It is part of human nature to want to connect with others.
As Barry Schwartz shares in his book The Paradox of Choice:
“Most activities that cost more than a hundred dollars are things we do with other people, but expensive material possessions are often purchased in part to impress other people. Activities connect us to others; objects often separate us.”
Organizing a memorable event gives your attendees a chance to make connections with each other. But before you can host an event, you need a way for your attendees to register. In this article, we’ll discuss how you can use registration form questions for your next event.
What Is An Event Registration Form Question?
A question in an event registration form collects specific information from an attendee. It helps you in two ways. First, your event registration system can use answers to questions to process a registration. Second, it enables you to understand who is attending your event.
Imagine you host an annual retreat for young couples who want to improve their relationships. The responses to the questions are vital for truly understanding who your guests are and what they need help with. Then you can tailor your retreat to create a transformative experience that they’ll cherish.
Five Types Of Event Registration Form Questions
There are different ways to collect answers to questions. We’ll talk about five of the most commonly used question types. Think of a question type as a specific way to present a question and have your attendees respond.
Text
A text question type is a free form field where an attendee can fill in a response. Here are some examples from a simple event registration form:
– First name
– Last name
– Email address
The text field is a good choice for gathering feedback on simple questions that need short responses.
Text Area
A text area field is similar to a text field in that it is free form so that an attendee can type in a response. It differs in that it is used when you need to allow a more extended response.
For instance, let’s say you asked the following question:
What Are You Most Looking Forward To For The Couple’s Retreat?
A text area field would allow an attendee to write up a thoughtful response. Those detailed responses would help you prepare for the retreat.
Checkbox
A checkbox question type can be used to allow multiple options to be selected for a question. Here is an example:
What Have You Tried Before To Strengthen Your Relationship With Your Partner?
- Followed advice from friends and family.
- Read online forums.
- Purchased a book.
- Attend couples therapy sessions.
- Took a weekend getaway.
Radio Buttons
A radio button question works well for questions with a limited number of choices, and you want to allow an attendee to pick one. For instance, let’s say you want to know how your retreat attendees have heard about you.
You could ask a question like this with the following responses as options:
How Did You Hear About The Couple’s Retreat?
– A friend or family member
– Social media
– A blog post
– Google search
– Other
Then an attendee can choose a single option as they register and pay for the retreat.
Dropdown
A dropdown menu is similar to a radio button in that it allows an attendee to pick a single option. It is a better option when there are many options to choose from. An attendee can click the dropdown menu to reveal the choices and pick one.
An example of a dropdown question type that you may be familiar with is selecting a province or state.
Best Practices For Registration Form Questions For Events
This section will cover three recommendations to make your event registration form questions easier to use.
- Less is more.
- Arrange the questions in a logical order.
- Use plain English, so your attendees understand what you are asking.
It can be tempting to add lots of questions to your registration form. Keep in mind that the more questions you add, the longer it will take for an attendee to complete it. Long forms can also unknowingly interfere with registration because an attendee can become overwhelmed.
Approach this from another perspective by looking at each question and asking yourself if you need to collect it.
Next, set up questions in an order that flows. A simple way to start is to group related questions. For example, you could have a set of questions at the beginning that collect an attendee’s name and email address. Then you could have a handful of custom questions after.
The third recommendation is related to using words that your attendees use. For instance, a registration form for a couple’s retreat shouldn’t contain big scientific words. That would be considered jargon and would cause confusion. Where possible, use plain English.
Here is an example to illustrate this point.
What Is Your Choice For A Preferred Meal? Vs. Which Meal Do You Want?
Both are asking an attendee to choose a meal. The second is simpler and easier to understand.
Remember your event registration form is a tool to help your attendees sign up for your event. These changes create a win-win for your attendees and your event. Your attendees can register quickly, and you’ll get the necessary information to understand who is attending.
Conclusion
Do you have an upcoming event where you need to collect custom event registration questions in a form? Learn how to choose a WordPress event manager plugin. Then you can open event registrations fast, automatically collect answers to registration questions, and get back to your busy life.
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