | that you can include in your confirmation email along |
| auto-filling their registration form and auto-selecting | | | | with their receipt/invoice and other event materials. |
| their registration type options (member, non-member, | | | | The immediate follow-up that an automated |
| sponsor, etc.) Some automated systems allow your | | | | confirmation email provides will increase your |
| form to pre-populate known contact information into | | | | attendees' confidence in referring others to attend |
| a prospective attendee's registration form and then | | | | your event. |
| steer them down the proper registration path based | | | | 7. Notify registrants of incomplete forms. |
| on their registration type.. It's less confusing for them | | | | 50% of potential registrants start, but do not |
| and you get correct data the first time. | | | | complete their registrations. Send them an automated |
| 3. Provide payment solutions. | | | | email letting them know that your event is well |
| More payment options equals more registrants. Each | | | | worth attending - along with a link back to your |
| person typically has a preferred mode of payment | | | | registration form. Give them five more reasons to |
| that, if not offered, will cause them to hesitate or | | | | attend or an extra incentive to complete their |
| not enroll at all. Make sure you offer ALL five of the | | | | registration. There is only one system that currently |
| major credit cards (Visa, Master Card, Amex, Diners | | | | offers this capability. |
| & Discover), as well as checks, echecks, and PayPal. | | | | 8. Provide a self-service option. |
| A good online registration system enables you to | | | | Automated services enable users to make changes |
| easily offer and accept all of these payment options, | | | | to their registrations online... versus having to call or |
| in real-time, with automatic processing. | | | | email the event organizer. Give the attendee more |
| 4. Implement 'one-stop shopping'. | | | | control and reduce staff time in managing these |
| One of the biggest reasons people don't register | | | | changes. By promoting this option to registrants, |
| immediately for events is because they want to first | | | | more people will register because they won't feel |
| check into travel arrangements. Using an online | | | | locked into their registration preferences. |
| system to offer hotel booking options and flight | | | | A fully-automated online registration system is |
| arrangements in your online registration, means you | | | | specifically designed to make it easier for you and |
| will convince more people to register right away, | | | | your registrants... attracting 20% more attendees in |
| minimizing the potential to forget about your event. | | | | the process. |
| 5. Present more details. | | | | |