Your event page is more than just a way to collect basic participant information—it’s an opportunity to create a tailored experience that meets your participants’ needs while gathering crucial data for your event planning.
Why use Custom Questions?
The standard registration process already collects essential information like names, addresses, and emergency contacts. Custom Questions allow you to gather the specific details that make your event special while creating a smoother experience for everyone involved.
This is your chance to show them you’ve thought of everything, from their t-shirt size preferences to their post-race meal choices. By anticipating their needs through thoughtfully designed Custom Questions, you’re demonstrating the same attention to detail that will make race day a success.
Custom Questions use cases
Streamlined event planning: Eliminate guesswork by knowing exact meal counts, dietary needs, t-shirt sizes,and transportation to save money and reduce day-of stress.
Additional revenue opportunities: Incorporate add-on purchases like premium t-shirt upgrades or bag drop fee to boost revenue through convenient integrated options.
Valuable marketing insights: Gather critical marketing data about participants to refine promotional strategies and allocate resources effectively.
Brand partnerships: Create additional value for sponsors through opt-in questions for partner email lists or special offers.
Community building: Foster community by asking about interest in training groups or pre-event activities to develop passionate event ambassadors.
Communication updates: Gather participant permission to receive important race-day texts, like weather alerts or course changes, which you can send through your own messaging service.
Honor system discounts: Simplify registration with honor system discounts for special groups including veterans or first responders.
Category-specific perks: Customize the registration experience by assigning different questions to specific categories like volunteers or VIP registrants.
“For all our events, we include lunch, and during the registration process, we ask about dietary restrictions. This data is invaluable in helping us determine the required quantities for each lunch item or menu option, ensuring we have enough of what our participants need.” – Scott Olmsted, The Ride Collective
Setting up Custom Questions
You can choose from multiple question formats—from simple yes/no options to dropdown menus and open text fields—to collect exactly the information you need. Make questions required or optional depending on their importance, and organize them logically to create a smooth registration flow.
Custom Questions appear directly on the Participant Information page alongside standard registration fields, creating a seamless experience. Responses are stored in multiple places, allowing for easy access when planning logistics or generating reports.
Pro Tip: Keep your registration process friction-free by limiting the number of required Custom Questions. Remember that your primary goal is getting people registered. Be thoughtful about which questions are truly essential for your event’s success.
Custom Questions vs. Merchandise Store: When to use each
Think of Custom Questions as your logistics and preferences tool, while the Merchandise Store serves as your retail platform.
Custom Questions are ideal for items that are integrated directly into the event experience. These include essentials like transportation options, meal preferences, or bag drop fees. They’re particularly effective for free offerings where participants simply need to select their preference, such as complimentary t-shirt sizes. Keep in mind that Custom Questions can’t include images or detailed descriptions, so they work best for straightforward selections.
Reserve your Merchandise Store for branded items you want to sell to a wider audience before, during, or after the event. If you need to collect sales tax, you’ll want to use the Merchandise Store, as this isn’t possible through Custom Questions. Products that benefit from visual representation with photos and detailed descriptions are also better positioned in the Merchandise Store. This public-facing storefront is ideal for driving additional revenue through items like branded apparel, special events, or photo packages that anyone—not just registrants—might want to purchase.
Add Custom Questions!
Custom Questions provide the insights you need to plan more effectively while giving participants the options they want. Before you launch your next event, add custom questions to your registration flow. Your participants will appreciate the thoughtfulness, and your event planning will benefit from the precision.
