Do you currently run or plan to run events that need managing bookings or registrations, such as workshops, community courses, not-for-profit fundraisers, social conferences, or even a large-scale event such as an art exhibition, a sporting or religious event, or any kind of event where people need to register to attend or participate?
Managing event sign-ups can be a complex process. You will probably have to manage scheduling, date availability, attendee numbers, data collection and admin, collecting payments and sending invoices, confirmations, reminders, cancellations … perhaps even accommodating special needs and issuing tickets to participants.
There are lots of advantages to setting up an automated online event registration system. It can streamline your business processes, save time and lower expenses, help you easily copy settings for repeat events, give you more control, create a better user experience and increase your sales.
The problem is that setting this up can be very expensive.
Fortunately, if you own a WordPress-powered site, you can easily install an inexpensive and professional web-based event registration system.
Announcing …
Event Espresso – WordPress Event Management And Registration Software
Plugin Description
The Event Espresso online event registration plugin for WP lets you easily schedule your event and begin accepting bookings in minutes.
(Event Espresso lets you set up multiple events and receive online event bookings)
Event Espresso is a feature-packed software that gives you complete control over the event registration management process.
Create custom registration forms
You can use multiple event registration strategies, from simple online registration and straight up ticket sales, to creating custom registration forms in order to better understand your participants, or integrating your event bookings with an autoresponder system for ongoing notifications.
Access detailed information about your event attendees
Important: At the time of writing this review, Event Espresso offers two different versions of their plugin: EE 3 and EE 4. The new EE 4 is considerably different than the older EE 3, as the plugin is being redeveloped using a different structure to enable future growth and expansion. The Event Espresso 4 plugin software has different features, user interface, data structure, coding method and pricing. The company plans to eventually move completely to EE 4, so keep this in mind as you learn more about this plugin.
Go here to learn more about the plugin:
Benefits
Here are just some of the benefits and advantages of using Event Espresso to manage event registrations on your web site:
Automated Event Registration Management
Event Espresso provides you with everything you need to turn your existing online presence into a fully-featured event management website … from custom registration forms and automated emails, to attendee limits, multiple pricing options and discount codes, to printable tickets and even seating charts.
Better Business Productivity
By using a web-based event registration system like Event Espresso, you save time and improve your business productivity by literally eliminating the need to process registrations and bookings manually.
Essentially, you are facilitating participants to enroll on their own.
Allowing your enrollees to do the data entry frees up your time and lets you direct more of your energy on creating a more unique event.
Complete Control Over The User Experience
As you will see in a moment, Event Espresso gives you more control over the event management and booking process that you want your customers to experience.
Some additional benefits include the following:
- Lower Costs: The Event Espresso plugin gives you a very inexpensive online event registration management solution compared to developing your own solution or using a third-party service. The cost is kept low by using a model where Event Espresso users buy the core plugin (which suits the needs of most users) and purchase optional add-ons only if you need extra features.
- Higher Sales: Event Espresso lets you accept new signups 24 hrs a day. Not only that, but, Event Espresso social sharing features (see below) let people who are interested in registering for your event share your information with friends who may also be interested in attending.
- Green & Paperless Event Booking Process: With Event Espresso, your event signup process remains entirely online, reducing traditional paper consumption from tasks associated with administration.
- Own Your Information. You own all the information you obtain from event attendees.
Event Espresso Features
Event Espresso delivers functionality to its users via built-in features (these come with the software) and optional features that you can purchase, called add-ons.
Event Espresso offers many features to WP users. Here are just a few:
- Fast and simple to install and configure. Ready to start accepting registrations in very little time.
- Custom Event Registration Forms. With Event Espresso you can gather unique data using custom event registration forms on your web pages to create a customized experience for your attendees.
- Customizable Event Designs. Match your web site’s design for your events and signup page using Event Espresso’s template options and parts, and HTML or CSS.
- Ticket Selector. Present multiple ticket options to prospects and let them choose the ticket(s) that best suits their needs.
- Custom Post Types. You can Event Espresso into your WordPress theme and display attendee data throughout other areas of your site.
- Default Price Types. Price types let you create new prices that adjust the default ticket pricing for the default ticket.
- Mobile Ticketing Apps. The Event Espresso mobile registration system allows you to validate tickets, speed up in-venue registrations, set up various check-in “stations” and track attendees.
- Event Check-In List. Generate a list of event registrants and check-in those who attend.
- Administrative Pre-approval. Be selective about who can attend your events.
- Public Commenting. Add social engagement to your events by allowing potential customers to interact with you online via commenting and past customers to post comments that can help others consider whether or not to register. Moderation settings for commenting are set up using the WP commenting system.
- Search Engine Friendly Page URLs. Keyword rich event page Web links take advantage of your WordPress site’s Permalinks configuration settings. SEO-friendly permalinks that have relevant keywords add to the context of your pages and is favored by search engines, helping you bring more traffic to your events.
- Easy Event Management. Event Espresso puts event managers in complete control of all aspects of your event’s registration and ticketing processes, and also allows you to automate this process with event management tools that include staff and venue management, custom event page designs, payment processing, wait lists, limits on attendees, print-ready ticketing and more.
- Exportable Data. You can output all the data gathered from your event attendees into Excel or CSV format for creating advanced reports, devising marketing strategies, reviewing attendee statistics, etc..
- WP Visual Editor. Event Espresso uses the built-in WP Visual editor, so you can quickly and easily insert images and create your event descriptions without having to learn HTML or CSS, just like any typical WP post.
- One-Click Software Installation Updates. Event Espresso provides simple 1-click plugin upgrades to make sure that you have the latest features and to keep your installation compatible with new versions of WordPress.
- Social Sharing. Event attendees and site visitors can help publicize your event using social media share buttons.
- Categorize Events. If you have several different types of events such as free and paid, conference speakers and breakout sessions, different kinds of courses, etc. you can categorize them to make it easier for event attendees to locate what they’re searching for. You can list all the events in a category on a custom event category page, make the events searchable by category, and color-code your events on the Event Espresso events calendar to make them easier to find, in addition to suggesting other events in the categories that interest your existing customers.
Extra features include:
- Object-Oriented Programming. Event Espresso is simple enough for basic WP users, and also robust and customizable for higher end users and web developers. The bottom line is that by using Object-oriented programming (OOP), EE 4 makes possible more complex extensions and customizations to the plugin.
- Full Logging, Remote Logging. Event Espresso 4 allows you to generate a log file with debugging data that can be helpful for web developers who are potential errors.
- Flexibility, Autonomy And Value: According to the philosophy stated on their web site, Event Espresso’s aim is to “empower business and organization leaders with the event registration, ticketing and management tools that maximize the success of events.” To achieve their mission, the software has been built using a model that provides users with great autonomy and flexibility and delivers value for money in the process.
The premium edition of Event Espresso also provides you with 40+ added features, including:
- Duplicating events – streamlines the work of re-entering event information when creating new events.
- Question groups that simplify the process of reusing a common set of questions for similar events.
- Category titles and descriptions on event listings.
Event Espresso Add-Ons
As mentioned previously, Event Espresso provides “add-ons”, which allow software users to significantly enhance the capabilities of events.
Some of these add-ons include:
- Events Vector Maps Template Addon: The Vector Maps custom events list template allows you to display the upcoming events by location. 4 maps are currently available: USA, UK, Canada and Australia.
- Recurring Events Drop-down Custom Template Add-on: The Recurring Events Drop-down custom template lets you organize multiple datetime events into a drop-down list.
- Events Calendar Table Template Addon: The Calendar Table template is a list template with a bold date and customizable “register now” button. The template can be customized to display an event thumbnail image instead of a date.
- Social Media Buttons Add-on: The social media add-on displays Facebook, Twitter and Google+ buttons in your events. The Social Media addon is included free with all of the Event Espresso support licenses.
- Custom Files Add on: The Custom Files addon lets you override certain aspects of the plugin.
- Seating Chart Add on: The seating chart add-on is for venues and events that sell and reserve seats for attendees in advance. This is perfect for venues and events such as theaters, concert halls, play houses, sports arenas and stadiums. The Seating Chart add on allows you to promote reserved or assigned seating to your events and venues from your WordPress website. The Seating Chart add-on lets you manage the environment for your attendees and design assigned seating charts and attach single prices to each seat.
- EE4 Event Ticketing & Bar Scanning Add-on: The Ticketing add-on gives you the ability to generate tickets with bar codes. The Bar Scanning add on gives you the capacity to scan ticket barcodes. The ticketing add on includes the ability to customize event tickets. Multiple barcode types are included for handling check-in scans at venues. Attendees can either print out their tickets or display them on their mobile devices. The barcode scanner can be used for checking in or checking out attendees and to validate tickets.
- EE4 Events Table Template Add-on: The Events Table Template addon provides event managers with a simple and easy-to-use system that lets you change the look and feel of your event lists. It comes with a simple table template with category filters, table search, table paging and more. It also allows web developers to design custom templates using one of the included templates as a base template.
- JSON API Addon: The new Event Espresso JSON API add on allows other applications, web sites, mobile applications, etc… to access your Event Espresso content through an Application Programming Interface (API).
Note: Event Espresso regularly adds new features and improvements to its plugin, including new add-ons.
For complete details about the latest Event Espreso features and addons, visit the plugin website:
User Feedback
Below are some of the many testimonials that satisfied customers have posted about Event Espresso:
”I can’t even imagine what I would want the plugin to do that it doesn’t already do. I’m really happy with the features.” Jim Harmer
”I recently downloaded it to add to a nonprofit site for a Boy Scout troop and the features work wonderfully with what we wanted to accomplish for the site. It allows us to set up calendar, events, and even take payments for trips. At first, I thought that it would be overkill for such a small site, but now I see the possibilities and will definitely be offering Event Espresso to my clients that need an event organization system for their web sites.” Lucy Conn, Troop 462
”You guys have done an AWESOME job with this system…promise me to keep up the excellent work you guys are doing, for as long as you can… Respect!” Robert Jarnroth, Jarnroth Digital Productions
Plugin Tips
Whether you are an education services provider, trainer, conference planner, or event professional, there are just unlimited possibilities of what you can do with the Event Espresso software.
After purchasing your copy of the plugin and becoming a registered user, go through the forums for inspiration and practical suggestions to improve your event management and registration workflow or improve the experience of your event customers.
Product Support
Event Espresso works with with all WordPress plugins and WP themes that follow WordPress coding standards. If you have problems with the plugin, however, you will find that Event Espresso provides highly responsive technical support, as many of its users attest:
”By far, the customer service experience with Event Espresso has been the best of any WordPress Theme or Paid Plugin that I’ve used in the past two years!” Megan Murray, Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe
Event Espresso provides comprehensive support that includes access to a support forum, in-depth online documentation with faqs, knowledgebase and how tos, priority support and even a monthly VIP member pass that gives you access to community of developers, designers, event managers, publishers and webmasters that use Event Espresso tools, plus faster support response times.
Additionally, Event Espresso boasts an established team of experienced WordPress developers with a solid track record of support, so this is definitely a plugin you can depend on to organize and manage your events.
Plugin Cost
Event Espresso is available in a range of editions, including a FREE basic edition (called Event Espresso Decaf). For support and advanced software options, however, you need to consider downloading one of the ”Pro” plugin versions below:
- Personal Edition – This enables you to set up Event Espresso on 1 site only. Pricing includes 51+ Premium features, (add ons sold separately) and 1 year of upgrades and support. Price = $69.95.
- Everything Licensing – This enables you to run Event Espresso on one site only. It includes 51+ Premium features, 29 Premium add ons and 1 year of upgrades and support. Cost = $279.95.
- Developer License – This enables you to configure Event Espresso on five domains. Price includes 51+ Premium features, (addons sold separately) and 1 year of upgrades and support. Cost = $249.95.
Current pricing for the Event Espresso plugin depends on whether there are any promotions or limited-time specials being offered. Currently, the plugin sells for the prices shown above. Check the plugin’s website for the current pricing details: Event Espresso – Event Registration And Ticketing Management
Note: The pricing above was current at the time this article was written. This may or may not be the actual price charged by the plugin developer when you visit the website.
Event Espresso – Additional Information
Event Espresso regularly adds new features and improvements to the plugin. Make sure to register for their newsletter when you visit their site to receive the latest information and updates.
Use the software’s online documentation tools for answers to common questions about setting up and how to use Event Espresso, and the support forums for questions related to your specific situation, or to notify developers about issues and leave feedback.
For detailed installation and support documentation, demos, downloads, videos, tutorials, FAQ and more, visit the Event Espresso website.
Our Recommendation
Event Espresso is the leading WP event booking and ticketing manager software, used and trusted by thousands.
If you are a WordPress site owner and you plan to run any event that requires managing dates, times and venues, enrolling participants, and selling tickets or seating, then you will probably not find a better solution for your needs than Event Espresso.
To learn more, check out the plugin here: Event Espresso – Event Manager & Ticket Registration Plugin For WordPress
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