Whether it’s in-person or online, most attendees don’t think about the weeks and months of hard work that went into making an event happen.

After countless meetings about budgets, venues, speakers, and schedules, the big moment finally arrives: Registration is open. Your email list has been notified, social media posts are up, maybe even a campaign is running — and yet, registrations are trickling in slowly.

A frustrating reality many organizers know all too well.

The issue isn’t usually your event itself. More often, it's a lack of strategy or messaging that fails to connect with your target audience.

And with the rise of hybrid and virtual events, the competition for your audience’s attention is fiercer than ever.

That’s why it's essential to stand out — and make the registration experience a moment that already gets people excited for what’s to come.

While there’s no one-size-fits-all recipe for registration success, we’ve gathered our top tips to help you drive traffic to your registration page and improve your event ROI.

Choosing the right event registration software

The right tool saves you time, keeps things organized, and helps you maximize conversion rates.

Here’s how to choose the right solution for your needs.

Define your event goals

What are you hoping to achieve?

Every event format — from product launches and conferences to internal meetings and galas — has its own set of priorities and KPIs.

Define your goals as clearly as possible and think through the tools and features you’ll need before, during, and after the event to reach them. Be sure to consider insights from previous events, as well as feedback from attendees and your team.

Questions to ask:

• Why am I hosting this event?
• Who is my ideal attendee?
• What do they expect?
• What do I expect?

Examples of event goals:

• Boost registration numbers
• Lower cost per attendee
• Raise brand or product awareness
• Generate leads
• Sell products or services

Set your event budget

Once your goals are defined, it’s time to plan your resources.

Virtual and hybrid formats can help reduce costs by bundling multiple features — such as registration — into one platform. Physical events may require additional tools or third-party integrations.

Start your research

When you know what you need and how much you can spend, start comparing tools.

Many platforms offer more than just registration — from email marketing and surveys to landing page builders and analytics.

Look for comparison guides on event blogs or portals like Capterra, where real users share their experiences.

Build a registration page that drives conversions

Your registration page can make or break your signup rate.

It’s important to make the registration process as easy as possible and give your site visitors all key information at a glance.

A brief description of the event, speaker details, time, location, and topics should all be presented clearly and concisely.

A prominent value proposition is also essential to communicate the value of your event in a compact and compelling way.

Tips for creating a high-converting registration page:

Keep it short and clear

Use bullet points or short sections instead of long paragraphs. Make it easy to find the key information quickly.

Offer multiple payment options

If you’re charging for tickets, provide various payment options such as credit card, PayPal, or Klarna — whatever your audience prefers.

Provide ticket variations

Give attendees flexibility with early bird pricing, student discounts, premium upgrades, press passes, or free partner tickets. This not only boosts registration but creates a sense of urgency and personalization.

Make it mobile-friendly

Most users browse and register on mobile. Make sure your page looks and works great across all devices.

Add social sharing

Encourage attendees to share their registration on social media right after they sign up. It turns them into ambassadors and helps increase your reach.

Ensure consistent branding

Your design should reflect your brand identity. Use your logo, colors, fonts, and style consistently to build trust and recognition.

Simplify support options

Questions will always come up. Offer a live chat or FAQ section to reduce friction and give attendees quick answers.

Drive more traffic to your registration page

Even the best page won’t convert without visibility.

Here’s how to bring the right audience to your registration form:

Email marketing

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Email is one of the most effective tools to inform, remind, and thank your audience. Use it to share updates, keep engagement high, and reduce no-show rates.

Social media for awareness and support

Your audience is on social — and you should be, too. Use LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok (wherever your personas hang out) to build buzz and answer questions.

Invite your community to engage with content and help spread the word.

Use SEO effectively

Search engine optimization can help your registration page attract long-term, organic traffic. Optimize your content with relevant keywords — but remember, SEO takes time. Plan ahead!

Support with SEA & paid advertising

Paid campaigns offer quick reach. Use PPC ads for high-intent search terms on Google or Bing, and retarget interested users with social ads to drive conversions.

Leverage sponsors and partners

Sponsors and partners can amplify your campaign. Involve them in promotion and treat them as strategic multipliers.

Measure the success of your registration strategy

You can’t optimize what you don’t measure.

Track and evaluate the performance of your registration campaign across multiple touchpoints. Key metrics to monitor:

• Total number of registrations
• Sign-up timing (how early or late people registered)
• Conversion rate of your website or landing page
• Email, SEO & ad campaign performance
• Social sharing & viral reach
• Referrer sources

Analyze what worked — and what didn’t — so you can make smarter decisions for your next event.

Final thoughts

A seamless registration experience is the first step to a successful event.

With the right tools, a thoughtful strategy, and clear communication, you can turn interested prospects into engaged attendees — before your event even begins.

Add a bit of experimentation and a data-driven mindset, and you’ll be well on your way to improving your conversion rates and attendee satisfaction.

At movingimage, our Virtual Events platform is an all-in-one solution for hybrid and virtual events, supporting you from registration through post-event analytics. Ideal for events of any size — from workshops and company meetings to trade fairs.