Editors pick

4 Things to Look For in an Event Registration Tool

  • Riley Manning
    by Riley Manning • March 16, 2022

Riley Manning has worked as a travel and entertainment writer for more than 10 years. Today, he writes about unique events and the technology that helps make them happen.

Your festival will be the most talked about event this spring. Don’t let a clunky event registration tool, high costs, and unnecessarily challenging event ticketing slow down your guests’ path toward enjoyment.

Events like Charlotte Beer Collective’s The Beer Event, and  The Atlanta Grilled Cheese Festival are coming up on the calendar. How will you plan your event? Once planned, how will you get your coveted tickets out to your intended crowd? And how much will it cost you? If you choose the right event registration tool, you can streamline your organizational process and save money along the way, while putting an amazing event on the calendar.

Your event could be as creative as the Atlanta Grilled Cheese Festival

As you organize your event, be on the lookout for the 4 things below in an event registration tool:

  1. Low price, instant payouts
  2. A straightforward event page to sell tickets
  3. A smooth user experience
  4. Human support

1. Low price, instant payouts.

You’ve invested your time and energy into planning an awesome event, now how will you bring a crowd to your event? Keeping the price of your festival tickets in your intended range is essential to bringing out your targeted audience to enjoy the event. Make sure that your event registration tool doesn’t force your ticket price to go up, making the event cost-prohibitive for some of your potential attendees. Your event registration tool should offer a low price per ticket, while offering all of the features you need in order to pull off a successful event.

Instant Payouts

Pre-sales of tickets are crucial for building the revenue needed to cover your initial expenses. Many event registration tool apps hang onto your proceeds for a period of time after the sale. This can hold you back as you attempt to schedule and pay for entertainment and vendors. Digital payments happen in an instant, why don’t you receive the money from your sale in an instant? Make sure the event ticketing app you choose offers instant payouts from each sale you make. With an event registration tool like SimpleTix, the money from your sales goes directly into your account. This way, as you sell tickets in advance, you are also able to prepare by covering the cost of the services you have to use. This benefit comes directly from their partnership with Square, an affiliation very few ticketing apps can claim. Receiving these funds instantly will relieve potential gridlock in your event budget and avoid the pitfalls of any unexpected, but sometimes unavoidable, expenses.

SimpleTix offers lower fees than most other event registration tools

Lower fees 

As you plan your event, you may want to be able to project out your potential budget and potential revenue. To do this, you will need clarity on what expenses you can anticipate. Your event registration tool should offer clear, straightforward pricing that allows you to understand where your money will be allocated. Some event ticketing apps are expensive or can even sneak in additional fees on your per ticket price. This can amount to big losses on your potential revenue per ticket, and ultimately, for your event. You need to be able to hang onto more of your hard-earned dollars.

With event registration tools, generally the fees come as a flat rate per ticket, plus a percentage of the total ticket price. Be aware that some event management tools have a very high cost per ticket.

An example of an event ticketing app with one of the best rates out there is SimpleTix. The SimpleTix rate of $.79 per ticket plus 2% of the ticket price is tough to beat. Plus, there is no upfront cost to get set up with your event website. You aren’t charged until you are selling tickets. They even have a cap on fees. Any ticket over $200 will never cost more than $9.99. With their straightforward pricing, anticipating your potential revenue picture becomes much more clear. Simply put, you get to keep more of your money per ticket sold. Other event registration tools charge significantly more. Eventbrite, another event ticketing app, charges $1.59 per ticket and 3.5% of the ticket’s total price.

2. A straightforward event page to sell tickets.

Ditch the cashbox. With an event registration tool, you should be able to sell tickets in your sleep, 24/7, via your custom webpage. Most event registration tools offer a custom page that you can tailor to your needs. However, be on the lookout for the dreaded webpage branding clutter. Whose branding is more important in selling tickets? That’s right, yours. Event registration tools like Eventbrite are covered in their branding. Your event branding becomes secondary on your custom page.

Avoid the clutter and use an event registration tool that is clean and offers up your branding as the primary focus. With SimpleTix you can even embed a sales widget on your existing site. Ensure that your app also allows you to use a QR code designated for your event that can send your customers directly to your ticket sales page.

SimpleTix offers lower fees than most other event registration tools

3. A smooth user experience.

A smooth registration experience matters. Most customers will give your site and your event a few precious clicks. But how can you ensure an easy user experience? Find an event you would like to register for, and test out that event’s registration process. It should be easy to navigate, and the check-out should be seamless. You should be able to purchase tickets and merchandise for the event in the same transaction. If you can’t, it’s not that smooth.

SimpleTix continues to ensure that their customer-facing experience is as seamless and smooth as possible. Merchandise and tickets in a single purchase? Check. Festival and class-pack modes for multi-day events? They’ve got you covered.

4. Human support.

Your event registration tool should be with you from the inception of your event idea all the way through to its successful culmination. While some ticketing apps may leave you hanging once the sales are finished, SimpleTix wants to ensure the success of your event. They want you to host another. Your guests should want you to host another, and you will want to host another after it goes so smoothly. SimpleTix will have a team member walk you through the set-up of your custom site and event. You won’t be lost in the endless hold cycle some event registration tools offer on their help line. The assistance you receive from SimpleTix comes from humans, and they are available when you need them. SimpleTix even offers a dedicated YouTube channel filled with videos of “how to’s” for customizing your experience for nearly any event you can think of to host.

If you keep your eye on the above your choice for an event registration tool should come quickly into focus. Design an awesome event, keep your costs low, help your audience have the smoothest experience possible, and use an event registration tool that will work to make your event a success from start to finish.

SimpleTix has offered an affordable, premium event ticketing platform that outperforms Eventbrite and similar apps for over 12 years. Compared to the competition, SimpleTix offers better options at a better price point. To learn more, call us at +1 (855) 550-3670 or email us here.

Latest News

Related Articles

Events

How To Sell More Event Merchandise Through Your Ticketing Platform

  • Aron Kansal
    by Aron Kansal • December 3, 2024

Ever wondered how much revenue you might be leaving on the table by keeping merchandise sales separate from ticketing? When you sell event tickets online, separating merchandise from the purchase flow means missing crucial sales opportunities. Many organizers focus solely on ticket sales, overlooking how the ticketing platform can drive significant merchandise revenue. From optimizing bundles to leveraging data for personalized offers, using your ticketing platform for merchandise sales isn’t just about convenience—it’s about boosting revenue in ways you may not have considered. Here’s how to do it strategically and effectively. Bundle Tickets and Merchandise Without Cutting Margins Bundling tickets with merchandise works best when the pricing feels like a deal to attendees but doesn’t undercut your profits. Success requires precise calculations: Analyze price sensitivity: If a ticket costs $50 and a t-shirt costs $25, offering a bundle at $65 can feel like a win for attendees while maintaining a healthy profit margin. Test popular combinations: Past sales data might reveal that general admission tickets and t-shirts are the most requested combination, while VIP attendees prefer hoodies or premium items. Platforms that sell event tickets online can integrate these bundles at checkout, making it easy for attendees to select their preferred option while increasing the overall cart value. Offering bundle discounts as limited-time options further incentivizes purchases during the early ticketing phase. Digital QR Codes Simplify Pre-Orders Pre-purchased merchandise often leads to logistical issues at the event. Attendees may receive the wrong size or change their preferences, resulting in returns or exchanges. Issuing QR codes for pre-purchased items can solve these problems. Once an attendee buys a ticket and selects merchandise, a QR code is sent to their email. At the event, they scan the code at the merchandise booth to confirm or adjust their order. This system allows organizers...

Eventbrite Alternative

How Do You Set Up Ticket Sales for International Events?

  • Aron Kansal
    by Aron Kansal • December 3, 2024

Selling tickets for international events brings unique challenges, from handling payments in different currencies to meeting local regulations. While Eventbrite is a popular choice, many Eventbrite alternatives offer features specifically designed for global audiences. Setting up an efficient system requires tools that address payment options, compliance, language preferences, and attendee support. What steps and tools are needed to successfully manage ticket sales for international events? Use Payment Gateways That Work Worldwide Global audiences expect flexibility in payment options. A reliable event ticketing system supports multiple payment gateways, including regional and mobile payment methods. Platforms that integrate with options like PayPal, Stripe, or region-specific systems like Alipay or iDEAL help reduce barriers to completing a purchase. Some Eventbrite competitors go further, offering country-specific payment integrations. This is especially useful for events in areas with limited access to traditional banking systems. By providing attendees with familiar and accessible payment methods, you can increase trust and improve ticket sales. Offer Multi-Currency Pricing Ticket buyers are less likely to complete a purchase if prices are displayed only in a foreign currency. A platform with multi-currency pricing solves this issue by allowing attendees to view ticket prices in their local currency. This reduces confusion and friction during the buying process. The best Eventbrite alternatives often have built-in currency conversion tools, automatically adjusting prices based on the buyer's location. This capability not only makes transactions smoother but also shows attendees that you’ve thought about their needs, encouraging them to complete their purchases. Simplify Taxes and Regional Compliance Tax regulations and compliance laws can complicate international ticket sales. A reliable event registration platform should calculate and display taxes based on the buyer's location. Platforms that automate this process make it easier for organizers to comply with local regulations and avoid fines or disputes. Many trade show registration...

Event ticketing

How Promo Codes Can Skyrocket Your Event Sales

  • Aron Kansal
    by Aron Kansal • December 3, 2024

Promo codes are often thought of as simple discount tools, but they’re capable of much more. When used strategically, they can do everything from increasing ticket sales to attracting new audiences and driving repeat attendance. Most event organizers stick to basic discounting methods, like early bird or general sale codes. But if you think promo codes only cut into your profits, you're missing out on their full potential - especially with today's sophisticated event registration software that can track, analyze, and optimize your promotional strategy. Here’s a fresh look at how promo codes can reshape your ticket sales strategy and drive better results. Customize Discount Codes Based on How People Buy Here's what most organizers miss: Promo codes aren't just discount tools - they're powerful features of your event scheduling software that can help you sell out events faster, attract better sponsors, and build a loyal following that comes back year after year. Use Dynamic Pricing to Boost Sales at the Right Time Promo codes don’t have to be static. Dynamic pricing—adjusting discounts based on real-time ticket sales—can make a huge difference. At the start of your sales cycle, you can release smaller discounts to create early momentum. As the event date approaches, monitor ticket sales using your event registration software’s reporting tools. If you’re not meeting your sales goals, you can release higher-value promo codes to incentivize last-minute buyers. On the flip side, if ticket sales are strong, you might scale back discounts and use promo codes to drive upsells instead. Geo-Target Promo Codes to Engage Local Audiences Local audiences are often the easiest to target, but they’re also more likely to compare your event with nearby alternatives. Promo codes can be a great way to tip the scales in your favor. Consider creating codes that speak directly to...

Sell More Tickets—More Easily

Attractions, seasonal events, performing arts centers and festivals love SimpleTix because it makes selling tickets… Simple!

GET STARTED FOR FREE