Are you an event organizer?
	Are you in the process of managing an event?
	Do you want to include an Online Registration System in your plans?
	Are your bosses or clients insisting that an Online Registration System is too expensive or is not in the budget?
	Are you looking for a way to convince your bosses and clients about the benefits of an Online Registration System?

If the question to any of the above questions is ‘Yes', then here are 4 strategies that you can employ to convert your boss and/or your client to your point of view.

Strategy 1 – Cost Comparison
List all event related tasks and then create a chart that compares the amount of time and money it takes to complete each of these tasks using each registration method. Also, don't forget to factor in intangible costs such as errors in registration. These can be very difficult to estimate, but are very real costs to business. Here is a list of some event tasks that you can include in your comparison chart, including explanations on which registration type is more cost effective and why:

Here is a list of some event tasks that you can include in your comparison chart, including explanations on which registration type is more cost effective and why:

Event Task Event Task Online Registration Manpower Depends on the size of the event. The cost of hiring, training and paying employees differs. Minimal. It transfers your entire operation online. Making it possible for one person to manage the event from anywhere. Data Entry High. Registrations are in form of call-in's and walk-in's. You need to hire or allocate personnel to handle the registration process and the massive data entry that come along with it. Negligible. A majority of people register directly online. Thus, eliminating the need to hire or allocate precious resources to handle the registration process. Phone Calls High. In a manual event, you spend a lot of time answering calls from delegate interested in your event and from those wanting to register. Low. The number of calls, you receive when using an online registration is much lower because all the information is available online (event website) and your delegates can register directly online if they are interested. Mails If you choose to mail invitations, you need to ensure that the mails go out much in advance, so delegates can view and register for your event in time. By emailing your event invitations or registration forms, you eliminate admin costs like printing, courier etc. Also, since the delegates receive the emails directly in their email accounts, you reduce the time required for the entire process. However, you might have to pay a mailing charge. Admin Costs High. You need to factor in - long distance phone and fax charges, cost of stationary, courier or postage, printing charges etc. The entire process takes place online. Therefore, besides your electricity and phone there is no additional expenditure. Registration Confirmation This is a necessary but time consuming effort as you sometimes need to call delegates multiple times to inform them that their registration has been confirmed. A good online system is configured to automatically fire confirmation mails on receipt of a registration. Processing Payments Difficult and lengthy process. Cheques are sent via mail. It takes days to reach you. Then, you need to wait till the bank processes it and in some cases the cheque bounces. Similarly, for credit card processing there are issues such as bad numbers and follow ups. Automatic. The payment processing takes place directly online at the time of registration through an online payment gateway. If the credit card number is bad, the delegate won't be able to complete the registration process successfully.

This comparison chart will disabuse people of the notion that the manual registration process is obviously more cost effective than the online registration process. This chart will also help convince the people holding the financial strings of the benefits and cost effectiveness of using an Online Registration System.

Strategy 2 – Educate to Conquer
Knowledge or more accurate the lack of knowledge is often the biggest barrier against progress. So, if you want your bosses and clients to accept an Online Registration System as a necessity rather than a financial drain, you need to educate them about the benefits of using an Online Registration System. A simple yet effective method is a pro and con list that illustrates the benefits of going online. Also, remember to include snapshots of the online registration process as it will help demonstrate the simplicity of using the system.

Here are few benefits to get you started:

Manual Registrations Online Registration Convenience To manage the registration process, you need to pull staff off from their regular duties. The registration happens online, minimal involvement is required. So, you can focus on other event tasks. Personal Interaction There is a lot of one-on-one interaction between the delegate and the event organizer that helps build a relationship between the two parties. The entire process takes place online. There is no one-on-one interaction with the delegate. Labor Costs The need for manpower when collecting registrations manually is high therefore the amount of budget allocated to hiring and paying labor is also high. An online registration system automates the registration process reducing manpower requirement. Registration Process This is tried and true system that has quite likely been in place for years. Registrants are familiar with the process and there is no possibility of confusion You need to find a solution that meets your requirements. Plus, registrants may not be very familiar with this form of registration which might cause confusion. Credit Cards You need to collect credit card numbers and deal with the possibility of bad numbers in which case you spend a lot of time chasing after registrants to get the correct payment information. Credit cards can be automatically processed

Sample Snapshot of EventAveue's Customizable Online Registration System

Strategy 3 – Competitor's Envy
In a rare scenario where strategies 1 and 2 fail, there is a 3rd strategy you can employ to motivate your bosses and clients to adopt an Online Registration system for the event. This strategy involves using competitors who are already using an Online Registration System to their benefit as a selling tool. That's right the 3rd strategy is the age old ‘your competitors are online, do we want to be left behind' sales technique. This strategy may be the most effective way of convincing your bosses but its success depends on your research of competitors and selecting those that will push your boss or client to sign up.

Strategy 4 – The Combination Punch
This last strategy uses a combination of the above 3 strategies in the form of a presentation to knock out any doubts your bosses or clients are having of signing up for an Online Registration System.