How To Setup Your WordPress Event Registration Strategy

WordPress powers almost half of the web. It is safe to say that you’ll not go wrong when you use WordPress for your site. If you’re an event planner wanting to set up an event registration site on your WordPress site, this article will be all you need. 

Event registration is the process of allowing individuals to sign up for an event through a registration system. Almost all types of events need some sort of registration or RSVP whether that is for workshops, seminars, classes, concerts, festivals, social events, and more. 

If your site is on WordPress, you can use a plug-in to add an event selling and registration feature. Plugins are software that you can easily plug into your website without having to change or modify your WordPress site code.

What to Look For in a WordPress Event Registration Plugin

You have an interested attendee for your event. The first touchpoint they will experience is your event registration process where they will sign up. You want to make a good first impression and lead them through your sales funnel with a smooth registration process. Here are some important things to consider for your WordPress event registration plugin. 

Zero commission fees

Most ticket-selling platforms charge a commission fee per ticket sold. Event Espresso is a WordPress Plugin for events that charge zero commission fees on unlimited tickets sold. 

Commission fees of other sites can be a flat fee or a percentage of the ticket price. This can take a toll on your event revenue. On the other hand, when you add the fees to your customers they might be turned off with the high ticket price.

Affordable / Value for Money

As mentioned above, your ticket registration platform can be a big source of expense when you don’t choose your ticket platform wisely. 

Here’s a table comparing the different WordPress event registration plugins and their fees:

Specific event registration features

Find an event registration platform that has everything you need. Some important features are customizable registration forms, online payments, different ticket types, recurring events, customizable event websites, etc. 

Great Support and Documentation

When you encounter a problem or an issue during your event registration process, you will want reliable and accessible help. Nothing is more frustrating than feeling stuck in an issue with no available solution at hand. 

With Event Espresso, they have complete documentation on solutions and a forum where you can access their support. 

Secure Payment Collection

Compared to other registration tools and plug-ins, Event Espresso allows you to collect payments you receive directly to your bank account. 

Another tip is to use an event registration software that allows multiple payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, and credit card payments. Note, that payment gateway transaction fees are unavoidable and you can also add the price of these fees to the price of your tickets so attendees pay the fees.

Reviews and Testimonials 

Look at the testimonials and what people have to say about the event registration software you’re considering. Choose one that has proven results and is trusted by event planners. 

Given these features, there is simply no reason why you should not try Event Espresso. 

How to Set up a WordPress Event Registration Plug-in on Your Event Site

If you’re ready to sell tickets or accept online event registrations for your event, here’s a step-by-step guide to begin. 

Step # 1 – Prepare your WordPress site with these pre-set-up recommendations

• Check if your website timezone is set to a city/region near you. You can do this by going to your WP-admin (WordPress dashboard) –> Settings –> General. Change the UTC option to a city/region near you and save changes by clicking on the Save Changes button.

• Enable your pretty permalinks. This one is not required but it will help make your event website easier to read and rank better on search engines. Do this from your WordPress dashboard by going to Settings –> Permalinks. If the option is set to Plain, then change it to post name and save changes by clicking on the Save Changes button.

Step #2 – Choose your plug-in software plan and purchase Event Espresso

Based on the reasons above, Event Espresso is the ideal WordPress event registration plug-in for almost any type of event. Depending on your requirements, there are multiple options you can choose from. Choose from Personal, Everything, and Developer License for your project. 

To top it all off, you can enjoy a 30-day money-back guarantee on all your purchases if you decide Event Espresso is not the right fit for you. There is simply no risk! 

Once you purchase Event Espresso, it will appear as a zip file in your Downloads folder. 

Step #3 – Install Event Espresso in your Event Site

Once you have the zip file on your computer, go to your WP-admin (WordPress dashboard) –> Plugins –> Add New –> Upload Plugin –> Choose File and then browse to the event-espresso-core-reg.zip file on your computer.

After that, you can click on Activate to start organizing your events on your site. 

Step #4 – Update your organization settings

The default country setting enabled in Event Espresso is set to the United States and Canada.  If you’re hosting events outside of the United States and Canada, you can change this setting through Event Espresso –> General Settings –> Countries.

Additionally, from your WordPress dashboard, look for Event Espresso in the admin menus and then click on General Settings.

Now update the Contact Information and other general details in this section and add your information. Then save changes by clicking on the save button.

If you’re hosting paid events, this next step is needed. If not, you can proceed to the next step. 

Step #5 – Set up payment methods

Easily accept secure payments from your potential event attendees with Event Espresso. Event Espresso supports various online payment services including Stripe, Authorize.net, PayPal Express, Braintree, and more.

You can download the plug-in of your payment gateway from your Event Espresso Gateway page. Then log in to your WordPress dashboard (WP-admin) and go to Plugins. Next, click on Add New –> Upload and browse to the plugin on your computer. Then select the zip file and begin the upload process. Wait for the plugin to upload and then click on Activate.

This is an example if Stripe is your chosen payment gateway. Go to Event Espresso >  Payment Methods > Stripe

Offline payment options like invoices, bank transfers, and checks are also supported.

Step #6 – Create your first event 

With all that set up, it’s time to create your first event and accept event registrations. Events are created through Event Espresso’s Event Editor. From your WordPress dashboard, go to Event Espresso –> Events and click on Add New Event. 

Enter the title of your event and add a detailed description of your event. Then create a datetime (when an event takes place) and ticket/pricing option. You can then select the venue for the event. Scroll to the lower right area of the page and then upload a featured image. 

Then you can save the event as a draft using the Save as draft button in the top right area of the screen and then preview it.

Step #7 – Create a Custom Event Registration Form for Your Event

Collect important information you need about your attendees through an event registration form. The most common questions are name and email. This is important because this is where you can send important pre-event announcements and reminders. 

To do this, go to your WordPress dashboard –> Registration Form. Towards the top of the screen, you’ll see a button that says Add New Question. Go ahead and click on it and you’ll then be taken to the question editor. Enter a name for the question in the Question Text field. Then select a Question Type. 

Event Espresso supports a variety of different question types. Create different questions and question groups as needed and then assign them on a per-event basis through the event editor. 

You can also add a Question Group if you are asking more questions.

Step #8 – Publish and Start Promoting Your Event

You’re now on your way to your successful event. You now have a credible site you can be confident in. Start promoting your event on your chosen channels and lead them to your event site. 

Strategies and Tips to Increase Event Registrations

Optimize your Event Registration Page

When a potential attendee visits your website, it is your chance to keep them interested and lead them to conversion. As a starting point, have these elements in your registration page:

a call to action, what the attendees can experience, a unique selling point of your event, a testimonial, and a frequently asked question. 

Create an eye-catching visual and keep an aesthetically pleasing event branding that resonates with your target audience. Additionally, ensure that your registration form is optimized for mobile devices, as many visitors may be accessing it from smartphones or tablets.

Promote effectively

Go where your audience is hanging out and promote your event there. Create compelling content and use storytelling techniques to keep your audience interested in your event. 

Customize/SEO-friendly landing event page

Organic traffic is valuable in businesses. When your site is optimized and ranking on search, it’s like you have a 24-hour on-call salesman working to promote your event. 

With Event Espresso, you can customize your website and event registration forms to make it SEO-friendly and rank higher on search engines. Publish content that is useful for visitors to your website. Use relevant keywords, apply proper formatting, and include metatags to help improve visibility and gain organic traffic. 

Utilize confirmation emails and reminders

Don’t underestimate the power of emails. With the busy schedule of attendees, event planners must make an effort to keep your event top of mind. Use confirmation emails to thank attendees for registering, provide event details and logistics, and encourage them to share the event with their network. Send reminders closer to the event date to ensure attendees don’t forget about it and to reiterate important information such as event timing and location.

Make Convenient Event Registrations with Event Espresso

We hope this article has helped you understand event registration for your WordPress site and how Event Espresso can support your WordPress event registration strategy. Imagine the potential your site can bring when you integrate event registration and ticket selling. With Event Espresso, you can start planning and selling your event tickets. 

Plus, we have a 30-day money-back guarantee. There is simply no reason not to try Event Espresso today. Check out our free live demo now. Enjoy!