Want to collect event registrations for free and start planning your event?
The first step is to set up a registration page.
But if you think of your online sign-up form as just a way for attendees to register for your event, you’re missing out on a key opportunity.
Registration forms are:
- One of the first impressions people get about your event and brand
- A data-collection tool that’s critical to your event planning
That’s why it’s crucial that you choose the right event registration form template, even among the free options. Without the right form, you risk losing attendees and valuable data that you can use to scale your events as you grow.
We’ll break down the most effective event registration form template, give you step-by-step instructions on how to use it, and demonstrate how to use registration data to increase ticket sales.
Breaking down an effective event registration form (with examples)
A potential attendee is on the hook for your event.
They’ve seen past events you’ve promoted on Instagram or Facebook and are eager to experience it for themselves. There’s only one step left — registering and paying for their ticket.
But when they click on the event registration page, it turns out to be a lengthy form with slow loading times and sketchy-looking security.
Not only does this turn them away from the transaction, but it could also deter them from interacting with your brand in the future. That’s why ensuring your event registration form is fully optimised for a seamless user experience is crucial. One way to do this is by using an event registration form template, like Eventbrite’s, that follows these best practices.
1. Keep it simple
At Eventbrite, we prioritise user experience with a clean design and intuitive interface that conveys essential information to the customer and avoids confusion.
Each section of the registration form is designed to be clear and straightforward. It achieves this with:
- Design that puts the most relevant information at the top, like the price of tickets, date, time, and event location
- A brief event summary of 140 characters or less
- Plenty of white space to increase readability
While it’s tempting to try to throw as much information as possible at a potential attendee to land the final sale, keeping it simple allows for a quick and easy registration process without any unnecessary barriers.
2. Include a relevant event photo or video
Including captivating event photos on your registration form can play a critical role in turning a potential lead into a paying customer. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words.
By showcasing the features and atmosphere of your event, you can reinforce your unique brand appeal and increase the likelihood of a sale. A recent study shows that visual images in mobile media advertising can increase product sales by 9.26%.
Eventbrite allows organisers to include up to 10 images on their event registration form page and offers suggestions on how to ensure your images resonate with ticket buyers.
These include:
- Not overloading your image with text
- Showcasing the atmosphere and vibe of your event
- Highlighting key features of your event, like food, beverages, and the venue
We have recently introduced a video option that allows you to include a YouTube or Vimeo link as part of your promotion stack. Adding video is a great way to show attendees what they can expect at your event.
3. Request only relevant information
The information you collect when people register for your event can also help you to better plan your marketing and execute the event itself.
It can be tempting to ask a million questions to learn more about your attendees, and most online form tools make it easy to add fields and collect abundant data.
But asking too many questions is a mistake. Research shows that every step you add to an event registration form results in a 10% drop in sales. Therefore, it’s a wise idea only to ask attendees to provide information necessary for your event’s success.
Our event registration form collects the essential details by default, such as:
- First name
- Last name
However, it also allows you to build a customised list of questions.
You can do this by simply indicating if you want this information to be optional or required for a potential attendee. For example, you can ask attendees to provide their home address and job title but require them to include a mobile phone number.
The platform also allows you to add questions, which can be shown to specific ticket types or all customers. You can use this feature to gather specific information that can help you during the preparation stages of your event.
For instance, an event like ramekin + rollingpin’s Classic Thai Cooking Class may ask about attendees’ allergies or food preferences to better accommodate their needs and eliminate food wastage.
But before requesting this information in your online registration form, take the time to clarify exactly what information you need from participants.
4. Offer mobile payment options
Offering mobile payment options is essential for both in-person and virtual event registration forms. With mobile wallets accounting for 54% of e-commerce payment transactions, failing to make your registration form mobile-friendly can lead to lost sales.
By providing a mobile payment field, you can make it easy for attendees to buy their tickets on the go.
Eventbrite allows customers to use Apple Pay and Google Pay, allowing attendees to safely and quickly buy tickets from their smart devices with just one click.
By leveraging the convenience and security of mobile payment options, you can provide a seamless experience for attendees and increase ticket sales for your event.
5. Include embedded checkout
In order to boost ticket sales and provide a seamless experience for attendees, it’s essential to include an embedded checkout in your event registration form.
A recent study found that the average online shopping cart abandonment rate is almost 70%. One reason for this is redirecting visitors to other domains during checkout. Redirecting customers during the checkout process causes disorientation and can compromise the security of a customer’s personal and financial information.
A recent study found that imposter scams resulted in a staggering £177.6 million in losses in the UK in 2022 alone. Given the prevalence of these types of crimes, it’s no surprise that many people are nervous about giving their information to unknown vendors.
Eventbrite offers a ticketing system that helps customers feel at ease during the checkout process and also works to optimise your ticket sales by:
- Offering secure payment options like PayPal and credit or debit card
- Having an order confirmation timer of 20 minutes
- Including an email opt-in at checkout for the event organiser
In addition, Eventbrite also offers a comprehensive system that allows you to easily monitor the financial aspects of your event, including charges, invoices, and attendee credits, all in one place.
6. Ensure fast on-page loading times
Optimising on-page loading times is crucial for ensuring a good user experience. The truth is that in today’s world, even the slightest inconvenience can deter someone from committing to your event.
A recent study found that even 0.1 seconds can impact conversion rates. So, it’s essential that you choose an event registration form template that prioritises fast and efficient on-page loading times to maximise engagement and make the most of the traffic you receive.
Eventbrite reduces on-page loading times by:
- Optimising image sizing
- Reducing page redirects
- Caching content
That’s one of the reasons why over 850,000 organisers chose to use Eventbrite’s customisable event registration form in 2023.
Manage your event end-to-end with the Eventbrite Organizer app.
Is there a free event registration form creator?
Yes! Eventbrite is an all-in-one registration platform that can help you automate the process of creating an event registration form. And creating your event and registration form is completely free.
Using a third-party event promotion software like Eventbrite is a great way to ensure your event registration form is professional-looking and easy to use.
It can also help you keep track of important information about your customers and ensure that all data is stored in a centralised location. This can be especially useful if you’re organising a large event with hundreds of attendees or multiple employees and you need to access customer information.
How to use data to improve your event registration form (and increase ticket sales)
Collecting and analysing real-time data can help you understand how attendees are responding to your registration form, make adjustments to improve their experience, and increase conversions.
Analysing form completion rates can provide valuable insights into your customers’ behaviour and help you identify areas for improvement.
By tracking metrics such as the time spent on your registration form and the number of attendees who complete the form and purchase a ticket, you can better understand what’s working and what needs to be optimised.
For example, suppose you notice lots of people abandoning your registration form before completing it. In that case, you may need to streamline the form or simplify the registration process by asking fewer questions.
On the other hand, if you see a high completion rate but low ticket sales, you may need to adjust your pricing or marketing strategy.
A tool like Eventbrite can help you make data-driven decisions to improve your event registration process and ultimately increase ticket sales.
Eventbrite gives you access to real-time reports that include:
- Pageview numbers that let you know how many people have looked at your event listing
- Graphs showing how many tickets you’ve sold over time
- Maps of where your registrants are coming from
All of this information can help you fine-tune your marketing and planning.
For instance, if it turns out that most of your registrants are coming from out of town, you might start to include travel and hotel information in your outreach efforts. You might even partner with an airline or local hotel to give event attendees special deals.
Level up your event registration and management
Creating an effective event registration form doesn’t need to be a complicated process.
With a pre-existing template on an event platform such as Eventbrite, you can have your registration form up and running in no time.
Even better, Eventbrite’s all-in-one platform powers your event marketing with automated workflows so you can easily engage attendees and boost ticket sales.
