The first step to hosting an amazing event is getting people to register. Unfortunately, this is often easier said than done, and seems to be growing even harder over time. In fact, a 2024 survey found that 37% of event marketers say that driving registrations is a top challenge when planning an event, compared to only 30% the previous year.
While there are many ways to increase registration rates, creating a straightforward and polished event registration form is one of the simplest ways. A good registration form helps you streamline the registration process for potential attendees and makes it less likely they’ll abandon the form due to it being too confusing or overwhelming.
A popular tool that’s used to create simple registration forms is Google Forms. While it has some noticeable shortcomings, it’s a free and uncomplicated way for people to register for your events.
If you’re curious about how to use Google Forms for event registration, our step-by-step guide is here to help.
How To Set-Up Google Forms for Event Registration
Let’s take a closer look at the steps involved in using Google Forms for event registration:
1. Head to the Google Forms website, click on Template gallery near the top of the screen, and then scroll down to the Event Registration template. Of course, if you want to start from scratch, you can also start from a blank form.
2. Once the template loads, update the title of the form, as well as your event description. Here you can add details like the location and time of your event, a short blurb about what it’s about, and any registration-specific instructions or requirements.
3. While this template comes with a few questions, feel free to edit them to ensure they fit your specific requirements. You can choose from a variety of question types, including short answers, multiple choice, dropdown, checkboxes, linear scale, and more.
4. If a question is very important and you need it answered by everyone, make sure that the Required slider is set to the “On” position.
5. If you need more questions than the number that comes preloaded with the template, you can add by pressing the “+” button in the sidebar on the right side of your screen.
6. To ensure that the answers you get are what you’re looking for, you’re also able to set up response validation, which lets you set certain criteria for the answers you receive.
To access this feature, simply click the three vertical dots within the question when you’re editing it, and select Response validation from the dropdown menu.
7. Once you’re happy with your questions, you can begin customizing your form by clicking the Customize Theme button near the top of the screen.
8. This lets you choose the text style to use, the header image you want, the colors within the form, and even the background.
9. When the form looks the way you want, you can head over to the Settings tab. Here you can manage how you collect responses, how the form is presented, whether you collect email addresses, and more.
10. While your form is now essentially done, it’s a good idea to test it. You can do this by clicking the Preview button, which lets you view and fill out the form as if you were a participant, to ensure there are no issues or mistakes.
11. Once you’re ready to send the event registration form, click the purple Publish button. Once it’s published, you can send the event registration link to people directly through email, or also post a link to it on a website, via social media, or put it anywhere else where potential attendees may see it.
The Advantages of Google Forms for Event Registration
There are several reasons why some businesses choose to use Google Forms for event registration. Firstly, it’s an accessible platform that any individual or company can use, as it’s free. As long as you have a Google account, you’re able to set up a form. Google Forms can also be filled out from any device or browser.
Also, it’s relatively simple to use, and setting up a form generally won’t take more than a couple of minutes of work. Even if you’re not overly tech-savvy or have lots of experience creating forms, the process is easy.
The Limitations of Google Forms for Event Registration
However, Google Forms also has several limitations when used for event registration. One of the biggest issues is that it doesn’t include payment processing, so you’ll need another tool to receive and manage payments.
It also doesn’t have a check-in feature, which means you’ll have to handle check-ins manually or use a different platform. In addition, Google Forms offers only basic features and has limited connections with other tools.
For example, it doesn’t let you deeply analyze how your event is performing. The data collection is very simple, and the reporting tools are not as helpful compared to other solutions.
Google Forms also isn’t the best choice for larger events. While it does allow some customization, the design options are limited and don’t let you show your branding as much as you might want in the registration form.
Finding a Better Solution for Event Registration: Event Registration Software
While Google Forms can work for small or simple events, it may not be enough for larger or more complex ones. If you’re planning something bigger, it’s better to use an event registration platform like Eventtia.
Eventtia provides many helpful features that make it a stronger option for event organizers.
Registration Experience powered by Eventtia
Grow Registrations with an All-in-One Event Platform
Eventtia makes the registration process as easy as possible for your attendees. It lets you embed your forms on websites and event pages, design forms that let participants sign up rapidly, and even create custom forms in multiple languages.
In addition, Eventtia also offers powerful registration features. In fact, the National Union of Construction Economists (UNTEC) chose to work with Eventtia due to its comprehensive registration features. This includes the ability to segment attendees, track them, and allow participants to register for exclusive activities based on their attendee type.
Simplify Payments and Boost Revenue
Unlike Google Forms, Eventtia lets you easily collect payments from around the globe. It supports flexible payment options, accepts several different currencies, generates invoices, and provides a secure and straightforward checkout experience for attendees.
Payment Options powered by Eventtia
It also allows you to offer coupons and discounts, set early-bird prices, and even sell merchandise directly from the platform.
Run a Smooth Event Day with Smart Check-Ins
Eventtia also helps with check-ins by making the process much more efficient and allowing you to register attendees at the last minute. It generates badges with QR codes for fast and reliable check-ins.
This feature is especially useful for events that end up with more attendees than expected.
For example, when a Waste2Worth event received more in-person participants than planned, it used the Eventtia check-in app to ensure people were filtered properly and kept access to the venue streamlined.
Make Better Decisions with Real-Time Insights
Eventtia also helps you analyze the performance of your event registration forms. You can access all your reports and dashboards in a centralized location to easily track registrations, view attendance, and monitor sales and payments. It also syncs directly with your event CRM for even more insights.
This feature was especially useful for Pernod Ricard, one of the largest wine and spirits sellers in the world. When working with Eventtia, the company used the attendee information collected by the platform and connected it to their CRM. This provided valuable insights that Pernod Ricard used for remarketing campaigns and to personalize communication efforts.
You can read more about how Pernod Ricard scaled its event strategy with Eventtia here.
Create a Stronger Brand with a Custom Event Website
Eventtia can also help you create an event website to market your event, raise awareness, provide key information to potential attendees, and act as a central hub for all event details. A well-made event website can also help increase registrations. In fact, research shows that 80% of event marketers use a website to drive registrations for their virtual events.
The Eventtia platform makes it easy for anyone to design a branded website thanks to its drag-and-drop editor. It offers several structure and format options, unique templates, and gives you advanced customization tools.
A company that made great use of this website feature was Netmind, which used Eventtia to manage the virtual experience of its event. A big part of this success was using Eventtia to build a multi-language website to be as inclusive as possible and reach more people.
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Overall:
"Eventtia's flexible platform allows us to fully customize our events, integrating key features directly into our website."
Olivier Dutel
Les Artisans Du Changement
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to host larger or more complex events, Google Forms may not be enough. Instead, consider using a full-featured event registration platform like Eventtia. It helps you manage payments, track important analytics, streamline the registration process, and create a branded website to attract more participants.
Whether you’re planning your first event or your hundredth, Eventtia can help you deliver a smooth and professional experience, without the stress. Try it today and see the difference.
