How to Improve Attendance After People Register for Your Event
Close the gap between registrations and attendance by confirming quickly, reminding people at the right moments, removing practical barriers and giving them new reasons to come.
To improve attendance after people register, confirm their place immediately, send reminders at useful moments, remove practical barriers such as unclear directions or entry processes, and keep giving them reasons to attend. Registration shows interest; attendance requires a continued commitment of time and effort.
For free events in Ghana in particular, the gap between registrations and attendance can be significant, because registering costs nothing. Planning for that gap helps you set realistic expectations and improve the result.
Confirm immediately
Send a confirmation as soon as someone registers. Include the event name, date, time, location and what to bring. Offer an option to add the event to a calendar. A prompt, clear confirmation reassures people that their registration worked.
Remind at the right moments
Plan a short sequence of reminders, for example:
- One week before: a programme highlight and practical information
- One or two days before: the timing, directions and entry process
- On the day: a short reminder with the start time and location
Use the channels people chose when they registered, such as email, SMS or a messaging app. Keep each reminder brief and useful.
Remove practical barriers
Think about what might stop someone attending even if they still want to. Common barriers include unclear directions, uncertainty about parking or transport, worries about the entry process, timing that clashes with work and uncertainty about what the event involves. Answer these questions before they are asked.
Give new reasons to attend
Between registration and the event, share new information that adds value: a speaker announcement, a programme detail, a performer preview or something attendees will receive. Each message should remind people why they registered.
Ask people to confirm
Close to the date, ask registrants to confirm whether they still plan to attend. This helps people commit and gives you a better estimate of numbers. Offer an easy way to cancel so places can be released to others.
Consider a small commitment
For free events with high drop-off, a modest refundable deposit, a waiting list or limited places can encourage people to treat the registration seriously. Choose carefully, as these can also discourage registrations.
Make arrival easy
Long queues and confusion at the entrance discourage people from staying and from attending again. Plan registration desks, signage and staffing for the expected number of guests.
Measure the gap
Record registrations, confirmations and actual attendance. Note which reminders and messages were followed by higher turnout. Ask people who did not attend why, where appropriate.
Our Women of Valour case study reports 3,550 registrations for the 2023 event against a target of 1,200. Large registration numbers create their own planning questions about turnout, capacity and arrival, which is why the registration-to-attendance journey deserves its own plan.
PR369's Events and Experiences service covers event strategy, promotion and delivery. Email info@pr369.com with your event, its registration numbers and your attendance goals. We will begin with a strategy conversation.
