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Registration Tips
Aside from the initial information that a person
may see about your event,
registration is the first actual contact a
registrant or potential registrant
will have with you. If you want a happy
attendee, this process
should be handled
efficiently and pleasantly. Many an event attendee has
developed a feeling of
overall dissatisfaction with an event based solely on how
registration was handled!
Remember the old adage: "You have
only one time to make a first impression!"
The methods of getting information out about your
event has changed considerably
in the past few years, with more and more of the invitations being sent by
email.
A .pdf file is a great way to send your event announcement, since .pdf files are
accepted pretty much universally via email now. Another frequent method
used
to get your event announcement out there is a "save the date" card which should
contain the basic information about your event and note a link to a web site for
more complete information. Online registration is the way to go!!
Information materials for your event
should describe - CLEARLY - the event name,
location, date(s), time(s), various
optional events - and cost.
Believe it or not, I have had people phone in
and say "I received this flier (or email)
for an event and it looks really
interesting -- but I can't figure out the name of the
event - or even where or
when it is!"
A variety of other information, (how to get there, parking, local accommodations, suggested dress,
web sites
for area information) can be included as well OR posted on a web site and not in
your
announcement materials as they will only affect those who actually register for
your event.
If you are mailing out fliers for your event and if
that flier will contain a registration form
that can be mailed or faxed in, your registration form should be clear and
concise,
requesting from the registrant all the information you need to track
for the management of your event.
Don't clutter up the form with details
of the hows and whys of your registration -
put those details elsewhere.
The registration form should be for the registrant to
provide YOU with the
information that YOU need to record.
For your printed registration form (yes, some people
still prefer to register by mail or fax!)
don't put any "shadow" graphics
within the body of the registration
form as people often will copy a form, fill
it out, and
fax it - and those cute little gray
shadow effects become quite dark when
copied then faxed!
A hint - make a copy of the form, fill it out, and fax
it to yourself to see how it will come across.
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