Do you currently run or plan to run events that require co-ordinating bookings, such as workshops, community classes, non-profit fund-raisers, social functions, or even a big event like a festival, a sporting or religious event, or any kind of event where people need to register to attend or participate?
Managing event bookings is a time-consuming process. You will probably need to manage calendar schedules, available dates and seating, registration numbers, data entry, payments and sending invoices, confirmations, reminders and notifications, refunds and cancellations … perhaps even accommodating special requests and providing tickets to participants.
There are lots of benefits to setting up an online event registration system. It can streamline your business processes, save time and lower expenses, help you easily replicate similar events, give event managers more control, create a better user experience and increase your sales.
The problem is that setting up an online event booking system can be expensive.
The good news is that if you run a WordPress-based website, you can set up an inexpensive and highly professional online event booking system.
Announcing …
Event Espresso – Event Registration And Ticket Management
Plugin Description
The Event Espresso online event registration WordPress plugin allows you to easily schedule an event and start accepting registrations literally in a few minutes.
(Set up multiple events and process online registrations with Event Espresso)
Event Espresso is a flexible and feature-packed application that gives you full control over the event registration management process.
Event Espresso lets you customize registration forms
You can employ multiple event registration strategies, from simple online enrollments and straight up selling tickets, to creating custom registration forms for collecting detailed information about your event attendees, or integrating your event bookings with an autoresponder system for ongoing notifications.
Access detailed information about event attendees
Please Note: At the time of writing this article, Event Espresso is transitioning between two different versions of their plugin: Event Espresso 3 and Event Espresso 4. The new Event Espresso 4 is completely different than the older Event Espresso 3, as the platform is being rebuilt using a different structure to enable future growth and expansion. The EE 4 plugin platform has different features, user interface, data structure, coding method and pricing. The developers aim to eventually transition completely to EE 4, so keep this in mind as you learn more about the benefits and advantages of using the plugin.
Go here to learn more about the plugin:
Benefits
Here are just a few of the benefits of using Event Espresso to manage event registrations on your website or blog:
Hands-Free Event Registration Management And Ticketing System
Event Espresso provides you with everything you need to turn your existing web site into a feature-rich and professional event management website … from custom registration forms and automated emails, to maximum seating limits, multiple pricing options and discount codes, to printable tickets and even seating charts.
Increased Business Productivity
By using a web-based event registration system like Event Espresso, you save time and improve your business productivity by practically eliminating the chore of processing registrations and signups manually.
Essentially, you are making it easier for participants to complete the enrollment process themselves.
Letting your participants to do the data themselves frees up your time and lets you invest more time on organizing a more enjoyable event.
Complete Control Over The User Experience
As you will soon learn, Event Espresso gives you complete control over the event management and booking process that you want your customers to experience.
Some additional benefits include the following:
- Less Costs: Event Espresso provides you with an inexpensive online event registration management solution compared to building your own software or using a 3rd party service provider. This is made possible by using a model where you purchase the core plugin (which suits the needs of most users) and then buy add-ons when you need new features.
- Increased Sales: With Event Espresso you can accept online signups outside normal business hours. Not only that, but, Event Espresso social features (see below) let people who are interested in attending your event share your information with others who may also be interested.
- Paperless Event SignUp Process: With Event Espresso, the event registration process can be transacted wholly online, significantly reducing traditional paper consumption from tasks related to enrollment.
- All Data Belongs To You. You control all the information you collect from event attendees.
Features
The Event Espresso plugin delivers functionality to its users via standard features (these are included with the plugin) and optional features that users can purchase, called add-ons.
Event Espresso provides many built-in to site owners. Here are just some of these:
- Quick and easy to install and configure. Ready to use in no time.
- Multiple Ticket And Pricing Options. Event Espresso allows you to set up as many different types of tickets as you need and specify prices, limits on ticket quantities, and more.
- Customizable Event Designs. Match your site’s look and feel for your events and enrollments page using Event Espresso’s template options and elements, and HTML and/or CSS.
- Tax Administration. Event Espresso 4 provides a number of options to manage taxes for your event and report tax fee components to registrants when purchasing tickets. You can administer taxes globally and on a per-ticket basis.
- Google Maps. Google Maps integration enables event managers to configure the display settings of Google Maps on the event listing and event details sections.
- Default Prices. Create events fast with pre-configured default prices.
- Discount And Promotional Codes. You can leverage promotional and multiple discount codes to encourage prospects to register now, or make your events more attractive for others. This is also practical for helping to sell out events close to deadlines.
- Event Check-In List. Generate a list of attendees and confirm everyone who attends.
- Admin Pre-approval. Be selective about who can participate in your events.
- Public Commenting. Add “social proof” by allowing potential attendees to interact with you online via commenting and previous participants to post comments that can help others choose whether or not to register. Moderation settings for commenting are set using the WP native commenting section.
- Works With The Most Recent WP Version. The EE 4 user interface follows the WordPress guidelines to help you build beautifully-designed event pages that are easier to use and mobile-friendly.
- Country Settings. You can configure the country and currency settings to be used in your events, including currency, currency signs, decimal characters and places, country codes, states or provinces, and so on.
- Default Tickets. If you find yourself creating similar tickets for your events, you can set one of those tickets as your default ticket for your new events simply by checking a box.
- Register Multiple Event Attendees. EE 4 allows an individual or a group to pay for multiple tickets and different ticket types at the same time. You can control how many people can enrol in one session by specifying either limits on ticket purchases per order, or per-ticket minimums and maximums.
- 1-Click Software Updates. Event Espresso offers simple one-click upgrading to make sure that you have the latest features and to keep your software installation compatible with new versions of WordPress.
- Staff Management. Save time and keep your data organized by reusing staff profiles for multiple events or displaying profile information such as team member’s contact information, resume and photo using a shortcode in your event description.
- Attendee Reporting. Event reporting gives you data of all of your registrations and transactions, enabling you to track the performance of your events with the aggregate number of registrations and how much money has been collected.
Additional features include:
- Hooks, Actions & Filters. These features allow developers to implement safer and more reliable customizations and extensions to the Event Espresso software that are fully compatible with the WordPress development platform.
- Control Box Management & Reorganization. Event Espresso leverages the WordPress user interface, which brings the ability to reorganize the user interface to suit your workflow process. Each control box can be collapsed, re-arranged or deleted from the workflow configuration.
- Autonomy, Flexibility And Value: According to the mission statement on their web site, Event Espresso’s objective is to “empower business and organization leaders with the event registration, ticketing and management tools that maximize the success of events.” To achieve their objectives, the company operates on a modular that provides users with great autonomy and flexibility and delivers value for money as a result.
The premium edition of Event Espresso also includes 40+ additional features, including:
- Live-filtering when you search for events inside the Event Espresso admin.
- Default surcharge (the same as adding a service fee to tickets).
- Category titles and descriptions on event listing pages.
Addons
In addition to an incredible range of features, Event Espresso provides “addons”, which allow you to significantly expand the capabilities of managing an event.
Some of these add ons include:
- Events Vector Maps Template Add on: The Vector Maps custom events list template allows you to display scheduled events by location. 4 maps are currently available: USA, UK, Canada and Australia.
- Recurring Events Manager Addon: The Recurring Events management add-on lets you put your events on autopilot by scheduling repeated events weeks or months … even years ahead. You can add as many classes, meetings, courses and conferences in the future as you want. Event Espresso will automatically open and close bookings for all recurring events.
- 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 also be customized to display an event thumbnail instead of the date.
- Social Coupons Integration Add on: If your site uses Groupon.com you can easily accept Groupon codes to your events. You can even specify whether events accept the social coupons or not.
- Custom Files Addon: The Custom Files add-on lets you bypass 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 for venues and events such as theaters, concert halls, play houses, sports arenas and stadiums. The Seating Chart addon lets you offer reserved or assigned seating to your events and venues directly from your WordPress site. The Seating Chart add-on lets you control the experience for your attendees and design assigned seating charts and attach single prices to each seat.
- Event Ticketing Add on: The Ticketing add on gives you the ability to create tickets with bar codes. The Bar Scanning add on adds the capacity to scan ticket bar codes. The ticketing addon includes the ability to customize event tickets. Multiple barcode types are included for handling check-in scans at the venue door. People can either print out their tickets or display them on their mobile devices. The mobile app can be used for checking in or checking out registrants and to validate tickets.
- Events Calendar Addon: This WordPress events calendar displays events and categories of events using a nice graphical calendar.
- JSON API Add-on: The new Event Espresso JSON API add on gives permission for other applications, websites, mobile applications, etc… to access your Event Espresso data through an API (Application Programming Interface).
Note: Event Espresso regularly adds new features and improvements to its software, including new add-ons.
For more details about the newest Event Espreso features and add-ons, check out the plugin here:
Customer Feedback
Below are some of the many testimonials that users have written about Event Espresso:
“It is a very, very slick plugin. It’s one of those plugins where you install it, change a couple of settings, and boom you’re selling tickets.” Brad Williams, WebDevStudios
”I searched long and hard to find something that would serve my needs. This is, by far, the most complete and comprehensive solution I have found.” Bill Hepper, We Teach Live
”I am in love with your product, I work with many educational institutions that hold classes/events and I will definitely recommend this to all of them, the only time I have seen a system this comprehensive and sophisticated is when an organization I worked with paid a programmer nearly $8,000 for a custom solution, and yet still there are features in your registration system that his didn’t have. Thank you so much for your help and patience.” Abdullah J.
Event Espresso Tips
Whether you are a motivational speaker, teacher, event promoter, or event management consultant, there are just endless possibilities of what you can do with the Event Espresso software.
After purchasing the plugin and becoming a licensed owner, visit the support forum for useful ideas and practical suggestions to improve your event management workflow or enhance the experience of your participants.
Product Support
Event Espresso works with with other WP plugins and WordPress themes that follow standard WP development rules. If you experience issues with the plugin, however, you will find that Event Espresso provides great customer support, as many of its users confirm:
”These guys are right on any problem or issue or even general questions. You can’t really put a value high enough on the kind of support these guys offer.” Mark Wigston, Muskoka Graphics
Event Espresso provides comprehensive support that includes access to a support forum, comprehensive online documentation with faqs, knowledge base and how tos, email support and even a monthly VIP member pass giving 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 a well-staffed team of experienced WordPress developers with a proven track record of support, so this is definitely a plugin you can depend on to manage your events.
Product Price
Event Espresso is available in a number of plugin editions, including a FREE basic edition (referred to as Event Espresso Decaf). For personal support and advanced software features, however, you need to consider downloading one of the ”Pro” plugin editions below:
- Personal Edition – This option enables you to run Event Espresso on one site only. Includes 51+ Premium features, (addons sold separately) and one year of upgrades and support. Cost = $69.95.
- Everything License – This allows you to install Event Espresso on 1 site only. Includes 51+ Premium features, 29 Premium addons and one year of upgrades and support. Cost = $279.95.
- Developer Licensing – This edition lets you run Event Espresso on five sites. Includes 51+ Premium features, (add ons sold separately) and one year of upgrades and support. Cost = $249.95.
The cost to purchase the Event Espresso plugin depends on whether there are any promotions or limited-time specials being offered. Currently, the plugin is selling for the amounts shown above. Check the plugin’s website for current pricing details: Event Espresso – Event Registration & Ticket Manager
Note: The above reflects the pricing when this article was written. This may not be the actual price charged by the plugin author when you visit the site.
Event Espresso – Additional Plugin Information
The Event Espresso development team is continually adding new features and improvements to its software. Make sure to stay subscribed to their customer update list to receive the latest information and updates.
Look up the software’s documentation tools for answers to common questions about setup and using Event Espresso, and the support forums for questions related to a particular situation, or to notify developers about issues and give feedback.
For all documentation, demos, downloads, videos, tutorials, FAQ and more, visit the Event Espresso product information pages.
We Recommend
Event Espresso is the preferred WP event registration and ticketing management software, used by thousands of WordPress website owners.
If you own a WordPress-powered site and you intend to run events that require scheduling dates and venues (offline and online), booking attendees, or selling tickets, then you will probably not find a more suitable solution for your needs than Event Espresso.
For complete details, visit the plugin website: Event Espresso – WordPress Event Management And Ticket Registration Plugin
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