Jun 21, 2021

Tracks to reopening: Self-check-in

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With hybrid and inperson events on the calendar for 2022, how are you going to handle registration when you need to maintain a safe distance? And what can self-registration mean for your event – from volunteer to venue space needs – when social distancing isn’t a safety concern anymore? 

Guests and staff want face time at an event

Of course they do! But whose time is best spent in line?  

Your guests should be spending time perusing your auction or buying raffle tickets. Most galas, golf outings, and luncheons have limited time outside of the program or activity. Allowing and empowering your guests to do self-registration-in means they will spend more time engaging with your staff and mission. And, instead of having a long registration table, you could reassign that space to revenue enhancers, such as auction tables or a raffle sales area.  

You may have concerns about guests’ hesitancy to self-registration. First, you will still be able to maintain that high level of service to VIPs or people who are just more comfortable with the old way of letting you know (s)he/they are there. Second, with 75% of e-commerce sales, totaling $3.5 trillion in 2020, happening on a mobile device, the consumer prefers mobile, contactless transactions. Last, you can still have volunteer and staff greeters making your guests feel welcomed, and engaging with them on a personal level. The limited facetime to have can be spent relationship building, and not doing transactions.  

Self-check-in how-to

Take a look at these quick, easy tips to see how you can provide this preference to your guests. 

Registering for fundraising and adding a credit card: 

  • Guests use their own device to text your custom keyword to GiveSmart’s number (You can also text guests with instructions!)
  • If they bought or confirmed a ticket before the event, they’re in! 
  • If not, GiveSmart’s technology prompts your guests to enter their name, email address, and credit card information. 
  • Adding a credit card is easier than ever through auto-fill or camera scan. (Typing it in is still an option, too.) 
  • *TIP: Use signage or welcome cards to communicate the simple instructions: Text KEYWORD to 76278. 

Confirming table/ticket :

  • With GiveSmart Ticketing and Seating Management, you can assign guests and groups to tables with a simple drag and drop. 
  • When it’s time for guests to arrive or be seated, send a text message that automatically shares the assigned table number with each registered guest. 

Asking questions and getting support:

  • Assign a team member or volunteer to help guests who need it, and create easy to see, clear signage and messaging. 

We have resources and training to make a contactless registration easy and guest-friendly! Your guests came to your event to support your mission. Make their experience even better.

 

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What our clients say

We needed a platform to make sales online and to track and display ads for our sponsors. GiveSmart was perfect. We ended up making close to $15,000 more than we had hoped for. Definite better ROI than we anticipated. The interface is easy to use and provides plenty of options to get help if needed.

Michelle M.

The Rotary Club of South Whidbey Island

Using GS has created ease in auction bookkeeping, payments, and generating post-event thank you/tax letters. While we were online during COVID, our interactions with our GiveSmart via phone, email, and zoom were seamless. A representative always got back to us within the day. I would recommend GiveSmart to anyone doing a large online event.

Julie G.

MicroFinancing Partners in Africa

GiveSmart is highly flexible - you can use it for [a] simple registration and check-in, to full-scale galas with complex order forms, onsite upsells, live auctions, seating management, and more.

Jamie F.

Hope Chest for Breast Cancer

GiveSmart is easy to use and ideal for virtual events and can be used for in-person events to manage the silent auction, seating charts, and check-in to the event. Being able to use the platform for unlimited events within the contract year is very useful and being able to add other users and volunteers for different levels of access is helpful as well.

Dawn L.

Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County