Feature Requests are Live!

Did you know that Feature Requests are the most powerful way to get your voice heard?

Feature Requests are an excellent method for our development team to have a direct pulse on the needs of customers, and to help make RegOnline more robust and useful. Through the Active Network Customer Portal, RegOnline customers can submit Feature Requests, or vote on existing requests.

To submit a Feature Request:
• Go to RegOnline product page in the Active Network Customer Portal
• Select the “Feature Requests” icon
• Over to the right, you will see a link to new “Idea”
• From this field, you are able to input a Feature Request

What can you expect?
We do our best to accommodate the amount of feature requests that come through the portal, and we greatly appreciate your time in submitting them. Due to the nature of the demand, we try our best to get to all the ideas that are posted.
The ideas that are submitted will be reviewed on a bi-weekly basis by our moderation team for their relevancy and product fit. Ideas that are duplicates, not a fit for our product or too specific will be moved into the “Closed” folder by a moderator. When this happens, the submitter is notified via email.

Ideas that could potentially be included into our product will be left in their list to gather votes and comments. When an idea proves to be valuable enough (based on votes and comments) we will attempt to work it into our release schedule.

Get out the Vote!
To get a feature request heard, vote on one today!
• Go to RegOnline product page in the customer portal
• Select the “Feature Requests”icon
• Read through the existing ideas and simply click on “I like this” to vote on a Feature Request.

NOTE: The feature request you want to add may already exist within the Active Network Customer Portal. Make sure to search for duplicates, and vote on an existing request instead of adding a new one. The more votes for a feature request, the greater chance it has of being incorporated into the development queue.

Have a feature request? Have a question? Check out the Active Network Customer Portal for answers or to give it a try.

Written By: Michelle Nikolayevsky

Special Podcast: Eric Olson on the Tradeshow Guy Blog

Founder of Communication One Exhibits and trade show expert, Tim Patterson, recently viewed a demo of RegOnline. He was so impressed with the product he decided to interview General Manager Eric Olson for a podcast.

Listen to the podcast on Tim’s Tradeshowguy Blog, and learn in more detail about the benefits of using RegOnline.

What do you think of the interview? Let us know by posting a comment below.

Written By: Michelle Nikolayevsky

Smoother Check In is Here!

Onsite Check in just got easier!

Enhance the overall event experience for your attendees! We upgraded the RegOnline Onsite Check in Kiosk this past weekend and smoother, faster and easier check-in is here.

The RegOnline Onsite Kiosk makes it easy to check in attendees with fewer clicks than ever before. Check in attendees by scanning their barcode, which automatically prints badges, in a noticeably more efficient process.

When activating your event, enabling Onsite Check in couldn't be easier.

Highlights of the onsite kiosk include:
• Auto printing capabilities (Removes up to 3 clicks to get badges to print)
• Configuration of scanner to auto-submit the search page
• When searching by reg id; automatically check in and print badges without a single click
• Works in Google Chrome and FireFox versions 4 and higher with Adobe Reader 9/10
• QR Code improvements with Quiet Zone and background colors to increase scanner reliability
• Scanner reliability warning when barcodes are reduced in size from the default

Please note that security settings in Adobe Reader must be configured to allow for auto printing. These can be configured through Adobe Reader preferences.

Anyone can set it up; anyone can use it. Just one more thing to help make onsite processes more efficient, so you can easily remove one more issue onsite.

For your next event, give the updated onsite check in a try and tell us about your experience. We love hearing from you!

Written By: Michelle Nikolayevsky

5 Tips to Avoid a Scary Registration Form

Although it was Halloween on Monday, we can’t help but shutter at the idea of a scary registration form. With that said, here are some tips to avoid a cluttered form:
1. Keep your branding and logos consistent
If you have a logo associated with your company or event, use it for your branding. Theme Designer can help match colors to your logos, making a look and feel that your registrants recognize.
2. Avoid neon!
Neon colors are more distracting than useful. If you make your colors secondary to your content, your registrants will have a much easier time with your online registration.
3. Don’t clutter your space.
Too many images, text and colors can create a form that is hard to follow, and will make it difficult for your registrants to find a true message. Keep it clean, keep it brief, and keep it to the point.
4. Keep your fonts clean and easy to read
There are a variety of fonts that look professional and are easy to read such as Arial or Tahoma. Avoid fonts such as Comic Sans as they can make the form look less professional. Additionally, mixing different fonts creates clutter, so stick to one.
5. Sponsorship Logos
If you have a multitude of sponsors, make the logos the same size, and line them up on the same line. This will guide your registrants eye along and create once again, a clean, appealing space.

Use these tips and it will make all the world of difference. Have a great design idea? Or have a horrific form you’d like to share? Post a comment below.

Written By: Michelle Nikolayevsky

A Twist On Surveys

Guest Post By:
Jessica Marshall, Professional Services
Active Network | Events

Jessica Marshall of RegOnline Professional Services is today’s guest writer. She shares how a client of hers uses the functionality of RegOnline to the fullest.

For the past year, I have been working with a client who uses RegOnline for her event needs.  I’m so impressed by the way she uses her account, I have to share it with you.

We started with the usual. I set up her first two or three registration forms, followed by several rounds of training sessions. This was designed to familiarize her with the moving pieces, so she could take over setup, editing, etc.

Since then, she’s using RegOnline in the most comprehensive way I’ve ever seen.  Together we set up a parent event to display a list of all her currently active seminars. At the conclusion of each seminar, the registrant is sent a follow up email thanking them for attending.  The email includes a link to a seminar feedback survey,

Embedded in the confirmation email of the survey is a merge code that pulls in a personalized certificate for each attendee.  In order to receive the course completion certificate, the attendee is required to complete the survey.

Not only is the client able to provide potential attendees with a comprehensive list of events, she has received 100% feedback by attaching attendee completion certificates to a follow up survey. Additionally, she has saved the cost of printing and mailing certificates, by simply using our badge feature to merge all attendee and event details.

Now THAT’S using ALL that RegOnline has to offer!

To learn more about parent events, surveys, Professional Services or more contact RegOnline today (888) 351-9948.

Written By: Michelle Nikolayevsky

What does RegOnline’s $3.95 get you?

While there are a plethora of event registration and event management companies out there, do you know who to choose?  All offer various pricing, but what is included in that price?

RegOnline costs $3.95 per registration and includes:

1. Unrestricted account access
   • Create as many events as you’d like.
2. Mobile Suite of Services
   • Onsite Mobile Check in, Mobile Registration, Directory Maps and Schedules
3. Customizable Templates
   • Use Theme Designer to make events match colors, logos and branding.
4. Pay As You Go Pricing
   • No contracts no hidden fees
5. Free Access to Help Center
6. Unlimited Free Tech Support
7. Webinars and Teleconferencing
8. Scanning Technology for on-site check in
9. Include different Registrant Types
   • Create as many different registration types as you need to fit your event.
10. Discount Codes
11. Group registration
12. Badges/certificates
    • Create custom badges and certificates
13. PCI Level 1 Security Protection
    • Keeping sensitive information safe
14. Social MediaPromotion Tools
    • Promote event to everyone through Facebook, Twitter and more!
15. Email Invitations
16. Merchandise
    • Incorporate merchandise as part of your online registration experience.
17. Search Venues
    • To host your event
    • For accommodations for guests
18. Access to the RegOnline eMarketing Center
    • Educational tools and tips to enhance your event.

We are continually developing additional features to provide a robust experience, to create more value for our customers.  If you are looking to add more, there are a number of additional features including surveys, donation forms, Professional Services, and more that can be incorporated for an additional price.

Have a question?  Leave it below, or contact an Account Manager for details today.

Written By: Michelle Nikolayevsky

4 Helpful RegOnline Resources for Event Planners

Looking to learn more about your event? Have a question? There are many educational opportunities, both formal and informal, within RegOnline.

1.Free Webinars

The RegOnline team of Technical Sales Consultants conduct live training sessions on a weekly basis, providing helpful tips for new and seasoned event organizers alike.

• Every Wednesday, join in for a free Event Build Training. This webinar provides an overview of setting up forms, creating different agenda types, and walks you through the registration process start to finish.
• Every other Thursday, the team conducts training sessions with an attendee management focus. Reporting, refunds, labels, badges and much more are discussed.

Sign up for a Webinar Today!

2. Event Technology Seminars (ETS)

A few weeks back, we referenced the Event Technology Seminars commonly known as,  “ Lunch and Learns”. Our ETS team travels the country to educate existing and potential customers on how technology makes life easier while boosting event ROI.
Check out our schedule to find an Event Technology Seminar in your area!

3.LinkedIn

A widely known fact: we learn just as much from others as we do in a classroom. The Event Technology Group on LinkedIn is a forum for discussion with other event organizers. Post a question for peers to answer, learn about new industry trends, and build a network of colleagues. Join the Event Technology Group, to start discussing industry topics and trends with other event planners.

4.Professional Services

Need more? Hire the expertise of RegOnline Professional Services.

The Professional Services team provides consulting services for every stage of your event. The trained team can help create an effective online registration form, guide you through the process, and even be there on site.  Professional Services is the team to have on your side.

Have a great event education resource? Let us know what works for you!

Written By: Michelle Nikolayevsky

5 Great Uses for Badges

Name badges are more than a “Hello” sticker with a name written in magic marker.

Here are five great uses for RegOnline badges:

1) Add a bar code or QR code to your badges.

A bar code is useful for onsite check-in.  It is also helpful for both event organizers and attendees to scan bar codes in order to exchange virtual business cards.

A QR code is an excellent tool for attendees to learn more about an event. It stores additional information without taking up space, and can be scanned easily from any smartphone through downloadable apps such as Red Laser (iphone) and QRDroid (Android). You can configure a QR code through the RegOnline badge tool.

2) Unique Indentifier

Use a badge as a unique identifier for attendees ! Incorporate attendee ID numbers on a badge for VIP or regular sessions, auctions and more.

3) Badges are a Time Saver

In recent releases, we made enhancements to our badge printing process. Now badges print faster, allowing an event organizer to spend less time printing and more time on other important things.

4) Badges Can be More

Use the custom fields enabled for badges to create certificates, or use the same information as a ticket to get into an event.

5) Lead Retrieval

RegOnline, through a partnership with Swiftium, provides scanning services for lead retrieval. If organizing a large event with exhibitors, provide them the option of renting a Blackberry scanning device to get attendee information. The scanned info is stored in a secure database and is accessible after the event. This service is perfect for getting quality leads from an event. *

*Contact an account manager, (888) 351-9948, today if you are interested in learning more about Lead Retrieval.

Tell us how you use your badges, by writing a comment below, writing on our Facebook page or posting a Tweet.

Written By: Michelle Nikolayevsky

Guest Post: Can One Person Really Do it All?

Guest Post By:
Andrew Steiner, Senior Marketing Manager
Active Network | Events

This is the second post from Andrew Steiner, Senior Marketing Manager for RegOnline. Andrew draws upon the daily experience of setting up our Event Technology Seminars, and how RegOnline makes it possible for his colleague Justin Gritzmacher to single handedly manage it all.

My colleague and I have run more than 75 events (three since my last post) with another 20-25 events before year’s end. These hour and half “lunch and learns” are designed to educate event organizers on different technologies that could expand the size of their events, help them manage more efficiently and intelligently, and build lasting relationships with their attendees.

Did you know that all of these events can be managed by one person thanks to RegOnline?

My colleague, Justin Gritzmacher, is responsible for organizing our events from start to finish. While he books venues, plans meals, and works onsite, he is also responsible for filling the room for each event.

At any given moment, Justin is working on the various stages of multiple events. We generally run three-four events every week, with 50 registrations each. On an average day Justin is working with registrants, sending out invitations for an event, sending out reminders for another, collecting post-event survey data from attendees, and compiling a report on the success of our events as a whole. Justin is doing all of this for events that run back to back, continuously throughout the year. There is a ton of information to keep straight and lots of little tasks that must get done.

And through 78 events, Justin hasn’t asked for help once. He is still doing it all on his own. This may not be that impressive to some, but many organizers are responsible for their events from start to finish. Many are inundated with a workload similar to Justin’s, not seeing how it is possible for one person to run all of these events on his own.

I am sure you are thinking that he must spend countless hours printing out name badges and preparing emails. But the truth is he doesn’t. Justin uses RegOnline to efficiently and intelligently manage events. Instead of using one system to send out emails and another to track attendees and compile survey data, Justin uses RegOnline to do it all. This allows him to cut out much of the busy work, and frees him for more important tasks like working with vendors or identifying ways to improve the attendee experience.

If you think about it, most of the busy work organizers deal with on a daily basis is actually created when separate systems are used to manage an event. The logistics coordinating multiple systems creates more busy work than actual value, and organizers and pulls them away from what they do best; designing a great event and providing a terrific experience for attendees.

Through RegOnline, Justin is able to get a lot more done in much less time through email and survey tools, attendee databases and reporting features. When he wants to send a reminder email for an upcoming event, he doesn’t have to upload email addresses. The system knows which registrants to email based, and almost every email he sends is automated. This  frees him up from having to worry about them before and after each event.

Putting together reports is easy because all data is housed in place. No more importing or exporting when it’s time to build a report. And because RegOnline is web based, Justin can access it from wherever he is using mobile devices. This allows him to get up to the second accurate information from his reports on the fly.

Using RegOnline has allowed Justin to cut out most of the busy work that organizers typically deal with, and made it possible for him to organize all 78 events by himself.

Now, if you are an event organizer that hasn’t had the opportunity to work with a centralized event management system, I strongly suggest that you give it a shot. To learn more or to sign in for a free test account, visit RegOnline today.

Written By: Michelle Nikolayevsky

Event Directories

Did you know you can create directories within RegOnline?

Directories allow for registrants to see registrants for an event and can be placed on an event website, confirmation page, or smart linked or exported.

There are two types of directories: Public/Unlocked, and Locked Directory.
A public directory is good for any potential event registrants to see who has already signed up. Through this setting, anyone can click on a link within the directory to see a list of registrants. Regardless of fields the event organizer chooses to put in a public directory, no personal information will be shown other than the name and company or an attendee.

A locked directory is a directory with a security setting. An event organizer can lock a directory, so that potential registrants can only see the list of attendees after registering. If the event organizer chooses to enable a locked directory on the confirmation page, a registrant will have to log in (with the email/password combination he used to register) to see the directory. Once in the system, the registrant can see all fields enabled for view by the event organizer.

To set up a directory:

On the main event page, select the Attendee Directory page. Under the General Tab, enter the name of the Directory. Under the fields tab, select the fields you would like to include within the directory.

Under Links and Security, choose the options that best fit the directory needs and hit OK.

And then you are all set! Here are some examples of what public and locked directories look like.

A public directory.

This is what a locked directory looks like to a registrant, after logging in.

Written By: Michelle Nikolayevsky