Web buttons have proven to increase entries by as much as 67%. Our registration form builder has a button generator feature that will enable you to custom design a "Register Now" or "Event Entry Here" button for your website.

This feature is called "Button Designer" and is easy for any event director to use - No design experience required!

Once you have built your online event registration form it's time to link it to your official event website.  Ideally, you want to grab the visitor's attention with a button that stands out and draws click action on that link to your entry form.  Here's how to do it...Navigate to the Button Designer tool which is located under the Functions tab...

Then select the style of button you would like to design.  In this example we will select the standard design...

Now select the button color and button text you would like...

On the next screen the button designer will automatically generate some code that you just need to add to your website...

We have found that using a bright and attractive web button increases entry form click through rates considerably.  Give it a try and let us know how it works.

Slashed marketing budgets and a public that is saving their money for uncertain times could mean lower attendance rates for the events industry in 2009.  We’ve talked with some of the industry’s top event organisers to see how they are beating the economic crunch.  Across the board, the feedback we received shows that everyone is trying to accomplish one thing in particular: Increase attendance while lowering costs.  This can be a real challenge but here are some low cost marketing ideas many are using that could also help you grow your event in a down economy.

Email Advertising
Minimise the amount of print advertising you are doing.  Paper, ink and labor involved can be very expensive and oftentimes, it is very difficult to gage the success of a print advertising campaign.  With a limited budget, you need to be able to show a return on every cent you spend on marketing.  Email marketing costs nothing in materials and you have access to reporting that will instantly show your return on investment.

Social Media
The best advertising for an event is word of mouth.  Social Media is a very low cost and effective way to create word of mouth on the internet.  Make a presence for yourself in places like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and blogs or forums where the audience would be interested in an event like yours.

SEO
If you have an official event website, you need to focus on Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).  The goal is to get your website at the top of the search returns for keyword searches such as “Marathons in Melbourne” or “Australia Marathons”.  With some small adjustments to your website, you can vastly improve your Google rankings.  Just imagine all of the people out there searching for what you offer – they just don’t know about you yet!

Offer Online Event Registration
Collecting participant data online with an event management system will streamline your staff’s workload and open up more time that you can devote to all of the above.

You may be hosting your first event or your 50th but in either case it’s a competitive events industry and you’re probably doing everything you can to stand out from the crowd.  Having worked with many event organisers, our advice would be to not overlook the value of a solid event branding strategy. 

Here are a few elements that should be included in your branding strategy…

Brand Name
Your event name is something to be carefully considered and is probably the most important element in developing an event’s brand image.  The name should not only fit well into your logo but it should also evoke emotion and be aesthetically pleasing on it’s own if printed in normal text in a newspaper or magazine.

Slogan
A slogan will help your audience remember your brand and commit it to memory.  Your slogan should be short, clever and explain what the audience should expect when they show up on event day.

Logo
A well branded event includes a custom designed logo.   A custom logo will create a clear differentiation between your event and others.  A logo should incorporate your brand name and slogan in a graphical representation of what your event is all about.

Branding the Experience
Now its time to tie it all together. Everything from your website URL, invite emails, registration forms, advertisements, and venue decorations need to have consistent branding.  Your goal is to burn the brand into the audience’s mind at every possible turn.

If done right, your branding will create a great first impression, generate a buzz in the community, and make your event stand out above the rest.

For more information about including your branding on your registration materials, you can read some more about custom registration forms.

Keep your registrants engaged from registration date to event day with automated email follow-ups.  Our event management software automatically sends a confirmation of registration to each of your participants but it is important to keep the communication going all the way up to the day of the event.  Follow-up emails will keep your registrant’s anticipation level high and ensure that they show up to your event ready to have a great time.

To schedule a follow-up email to your registrants, click on the "Reminder & Follow-up Emails" link under the Functions tab in your event manager.