Can you set up online registration for my event?

The short version

• Yes, we can build event registration into your existing website.
• You tell us the event details, the questions to ask, any limits, and whether people pay.
• A person at E-3 builds it, tested on a staging copy first.
• Try it yourself after it goes live, as a guest would.
• Next step: Request a change with your event details.

What does E-3 build?

Most event sign-ups are a website form with a few extras. Depending on what you need, that can include:

• A registration form with the fields you choose: names, contact details, number of guests, meal choices, T-shirt sizes and so on.
• A confirmation email to the registrant, written in your words. It can include the date, time, address and what to bring.
• A notification to you, sent to whoever handles registrations. Form plugins let each form send to one or several addresses, as Gravity Forms’ guide to configuring notifications shows.
• A thank-you message or page after someone registers. Gravity Forms calls this a confirmation and supports a message, a page or a redirect.
• Payment, if you charge. This uses a payment provider such as Stripe or PayPal, connected to your own account.
• Limits and closing dates, so registration stops when the event is full or the deadline passes.
• A list you can download of everyone who registered.

One thing clients often ask for is custom wording per event. For example, a different note in each confirmation email depending on which session someone picked. That can be built: an editable text area for each listing that drops straight into the confirmation email.

What should I send E-3?

Send as much of this as you can up front:

1. The event details: name, date, time, place, and the page it should appear on.
2. The questions to ask each registrant, in order. Mark which are required.
3. Who receives the registrations, and whether a second person should get a copy.
4. The confirmation email wording.
5. Limits: a maximum number of places, a closing date, or one registration per person.
6. Payment details, if you charge: the price for each option, and which payment account the money goes to. Never email us card numbers or payment account passwords. If a login to a payment provider is needed, add E-3 as a user instead of sharing yours.
7. Whether you’ll run it again. Repeating events are worth setting up as a reusable template.

How does the process work?

1. A person at E-3 builds it. Bigger changes like this are tested on a staging copy first, so nothing changes on your live site yet.
2. Test it. Register as if you were a guest, read the confirmation email, check your notification, and tell us what to change. If payment is involved, payment providers offer a test mode for this.
3. Check it live. After it’s published, send one more real test.

If you change your mind after launch, the earlier version of the page can be restored.

Why does it matter?

People register when it’s easy. A clear form on your own site keeps your branding, your list and your customer data with you. A good confirmation email also cuts down on “What time does it start?” calls.

What are the common mistakes and edge cases?

• Too many questions. Ask only what you’ll use. Every extra field is one more thing to fill in, so keep the form short.
• No limit set. Without a cap, a popular event can be overbooked before you notice.
• Confirmations landing in spam. Registration emails need to be sent properly from your domain. See why form emails go to spam or don’t arrive.
• Collecting sensitive data you don’t need, such as dates of birth or health details. Keep it to what the event needs. If you must collect it, ask us about how it’s stored. This isn’t legal advice.
• Forgetting the calendar. If your site has an events calendar, the event listing and the sign-up form should link to each other. See how to update events or the calendar.
• Using a third-party ticketing platform. Sometimes that’s the better fit, especially for large or seated events.

What if something isn’t working after launch?

• Registrants say they didn’t get a confirmation. Ask them to check spam, then tell us.
• Payments fail. See why online payment or checkout isn’t working.
• The form closed early or late. Tell us the cap or date you want.

How long does it take, and what does it cost?

That depends on the number of fields, whether payment is involved, and whether you need custom wording per event. This site doesn’t list prices.

How does E-3 handle this?

People at E-3 build registration forms, and bigger changes are tested on a staging copy first. Send your event details to support@e3help.me or call 814-399-4655. You can also use the Get support form. Replies usually come within one business day.

Related questions

• How do I add or change a form on my website?
• How do I update events or the calendar on my site?
• How do I review and approve a preview?