When it comes to online registration tools for events, it's likely that you'll need more than just a signup form. There is so much opportunity to save time and gain valuable insight from your ticket buyers, only using a sign up form is a missed opportunity. With a user-friendly event registration tool or platform, you don't just get one tool — you get a whole toolbox with all the registration features you need to manage your event from start to finish. Let's take a look at just a few of these top event management tools and what they can do for your event.

Event listing builder

Use your registration platform's template to create a beautiful, custom event page in just a few minutes – no web design skills required. With an event website, your attendees can find and register for your event online, on any device. Since the listing is customizable, you can include your organization's logo, your brand colors, plus add your own images and videos. If you have more than one event, you can list them all on your online event calendar so all your events are in one place. Attendees will see this calendar as your homepage and can register for multiple events at the same time, with one convenient checkout process.

Event promotion and marketing tools

Once you've set up your custom event registration page, you now have a link to post on any social media platform to get the word out and increase event registrations. Sharing your event listing with friends via text message or replying to messages on social media, is as easy as copy and paste. Optimize your event management processes by using your platform's email blast feature which will allow you to let your attendees know about important event details and updates. Use a post-purchase message to get your registrants to follow you on other social media platforms or run a contest with an incentive to have them share your online event registration link with their followers. Discount codes are another great promotional tool – offer loyalty codes to previous buyers, or give local influencers promo codes that they can promote as an exclusive perk to their audiences. Custom ticket types allow you to offer early bird registration discounts or VIP tickets, and custom tickets are also a way to sell merchandise or meals at your specific event.

Secure credit card payments

Online event registration software means you'll need a secure way to accept credit card payments for online ticketing. A top event registration platform integrates the payment processor of your choice into your event registration page, so you can easily sell tickets online. This eliminates the hassle of trying to set up a payment processing system of your own on your site or calling ticket buyers to get their credit card information to complete the purchase. If you're selling tickets at the door, you can accept credit card payments using a credit card swiper and an easy-to-use app on your mobile device. These tools are also great for any merchandise or equipment you'll be selling onsite.

Reports to track event registration and ticket sales

As soon as your first attendee registers for your event, your registration platform begins compiling registration data into detailed reports that you can schedule for delivery to your email inbox or view instantly anytime. Get valuable information at a glance – see sales totals, popular event dates and times, and discount codes used, just to name a few. Use your data reports to measure the success of your event and make your future events bigger and better.

Event attendee data collection

During the event registration process, your ticketing platform gathers basic information about your attendees, like names and email addresses. If you need to know a bit more about your audience before your event so you can plan things more thoroughly, your event registration platform can help with that, too. Use a checkout questionnaire to gather information during the event registration form process about anything from t-shirt sizes to dietary needs – if you've got questions, this is how to get answers.

Event day registration and check-in

There's more than one way to check in attendees on the day of your event, and a registration platform lets you choose the one that's right for you. Electronic check-in will get your guests in the door faster, which might be the right fit if your event has a larger guest list. If you opt for electronic check-in, you can use your registration platform's app to scan your attendees' tickets (they can print tickets or display them on a mobile device) or look them up by name. Since your platform automatically generates an attendee list of everyone who's registered, you can also print out this list and check off names as your attendees arrive. If you're going for a more personalized check-in process, where you'd like to put a face to each name, then printing off your attendee information list and checking people in the old-fashioned way might be the better solution for you.

Post-event follow-up

Your event might be over, but your registration platform is still working hard for you. Review your reports and use your data insights to start planning your next event. The data you collected from your attendees when they registered will be valuable as you look ahead to your next event. And don't forget to send an email blast using your registration platform's email tool to thank your attendees for coming, give them follow-up information, or promote your next big event.

The best part of using a registration platform? The tools we mentioned above are just the tip of the iceberg. To get all the event registration features you need in one place, it's as simple as signing up for the best event registration software and trying it for yourself, for free, with TicketLeap!