7 Ways to Simplify Event Registration Process and Improve Attendee Experience

The event registration process seems like such a small part in the bigger scheme of things. However, it’s important that you get this part right because it has a bigger impact on attendee experience than you may realize. There are a few steps to implement to simplify the process and improve the experience for guests.

  1. Group Registration
Group registration is beneficial for two reasons. One, it encourages attendees to bring an additional guest or two, thereby increasing overall registration. Second, it also simplifies the process as it only requires a single registrant to register an entire group. This saves everyone else in that party from having to register separately. This can prove to be a huge timesaver for attendees. If guests have to register separately, some may hold it off and simply never get to it.
  1. Keep It Simple
Don’t make the registration process feel like a burden. Keep it short and sweet. This means the process should only include the basics, such as your name, address, number of guests, payment information, etc. To expedite the process even further, you can also enable auto fill options, which comes in handy for attendees that have previously inputted their information. You may, however, present a follow-up offer or two after a successful registration. This is known as upselling and is an old-time marketing tactic for boosting sales. A follow-up offer in this instance can be an offer to upgrade to a VIP ticket or an optional survey to complete in exchange for a discount code. Limit the upsell and/or survey to two at the most, or else attendees will feel like they’re being pestered.
  1. Make the Process Mobile-Friendly
Give attendees the option to register wherever they are, whether they’re at home, in their car, or at a bus stop. If you do opt for mobile registration, be sure to include a separate link for those that want to register from their portable devices. The mobile registration page should have a different layout to make the process as user-friendly as possible. The page can, for example, include one question at a time to avoid crowding the screen. Some registration software can detect the type of device being used and automatically adjust the page layout accordingly.
  1. Ask Preference Questions
Just because you want to keep the registration simple doesn’t mean you can’t ask additional questions. Go ahead and ask anything that you feel would improve attendee experience. This may include accommodation questions, such as whether they require certain dietary needs or disability access. Other questions include shirt size if you’re handing out apparel for event swag. You can also ask whether they’ll be attending a specific workshop or prefer one presentation over another. These questions are useful because it helps improve attendee experience. It also makes guests feel like you care about their preferences.
  1. Digitize the Process
Online registration seems obvious, but it must be mentioned because some companies still opt for paper registration. While there may indeed be folks who prefer to register through pen and paper, these people are in the minority. Everything should be done online. Not only does this expedite the process, but it also ensures for more accurate information. Not only is paper registration an environmental waste but errors are also more likely, not to mention you may struggle to decipher sloppy handwriting. You may keep a few physical copies of registration forms handy for those who absolutely insist on registering the old fashion way. Beyond that, though, everything should be in digital format.
  1. Be Sure the Registration Page Works on all Browsers
Once your registration page is set up, double check to be sure it works on all browsers. Most issues you may run into are relatively minor, such as spacing and alignment inconsistencies. However, it’s also possible that the page may not work at all. If this is the case, it can reflect poorly on your company. It may also prompt attendees to hold off on the process until “later.” Of course, later sometimes means never. Double check the registration page on all the primary browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer. Also check it on lesser used browsers as well because you never know who uses those.
  1. Allow Multiple Payment Options
Some people may choose to pay by credit card. Others may opt for PayPal. There may even be those that opt for less conventional methods, such as wire transfer or electronic check. If attendees have previously inputted their payment information on your site, then there should be an autofill option so registrants don’t have to input the information a second time. Also, if you are expecting guests from overseas, then there should be an option for foreign transactions. This way, oversea guests don’t have to deal with complicated currency conversions. Make Registering an Enjoyable Experience Event attendees gauge every part of the event experience. A dissatisfaction in a single area can overshadow what would otherwise be a positive experience. Make sure the registration process is simple and engaging so attendees aren’t left with a bad taste in their mouths by the time they reach the confirmation page. About the Author: Dan McCarthy is an Event Manager at Ultimate Experience, an event management company based in the UK. Dan has 5 years of event project management under his belt. He has worked on many successful events, and currently he shares his knowledge by writing on the company blog. Follow him on Twitter @DanCarthy2.]]]]> ]]>

The Three Things You Need To Know About Ticketing Fees

Here are the three things you need to know when looking at a company’s ticketing fees.

1. Payment processing does affect your fees
I get this question at least once a day. To be clear: every event needs a payment processor. This is how debit/credit card transactions get authorized and how ticket revenue ends up in your account.
Payment processors charge a processing fee to perform this function for your event and that fee is in addition to your ticketing fees.
2. Make sure processing (and anything else) is included in the fee you’re seeing
Many companies will make this processing fee hard to find. They want you to only see the fee they charge to make their prices look as low as possible. And, to be clear, they aren’t lying when they do this. When a ticketing company says all they charge is XYZ fee, that is truly all they charge. However, they cleverly neglect to mention that that is not ALL you will be charged. The processor is a separate fee…but it’s still a fee to be paid by you or your attendees.
We try to make this as clear as possible on our site but we still receive emails daily. Many of these emails ask if we charge an annual fee, setup fee, print-your-ticket-at-home fee, and the list goes on. These emails aren’t annoying to answer. They’re important and necessary. Ask them.
The long story short – event ticketing is made up of two fees: the processing fee and the ticketing fee. Make sure you know both.
3. You can pass your fees along to your attendees or cover them yourself For most ticketing companies, Ticketbud included, you have two choices for the fees associated with your event: passing them to your attendee or pay them yourself out of your ticket revenue.
We’ve done market research on passing along ticketing fees and found that the “fee threshold” for your attendees is roughly $10.
In other words, if your fees are greater than $10, attendees may take issue with the fees. If your fees are less than $10, negative feedback on fees is almost none. In fact, most attendees expect fees and view them as a requirement for any online purchase.
To be clear, these are not the three things you need to know about Ticketbud’s fees. These are things you should be aware of no matter who you go with. We’d love it if it was us but we understand each event has a unique set of needs. Just be sure to do your research and ensure your expectations for your ticketing costs match reality.]]]]> ]]>

5 Ways to Use Social Media to Sell Event Tickets

If this is the first time your company is hosting an event, then you have some serious work ahead of you if you hope to sell most or all your tickets. Since your business isn’t well known at this point, it’s going to be challenging to convince guests to attend. Nevertheless, the goal is completely doable especially if you promote your event heavily through social media.

1. Implement Social Listening

Use social listening services to monitor social media activity. This helps you identify soft leads that may potentially become hot leads. The latter is the demographic that you want to nurture as they have a greater likelihood of converting to customers. There is plenty you can do with social listening, such as:

You can visit this site for a list of free social listening services, though you’ll eventually want to upgrade to a paid service for the very best features to really identify key social media patterns among your demographic.

2. Provide “Soft” Reminders

You want to begin ticket sales early. A lot of potential attendees, though, may opt to purchase closer to the event date since they’re still on the fences about attending and would rather not make a decision when the event is still kind of far out. This tends to be the case even if you provide early bird sale specials. These people are your hot leads that you want to nurture so that they don’t forget or decide not to attend.

On your event page, you can provide a signup box that pops up when the visitor clicks away. The signup box can urge the visitor to sign up to receive regular reminders via tweet or Facebook post as event day approaches. This is known as a “soft conversion” tactic that keeps potential attendees in the loop so they don’t let the event slip past their mind.

3. Reward Your Biggest Brand Advocates

Brand advocates are the people who not only buy a ticket but also recommend others, “like” your social media channels, and share your posts. These advocates are your biggest assets and most loyal customers that you definitely want to keep around for the long-term.

To keep them as brand advocates, you have to reward them and acknowledge the favor they’re doing for you. Engage with these people and get to know them more on a one-on-one basis. Identify who they are and reach out to them on a more personal level.

This can be done via social media through a private post that addresses the recipient by name. Include some type of gift, such as a ticket discount if they haven’t already bought their ticket, or a coupon code as a thank you for advocating for your brand on the company’s behalf. To make it even more personal, send a hand-written physical letter or postcard with coupon code or gift card.

4. Create a Memorable Event Hashtag

Most people think they know how to create a cool hashtag when they really don’t. The trick is to make the hashtag discernible while keeping it as short as possible. Take a look at the hashtag #October2016MuscleCarShowOrangeCounty. It’s easily discernible just by taking a look at it, but it’s a tad long.

You can definitely curtail it to the following: #Oct2016MCShowOC. This is a lot shorter, but it’s a bit vague. Anyone not familiar with the event will have a hard time identifying what it means. How about this one: #OctMuscleCarShowOC? This provides the perfect balance between length and discernibility. Notice that it also leaves out the year. Omitting nonessential information helps keep the hashtag sweet and short.

5. Post-Event Talk

The event has passed, so ticket selling is over at this point. However, your job is far from over. It reasons that you plan on hosting more events in the future, so why not get a head start for the next event by promoting it right after the first one ends?

Creating post-event buzz keeps people excited and may increase their likelihood of attending the next event. This is an early form of consumer nurturing that pays off come time for event #2.

Social Media Provides More than Enough Resources

Using social media to sell more tickets is a lot more than just sending posts here and there. You have to use the tools and trending social media practices to form a rapport with your consumers. Nurturing your customers in this manner takes time, but the rewards are more than worth it.

About the Author: Dan McCarthy is an Event Manager at Ultimate Experience, an event management company based in the UK. Dan has 5 years of event project management under his belt. He has worked on many successful events, and currently he shares his knowledge by writing on the company blog. Follow him on Twitter @DanCarthy2.

Choose a payment system. Mobile POS systems and cash are both good options. If you’re planning a ticketed event, select a platform to sell and scan tickets.]]]]> ]]>

Most Common Problems With an Event Check-In App and How to Avoid Them

1. Walk-Ins Walk-ins aren’t necessarily a bad thing. After all, it means additional attendees and revenue from ticket sales. However, if there are more walk-ins than anticipated then it can lead to problems especially if you are near capacity limit. This may include turning people away and facing a few unhappy campers as a result. To remedy the situation, be sure to include bold lettering on your event page that walk-in registration is not guaranteed. There should also be a quick registration process for those who haven’t pre-registered. Keep the event checkin line separate from those who already registered and just need to register to pick up their name tags.

2. Long Lines

In most retail stores, there’s a rule that another register line must open if any of the existing registers have three or more customers in line. If guests have to wait in a long line that’s moving at a snail’s pace, it might overshadow any positives they experience later on. At no point should the line extend past the premise of the venue. If you anticipate a swarm, borrow some of your staff in other areas and have them open a few additional registration lines. It is highly recommended that your point-of-sale system has some sort of event checkin app to make the process as expedient as possible. Most event registration software comes with its own check-in system. Opt for a system that utilizes check via QR code scan. The Ticketbud Event Check-in App for iPad & iPhone is useful for streamlining the registration.

3. Ditch the Pre-Printed Name Tags

Having name tags already printed out may seem helpful but it can prolong wait times. Staffers will needlessly waste seconds sifting through hundreds of name badges. If a single one is placed out of alphabetical order, then that’s going to hold up the entire line by minutes. With improved registration technology, professional name tags can be printed on the spot by simply typing a name and hitting the print button. Alternatively, there are also always those “Hello, my name is…” stickers where attendees can write in their own name. This is always a feasible option when formal name tags are not necessary.

4. Express Lines for VIP Guests

VIP guests typically consist of your most loyal customers or those who paid extra for special treatment. One of the perks should be an express line where they can immediately check in from a separate line and bypass the long line that everyone else has to wait in. To further expand the VIP experience, there should be a few staff members designated to escort VIP members to their front seats or private lounge. Some event software systems can be set to automatically alert selected staffers when a VIP member has registered. This way, the designated staffers can immediately proceed to the check-in area and greet these important guests.

5. Watch Out for Event Crashers

Your event may only be exclusive to those affiliated with your company. If so, you have to watch out for event crashers who may try to make their way in under a false name to take advantage of the booths, presentations, or food. If you have a guest list app, keep it out of sight as crashers could easily pretend to be someone on that list. Also require everyone to show their identification. For high-profile events, consider using a event check-in app with a pre-uploaded photo of each guest. This way, you can be sure that each guest that registers really are who they say they are. Keep in mind that event crashers may also simply bypass the registration line and make their way straight into the venue. You should have someone posted at every entrance and prohibit anyone without a name tag from entering.

6. Avoid Attendee Confusion

Guests can easily become confused especially if there are multiple registration lines. Are they supposed to check in first? Do they proceed straight to the venue? To avoid confusion and guests waiting in the wrong lines, be sure to have signs that clearly explain what each line is for. Lines can easily be distinguished using cones and yellow tape. Posting paper signs will suffice, though for an amplified visual effect, incorporate a digital signage that explains the check-in process. Another advantage of using a digital signage is that instructions can be presented in multiple languages and even include voiceovers.

7. Handout Materials

Usually, staffers are also required to hand out companion material for the event, which normally consist of a welcoming packet that includes flyers, schedulers, sponsor brochures, and the like. This can take additional time. First of all, it’s not advisable to be distributing paper handouts at all. All of the material should be delivered digitally, which attendees can access via their smartphone. If you decide that paper handouts are necessary, then have a separate station just beyond the check-in counter where they can be distributed.

Make It Short and Sweet

Accountability is a crucial aspect for any event. There are so many things that can go wrong during the check-in, ranging from long wait times to excess walk-in registrations. You need a plan in place for these scenarios or else the situation can quickly become disorganized. Dan McCarthy is an Event Manager at Ultimate Experience, an event management company based in the UK. Dan has 5 years of event project management under his belt. He has worked on many successful events, and currently he shares his knowledge by writing on the company blog. Follow him on Twitter @DanCarthy2.]]]]> ]]>

Product Update: Quick Ticket Search Across All Your Events

Search Tickets interface. Found right on your My Events dashboard, you can now quickly search attendees across all your events. No longer will you need to drill down into each event’s ticket sales to get your questions answered.

  quick_search The possibilities are endless. You can look up any ticket purchase to any of your events from the past year. Just simply search their email, first, or last name and you’re finished. It’s that simple. You’ll also have access to attempted purchases as well. quickticket                         The Search Tickets interface is accessible for individual Ticketbud accounts and accounts using our Ticketbud for Organizations functionality.]]]]> ]]>

Slideshare: Email Marketing for Events

In this slideshare, we discuss:

Email Marketing for Events from Ticketbud
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Slideshare: Event Sponsorships 101

In this slideshare, we discuss:

Event Sponsorships 101: How to Grow Your Event Revenue with Sponsorships from Ticketbud
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Contest Giveaway: 1 Year of Gleam

8 Social Media Tactics webinar, you might remember our bit about ticket giveaway contests. We harped on why giveaways are great for events and provided some best practices to get started. Totally recommend checking out the webinar if you haven’t yet. We recommended Gleam.io for ticket giveaways. Their platform makes running giveaways super easy. All the legwork is done for you so you can take advantage of the network effects that come with running a contest. Events of all types have used this tool to great success. You should too. Simply put, Gleam is awesome. So awesome in fact, that they’ve given us 5 yearly pro accounts to giveaway to our audience. A giveaway giving away giveaway software. Pretty meta right? This is an amazing offer as a pro account typically costs $390/year. To enter, simply complete any of the entries below to qualify. The more ways you enter, the more chances you’ll have to win. Good luck!

Gleam.io Giveaway ]]]]> ]]>

Slideshare: 8 Social Media Tactics to Ignite Ticket Sales

In this slideshare, we discuss:

Event Marketing Strategies – 8 Social Media Tactics to Ignite Ticket Sales from Ticketbud
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Introducing WePay: Making Daily Ticket Payouts a Reality

can now collect ticket sales on either a monthly, weekly, or even a daily basis.   Screen Shot 2015-07-20 at 3.09.04 PM   For many event organizers, collecting funds after the event ends is problematic. Event expenses build up: speakers, venue rental, catering, security…the list goes on and on. This forces organizers into a frantic scramble to get everyone paid. We’ve been racking our brains on how to remove this stress inducer and now we have a solution. Daily ticket payouts is made possible with our marketplace partner WePay. Through the partnership, US based customers can upgrade their payment processor in minutes to access lightning fast payouts. We chose to work with WePay not only because of their payout speed but also because of their product & team. You’ll love the complete control over your funds along with their excellent customer support. Selling tickets online has never been this easy. To upgrade to WePay for your next event, simply follow the instructions here. As always, we love hearing your feedback. Please give our support team a shout if you have any questions about this announcement or just anything in general. We’re obsessive with your event’s success! Helpful Links:

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Quick Mobile Optimization Updates

“mobile friendly”, we still saw opportunities to improve our mobile experience. Read on to learn how these enhancements benefit your events going forward:

Backend accessibility from any device

Before this release, managing your event from a phone was doable albeit not a delightful experience. Event organizers do a lot on the go so we had to make this better. Screen Shot 2015-06-24 at 8.52.23 AM To increase usability we went screen by screen to catch anything that needed some TLC. No smartphone or tablet device left behind! As a result, quick changes like adding a collaborator or checking ticket sales are now fully functional.

Purchasing Tickets

Creating a seamless ticketing buying experience for your attendees is hugely important to us. It’s part of our core product. slack_for_ios_upload Almost 50% of attendee traffic on Ticketbud is from a mobile device. Tablets attribute another 6%. With more than 1/2 of our attendees coming from a non-desktop device, we made some tweaks to the purchasing steps. Getting tickets is super intuitive from any device and will feed into future enhancements we make to the checkout flow. We are cranking out new features right now so look for new updates on the blog soon. As always, PLEASE give us feedback through our support channels. We’re all ears on how to improve your Ticketbud experience.]]]]> ]]>

26 of the Best Event Planning Apps to Boost Your Productivity

“What is the very most important thing you should be doing with your time and resources right now?” This is what we as event professionals should be asking ourselves constantly. The question above comes from Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. Essentialism dives deep into the advantages of working smarter instead of harder. Too often, many of us fall into a reactive cycle where our energy is split amongst many tasks. By focusing on the few things that actually matter, we can cut through the noise and achieve our goals. To help you focus on what is essential to the success of your event, we’ve listed 26 of the best event planning apps to increase your productivity. These apps cover a wide range of needs so hopefully you’ll find a couple that you can add to your event planning toolbox. Read on to learn how you can use these apps to save time and be a more productive event professional. best event planning apps

26 of the Best Event Planning Apps to Boost Your Productivity

1. Asana

Asana-logo           What is it? A web and mobile app designed to enable teamwork without email. Productivity Booster Asana wants to be your all-in-one solution for all team communication. Instead of the back and forth through email, Asana stores your conversations to be read in real-time through their app. Tasks, projects, deadlines are seen from a bird’s eye view so members of your planning team don’t have to jump from an app to app. Similar Apps: Trello

2. worklife

Screen Shot 2015-06-01 at 4.21.54 PM           What is it? A web and mobile app that helps you run highly productive, engaging meetings. Productivity Booster How many times have your staff meetings gone off track or went way over the time allotted? Worklife automates best meeting practices – setting and sharing agendas, driving towards decisions and action items – to help your event team get more done faster. Similar Apps: Do

3. Sched

sched-event-apps         What is it? Event schedule & agenda building app. Productivity Boost Sched makes it easy to display your event schedule for attendees. The app also provides insights into your audience, allowing you to identify influencers and popular content. major-reports

4. Monefy

Screen Shot 2016-01-06 at 9.33.13 AM         What is it? Personal finance app to track expenses Productivity Booster Monefy aims to remove all the clutter from tracking expenses. It allows you to view graphs, export data, and sync to Dropbox. The app makes it easy to manage all of your event expenses in one place. Event planning is an on-the-go job, having an app like this is a godsend.

5. Eversnap

eversnap       What is it? Helps events & groups collect all their guests’ photos & videos in one online album. Productivity Booster Ever have a hard time collecting photos post-event? Eversnap solves this problem through getting your guests to download their app and upload event photos to one place. Instead of scrambling for image assets to promote future events, Eversnap stores them all in one place. Similar Apps: Capsule Cam

6. Momentum

What is it? A personal dashboard designed to eliminate distraction and provide inspiration, focus, and productivity. Productivity Boost This app is simplistic at its core. Momentum replaces your default browser tab with a beautiful background and the focus goal for your day. For event planners with thousands of to-do’s, Momentum is great for helping you focus on the things that matter. Similar Apps OneTask

7. Mailchimp

Mail_Chimp-672x200         What is it? An email marketing solution to manage contacts, send emails and track results. Productivity Boost The easiest way to drum up interest for your next event is through an existing audience. Mailchimp is a powerful way to leverage your contacts to announce ticket sales and stay top of mind. You can also test everything in your email, from subject lines to click-throughs. Similar Apps Benchmark Constant Contact

8. TinyScan

screen480x480 What is it? Portable scanner for your iPhone or iPad device. Productivity Boost Sending over important documentation like invoices and service agreements can be a pain. Having access to a scanner isn’t always an option which is where TinyScan comes in. This mobile app empowers organizers to scan documents right through their phone and save as an image or PDF. It’s a scanner on-the-go.

9. Slack

slack_rgb           What is it? Real time messaging, archiving and search for modern teams. Productivity Boost Slack is like a chat room on steroids. The app allows you to create groups amongst your event staff & search any past messages with ease. The team at Ticketbud uses Slack and we’ve saved hours of time with their built-in integrations and file sharing capabilities. Similar Apps: Hipchat

10. Guidebook

guidebook_logo_light       What is it? Easily build mobile apps for events and venues and publish them instantly. Productivity Boost Creating a dedicated app for larger events seems to be all the rage these days and for good reason. Guidebook simplifies what was once a fragmented process. Instead of going back and forth with an app developer, Guidebook provides transparent pricing and built-in functionality made specifically for events. This includes attendee push notifications, session management, and in-app sponsorship opportunities. img_gears_guide_home Similar Apps: Attendify Doubledutch

11. Buffer

logo-dark             What is it? A service that helps users share social media content by scheduling online posts throughout the day. Productivity Boost Social marketing for your events can be a daunting task. Not only do you need to manage attendee chatter but you’re also responsible for curating fresh content on a consistent basis. With Buffer, you can setup all your social posts for the week and let Buffer schedule your posts on your behalf.

12. Eventhero

eventhero_logo_small       What is it? Real-time event management software that plugs into your favorite registration system. Productivity Boost This software aims to bolster your day-of event management capabilities. EventHero offers real-time alerts, on-site badge printing, a lead retrieval system for exhibitors, and access control management. It’s the total package for serious event professionals. Similar App Boomset

13. Sli.do

slido-logo-rgb         What is it? Interactive Q&A and Polls for Meetings and Events Productivity Boost Creating and measuring attendee engagement at your event can be near impossible without the right tools. Sli.do is a great solution for promoting event interaction amongst your attendees and speakers. You can create live polls in seconds, take questions from the crowd, and enable twitter hashtag monitoring.

hp-promo-polls

14. Dropbox

logo@2x-vfleQNE2w           What is it? A file hosting service that lets you store and access files from anywhere. Productivity Boost Contracts, invoices, marketing plans, schedules. Tons of files get passed through your planning committee. With Dropbox, you can sync these files to any of your team members and view from any device.

15. Pocket Planner

pocket_planner_logotype           What is it? An all-in-one event calculator. Productivity Boost This handy app from Social Tables lets you calculate food, beverage, staffing and safety needs. You can give clients accurate estimates for their event and make last second orders without error.

16. Evernote

evernote_logo_3876       What is it? A service that brings your work together into one digital workspace. Productivity Boost Just read this blog post and you’ll understand why Evernote is awesome for event planning.

17. Event Wallet

Screen Shot 2016-01-06 at 9.55.47 AM       What is it? An app that uses iBeacon technology to collect and share exhibitor’s content. Productivity Boost Event Wallet gives visitors to trade shows and conferences an easy way to discover content from exhibitors. For event planners, Event Wallet tracks collections, shares, and downloads of their content. This makes it easy to stay in touch with interested visitors post-event.

18. Kayo

logo2       What is it? Documentation & lead generation service for your event. Productivity Boost This French startup provides terminals to solve the logistics problem of carrying around documentation (think brochures, 1-sheeters, etc.). By going paperless with Kayo, exhibitors can collect and analyze the behavior of your event’s attendees.

19. WeTrack

wetrack-logo     What is it? Helps creative professionals effectively plan events, manage projects and control budgets. Productivity Boost This tool reminds us of Asana but geared more towards events. Beyond team collaboration, WeTrack offers project management tools that allow event profs to create budgets and manage invoices for contractual work.

20. Init Live

b9b96d_a37aab4cfe9d4302be0a4446836cbf29.png_srz_p_276_76_75_22_0.50_1.20_0       What is it? The new way to manage communications and schedules for volunteers & staff at large events. Productivity Boost Init Live is a web & mobile app that aims to end nagging communications issues at your event. When something unexpected happens (like an accident for instance), your staff can use the app to alert other team members immediately. The app also has built-in scheduling to assign roles and keep track of your team’s locations.

21. Full Contact

fc_banner         What is it? Contact Management Software Productivity Boost You can end up wasting a lot of time keeping track of all your event related contacts. Full Contact pulls in all your connections, updates them with social info, and syncs them back to your Apple devices or Gmail. This can save you time when integrating data into your CRM or scouting sponsorship opportunities.

22. Mention

What is it? Real-time media monitoring application Productivity Boost Mention is a great tool for creating alerts for your event across all social media channels. Set it up once and never have to jump around your feeds to keep up with attendee chatter. S1SGqNWok5NSRIUSaRZuDGx5gzqnMdTS7A_o

23. Thumbtack

thumbtack_orange_152x29     What is it? A consumer service for finding and hiring local professionals. Productivity Boost You might of been in the situation where some volunteers couldn’t make their shifts last second. Or maybe you’re having trouble finding a 90’s hip hop DJ and don’t know where to start. Thumbtack is a great solution to solve these hiring needs. Their marketplace allows event profs to find & contact any professional for contracted work. Jobs include DJ’s, catering, bartending, photography, and rental supplies. Similar Apps: TaskRabbit

24. Zapier

zapier-logo         What is it? A service that makes it easy for anyone to connect their web services together. Productivity Boost Event professionals should be leveraging attendee data as much as possible. The roadblock is how to get the data into something like your CRM or an email marketing service. With Zapier, this becomes completely automated. Kiss all your repetitive data entry tasks goodbye as Zapier simply connects your web apps together. Power Tip: Ticketbud integrates with Zapier so you can send your attendee data to services like Mailchimp or Salesforce. Learn more here. Similar Apps: IFTTT

25. Wunderlist

wunderlist-icon           What is it? A to-do service that is the easiest way to get stuff done. Productivity Boost Wunderlist keeps your event planning life in sync. With their mobile application, you can create to-do lists on the fly and share them with members of your staff. The service also offers a business solution that synchronizes all your team’s communication in one place. collab

26. Ticketbud Organizer App

tb-logo-sm@2x       What is it? Your go-to app for checking in attendees and selling tickets on-site. Productivity Boost If you’re using Ticketbud for event registration, the mobile app solves two major headaches. First, never worry about keeping track of check-in lists ever again. The app scans our QR coded tickets at lightning speeds. A recent update to the app also enables planners to process credit cards at the door. So instead of scrambling to tally up all your sales through a 3rd party swiper, Ticketbud keeps everything in one place.

Over to You

What event planning apps or services do you use to boost productivity? This is just the tip of the iceberg as literally hundreds of apps exist out there. It be awesome if you could leave your favorite app in the comments. We’d love to learn more about what event planning apps you use to make life easier.]]]]> ]]>