You need to organize a conference. What online registration tools will help you get the job done?

1 Choose a platform

When setting up your online registration, it's important to consider the size and type of your conference, the payment and refund options, the data and analytics you want to collect, and the communication and marketing strategies you need to use. For example, do you need a simple or complex registration form? How many attendees do you expect? Do you have multiple tracks, sessions, or workshops? Do you offer different ticket types, discounts, or packages? What kind of information do you want to collect from your registrants? How do you want to store, access, and analyze the data? Do you need to generate reports, surveys, or feedback forms? How do you want to communicate with your registrants before, during, and after the event? Do you need to send confirmation emails, reminders, or updates? Do you want to create a landing page, a website, or a mobile app for your event? Do you want to promote your event on social media, email, or other channels? Choosing the right platform for your needs can be a challenge but it is essential for ensuring a successful online registration process.

2 Customize your form

Once you have selected a platform, you can start customizing your registration form to match your conference theme, brand, and goals. Use the platform's templates or create your own design. Incorporate your logo, images, videos, or other elements to make the form more attractive and engaging. When customizing your form, keep it simple and clear by avoiding unnecessary questions. Only request essential information such as name, email, phone number, organization, and ticket type. You can also use conditional logic to show or hide certain fields based on the registrant's answers. Make sure the form is user-friendly and accessible with clear labels, instructions, and error messages. Provide multiple options for input such as checkboxes, radio buttons, drop-down menus, or text boxes. Use a responsive design that adapts to different devices and screen sizes. Test the form on different browsers and platforms to ensure compatibility and functionality. Protect your registrant's personal and financial data by using a secure and encrypted connection. Follow data privacy regulations such as GDPR or PCI DSS and obtain consent from your registrants to collect, store, and use their data. Provide a clear privacy policy and terms and conditions.

4 Track and manage your registrations

After launching your online registration, you need to track and manage your registrations throughout your event lifecycle. You want to ensure that you have enough registrants to meet your goals, that you have accurate and updated data, and that you can handle any issues or changes that might arise. To do so, monitor your registration rate and revenue to check how many people have registered for your event, how much money you have collected, and how close you are to your targets. Additionally, review your registration data regularly and make sure it is complete, correct, and consistent. You should also have a clear policy for cancellations and refunds, as well as set up a system to process them automatically or manually. If your event has limited capacity or high demand, consider creating a waitlist for potential registrants who are interested in attending. Plus, allow registrants to transfer their tickets to someone else if they cannot attend.

6 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?