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![11 Key Tips to Purchasing Sports Event Management Software [+Demo]](https://justgo.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ezgif-2-2f2b2d0195-768x471.webp)
In the world of sport, events play a vital role in fostering community engagement. Especially when it comes to clubs, regional associations, and National Governing Bodies (NGBs), events can help promote the sport and provide unforgettable experiences for members.
However, organizing and managing sports events can be a complex task, involving various logistical challenges and administrative responsibilities. That’s where sports event management software comes into play. With the right software solution, you can streamline your event planning processes, enhance communication, and ensure a seamless experience for both organizers and participants.
In this article, we will explore 11 top tips to consider when purchasing sports event management software. Whether you’re organizing a small local tournament or a large-scale international championship, these tips will help you make an informed decision and choose the software that best suits your needs.
When you’re trying to pick an event management software for your sports organisation, there are several key factors to keep in mind. Here are some important considerations:
1. Event Variety: Look for software that allows you to create and manage various types of events, including online events, unpaid/free events, and events with special requirements. This ensures that you can cater to diverse audience preferences and expand your event offerings.
2. Integration with Membership System: Add an extra layer of class to the event experience and select a software that seamlessly integrates with your organisation’s membership system. This way, you can track member attendance, add qualifications to individual member profiles based on activity, and provide a personalised experience for members when registering for events.
3. Integrated Payment Gateway: Choose software that provides a payment gateway to track ticket sales. You can then easily manage and monitor financial transactions, simplifying the ticketing process for both your organisation and event attendees.
4. Bookings, Transfers, and Cancellations: The software should have robust features for managing bookings, allowing attendees to transfer their tickets or cancel their registrations when needed. These features will help you best prepare for when things might not go according to plan.
5. Branding Opportunities: Seek software that offers branding opportunities, allowing you to showcase your organisation’s colours and visual identity. A fully branded events page and ticket design can help reinforce your brand and create a cohesive, familiar experience for attendees.
6. Integration with Communication Software: Look for software that integrates with your communications tools, such as an email marketing platform. This will help to efficiently promote event announcements, send out tickets electronically, and communicate important event-related updates to attendees.
If you’d like to opt for large-scale events with additional advanced requirements, consider the following factors:
7. Merchandise Sales: If you sell event-themed merchandise (or just merchandise in general), consider using software that enables merchandise sales alongside event tickets. Not only does this open up an additional revenue stream, but it also creates a sense of camaraderie and team spirit among participants on event day.
8. Personalised Event Sign-up Journey: Look for software that offers your members a personalised event sign-up journey. This can include early bird discounts for specific members, tailored registration options based on membership tiers, additional document collection for certain courses—and so on. Plus, any kind personalisation will enhance member satisfaction and engagement, which is a bonus!
9. Secure E-Tickets: Choose software that generates unique and secure e-tickets for each ticket purchaser. This ensures that tickets are only used once and helps maintain the integrity of your event attendance records.
10. Reporting Capabilities: Opt for software that provides robust reporting capabilities. This will help you to pull insights and generate reports on ticket sales, purchase patterns, and individual members’ event attendance. These insights can provide valuable data for future event planning and evaluation.
11. Event Finder Weblet: Consider software that offers an event finder weblet that can be easily embedded on your organisation’s website. This will help showcase and promote your events to both members and non-members, increasing visibility and attracting a broader audience.
These factors can help you make an informed decision when purchasing event management software.
While JustGo isn’t directly a sports event management software, its Event module offers all the facilities we’ve just mentioned and more. As its Events, Communication and Shop module are all tied together into a single system, you can organise perfectly-executed events, connect with members and sell merchandise effortlessly.
With the release of JustGo version 2.8.3 in June 2023, we unveiled a new-and-improved Event browser. This browser features an enhanced event directory, a wide range of filtering tools, and a fresh, intuitive user interface. Whether you’re seeking local competitions, online courses, national tournaments, or simply saving events for future reference, JustGo has got you covered.
You might be wondering, how does it all work? Let’s take a look at JustGo’s event functionalities.
Once we open up the module, a user-friendly search bar takes centre stage, empowering you to effortlessly find events based on their names, dates, and locations. Whether you crave a weekend adventure or seek nearby excitement, simply enter your preferences and let the module curate a personalised selection just for you.
Additionally, the “My bookings” option gives you a curated display of all your booked events, ensuring your members never miss a moment. The “Calendar” icon offers a panoramic view of daily, weekly, or yearly events, empowering members to plan memorable vacations and thrilling events in advance.
Here’s a section ready to help promote and elevate your organisation’s most significant events—the Featured Events. The events here can be handpicked by your team in order to foster maximum interest and engagement.
Whether it’s highly anticipated competitions, popular events or impactful initiatives, this dedicated space guarantees visibility and creates a buzz among your community, ensuring a memorable and dynamic experience.
Next, we’ve got a nice section called “Events near you”, which utilises a location-based filter to showcase a curated selection of events within a customised distance range. Whether members are seeking excitement nearby or exploring new horizons, this section empowers them to discover events tailored to a distance parameter set by your administrators.
Unlock a seamless event browsing experience across multiple clubs with our exclusive club-specific sections. Easily navigate through each organisation’s dedicated space, view listed events and help bookers make informed decisions about their participation.
Now let’s explore our favourite part of the module. We’ve newly introduced a ton of filters to help you find the perfect events for you. Let’s take a look at what each one does:
But wait, there’s more! The JustGo system goes above and beyond with additional filters, including distance, featured events, online events, and member-saved event filters. All of these are ready to keep you connected to your favourite happenings.
JustGo is a robust platform that goes above and beyond to support your membership management efforts. It provides you with a comprehensive suite of tools and features to address all aspects of your membership, communication, and merchandise requirements.
Let’s delve deeper into how each of these components seamlessly integrates with your events:
Membership: When you create an event on JustGo, it seamlessly connects with the platform’s advanced membership system. This empowers you to use Smart Rules and conditions to filter through your member database. By doing so, you can ensure that only individuals who meet specific criteria can participate in your events.
For instance, if you’re organising an age-restricted competition or a coaching course that requires certain qualifications, JustGo enables you to effortlessly set it all up. Moreover, you can leverage the platform’s flexibility to offer exclusive benefits to your members, such as early-bird discounts or access to member-only events.
The image below demonstrates an event organised only for members, further enhancing their sense of belonging and exclusivity.
Communication: JustGo’s robust communication module simplifies the process of reaching out to event attendees and keeping them informed. With this feature, you can directly engage with participants by sharing important updates and distributing tickets via email.
By leveraging JustGo’s seamless communication capabilities, you can ensure that attendees stay well-informed about event details, schedule changes, and any other relevant information. This streamlined communication approach contributes to a smooth event experience and fosters a strong connection between you and your attendees.
Merchandise: In addition to event tickets, JustGo allows you to upsell merchandise or products related to your events. For instance, you can add team jerseys or other branded items that align with the event’s theme or purpose.
By incorporating merchandise options, you create an additional avenue to boost attendee enthusiasm and create a sense of belonging. This adds a touch of personalisation and elevates the overall event experience.
By leveraging this diverse set of tools, you can ensure the success of your events, while simultaneously fostering a strong and engaged community of members.
We hope the new Event browser empowers sports enthusiasts, administrators, and club members alike to explore and discover events in a more personalised and convenient manner.
If you’re eager to explore the remarkable features of JustGo’s upgraded Event browser and unleash the full potential of your sports organisation, we encourage you to take the next step. Reach out to our experts sales@justgo.com for a demonstration of how our innovative solutions and features can elevate your sports organisation to new heights.
