Choosing the Right Extensions for Your WooCommerce Events

Whether you’re organizing a bustling conference, an intimate concert, a bookable workshop, or a sporting event, the challenges can quickly add up. In this article, we’ll explore how the various FooEvents extensions can be used to solve these challenges when creating WooCommerce Events.

First, let’s take a look at how FooEvents works. FooEvents consists of a core plugin called FooEvents for WooCommerce. This plugin includes all the essential functionality needed to sell tickets, manage attendees, and handle check-ins on your WordPress website. Based on your event’s requirements, you can then add additional functionality using a number of FooEvents extensions. This approach keeps your site lean and bloat-free. Here are some of the key features included in the main FooEvents for WooCommerce plugin:

• Sell Tickets: Create WooCommerce events and sell tickets directly from your WordPress website using WooCommerce.
• Event Information: Display comprehensive event details including descriptions, summaries, image galleries, and Google Maps.
• Ticket Emails: Automatically send customizable HTML ticket emails to your attendees when they purchase a ticket.
• Manage Check-ins: Use the free FooEvents Check-ins apps to scan tickets and manage attendee access at your event.
• CSV Export: Export attendee information to a CSV file for easy management and analysis.
• Customizable Wording: Override default terminology to match your event’s specific needs (e.g., change ‘Attendees’ to ‘Participants’).
• Virtual Events: Manage virtual events with ease, integrating with Zoom for seamless online meetings and webinars, and ensuring attendees have the correct links and information.
• Insights: View event revenue, tickets sold, check-ins, available tickets and more.
• Translations: The FooEvents plugins come bundled with language files for Afrikaans, Catalan, Czech, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, and Portuguese.
• Automatically Expire Events: Set events to expire on a specific date, disabling sales or hiding the event from your website.
• Stationery Builder: Design and print custom name tags, wristbands, tickets, badges, and personalized labels through an intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
• Zoom Integration: Seamlessly integrate with Zoom to automatically pre-register attendees for virtual meetings and webinars when they purchase tickets.
• AutomateWoo Integration: Use AutomateWoo to send automated emails and SMS reminders, reducing no-shows and keeping attendees informed.

The FooEvents for WooCommerce plugin can be purchased and installed as a standalone plugin or as part of a FooEvents bundle (best value).

Next, let’s go through each type of event and look at some of the ways the FooEvents extensions can help streamline your process and improve the experience for both you and your attendees.

Conferences

For your conference, you will need to manage check-ins for hundreds of attendees, collect detailed information, and ensure that each session runs smoothly. Long queues, missing attendee information, or a chaotic schedule can be incredibly frustrating. FooEvents can help streamline these tasks and make them far easier to manage. Let’s take a look at some of the extensions we offer and how they can be used for your conference:

• FooEvents Custom Attendee Fields: Collect additional attendee information, such as meal preferences or breakout session choices. This information will then be displayed on the ticket and in your system when a ticket is scanned.
• FooEvents Multi-day: Handle check-ins for events spanning multiple days, ensuring smooth entry each day.
• FooEvents Calendar: Display your conference schedule in an easy-to-navigate format, helping attendees keep track of sessions. In addition to displaying your event in the calendar, you can also set any page, post, or custom post type to display in the calendar as an event. This is great for displaying additional information about specific sessions or workshops.
• FooEvents Check-ins App: Manage registration/check-ins using your smartphone. Simply scan the QR code on the ticket and set the attendee’s ticket status to checked in.
• FooEvents Express Check-in: Use a barcode scanner connected to a computer for fast, streamlined attendee check-ins.
• AutomateWoo Integration: Send automated event emails and SMS reminders, reducing no-shows and keeping attendees informed. Trigger actions based on ticket creation, event date, or check-ins to automate welcome packs, reminders, and post-event thank-yous.

Suggested Bundle: The FooEvents Premium Bundle includes these extensions and more, providing a comprehensive solution for managing conferences.

Concerts & Shows

For concerts and shows, seamless ticket sales (online and in-person), efficient check-ins, and reserved seating are crucial. Imagine dealing with chaotic entry lines, misplaced tickets, or frustrated attendees who can’t find their seats. Ensuring smooth ticketing and seating selection while allowing quick entry for attendees is essential.

• FooEvents Point of Sale: Use our fully integrated point of sale box office solution to sell and print tickets at your venue. You can even accept payment via credit card using Square and Stripe card readers.
• FooEvents Seating: Let attendees choose their seats from a visual seating chart, ensuring they get the best view.
• FooEvents Express Check-in: This extension adds an admin interface for event staff to manage attendee check-ins quickly and efficiently. You can also connect a barcode or QR code scanner to your desktop or tablet to scan tickets.
• FooEvents Check-ins App: Manage check-ins using your smartphone and significantly reduce wait times. To check in the ticket, simply scan the attendee’s ticket using the device’s built-in camera.
• AutomateWoo Integration: Send automated event emails and SMS messages, such as ticket confirmations, reminders, and updates about the event. Use triggers to enhance communication and reduce the likelihood of no-shows.
• FooEvents Calendar: Display a lineup of all your upcoming shows.

Suggested Bundle: The FooEvents Point of Sale Bundle ensures your concert or show runs smoothly from ticket sales to final check-ins. The FooEvents Calendar extensions is not included in the FooEvents Point of Sale Bundle, however, you can download it for free here, and if needed you can purchase support here.

Courses, Classes & Training

Educational events require maximizing student enrollment, managing class capacity, and tracking attendance. Gathering detailed information about your students can be challenging, and keeping track of class schedules can become overwhelming. FooEvents offers the following solutions to make these tasks more manageable:

• FooEvents Bookings: Create and manage bookable training sessions or classes with ease.
• FooEvents Custom Attendee Fields: Collect specific student details, such as dietary restrictions or preferred learning styles.
• FooEvents Calendar: Display class schedules in a clear, organized manner, making it easy for students to register. You can also display any post, page, or custom post type in the calendar. This is great for displaying information about extracurricular activities, campus functions, and special dates.
• FooEvents Check-ins App: Scan student QR codes for quick attendance tracking. If you use FooEvents Bookings, they also function as a great way to keep track of your bookings.
• AutomateWoo Integration: Automate communication with students by sending reminders, class materials, and follow-up messages. This helps keep students engaged and reduces no-shows.

Suggested Bundle: The FooEvents Bookings Bundle includes these essential extensions, helping you manage your educational events efficiently.

Virtual Events

Virtual events require managing registrations, setting up recurring sessions, and keeping everything organized online. The logistics of virtual event planning can be a headache, from ensuring attendees have the correct links to managing multiple sessions. FooEvents integrates directly with Zoom and makes it possible to automatically pre-register your attendees for one-off or recurring Zoom meetings and webinars when they purchase tickets on your WordPress website. Here is how the FooEvents extensions can be used for virtual events:

• FooEvents Bookings: Enable attendees to book slots for different virtual sessions, ensuring everyone gets a spot. FooEvents can automatically generate a Zoom meeting and notify the participant and host.
• FooEvents Multi-day: Manage virtual events that span multiple days or occur regularly.
• FooEvents Calendar: Display all virtual event dates and times in a clear, accessible format, helping attendees stay informed.
• FooEvents Check-ins App: Use the app to manage virtual check-ins and attendee information.
• FooEvents Express Check-in: Not typically needed for virtual events, but can be repurposed for hybrid events with physical check-ins.
• AutomateWoo Integration: Enhance the attendee experience by sending automated emails and SMS messages with event details, reminders, and follow-ups, ensuring attendees are well-informed and engaged.

Suggested Bundle: The FooEvents Bookings Bundle is perfect for managing your virtual events, providing all the necessary tools.

Activities & General Admissions

Managing capacity and attendance for venues, tours, or services is critical. The last thing you want is an overbooked venue or activity, and long check-in lines. Simplifying the booking process for customers and ensuring smooth check-ins are vital.

• FooEvents Bookings: Allow customers to book their spots easily, making capacity management straightforward.
• FooEvents Point of Sale: Sell and print tickets at your venue. Accept payment via credit card using Square and Stripe card readers.
• FooEvents Check-ins App: Scan QR codes on the go, making it easy to manage entries even in outdoor or dynamic settings.
• FooEvents Express Check-in: Use barcode scanners to manage check-ins quickly and effectively, ensuring smooth entry.
• FooEvents Calendar: Display all activities and available slots in a user-friendly calendar view, helping customers choose the best times.
• AutomateWoo Integration: Automate communication with attendees by sending booking confirmations, reminders, and updates to ensure they are informed and engaged.

Suggested Bundle: The FooEvents Point of Sale Bundle provides all the tools you need for smooth operation of activities and general admissions. The FooEvents Calendar extension is not included FooEvents Point of Sale Bundle, however you download it for free here, and if needed you can purchase support here.

Sports Events

Sports events need smooth handling of race entries, spectator passes, and venue bookings. Ensuring straightforward ticket sales, fast check-ins, and clear schedules is essential. Imagine the chaos of managing multiple events, checking in athletes, and coordinating spectators. FooEvents offers a single consolidated solution to manage both participants and spectators:

• FooEvents Point of Sale: Facilitate on-site ticket sales and printing, making it easy to handle walk-in sales.
• FooEvents Multi-day: Manage events that span several days (e.g., mountain bike stage races), ensuring smooth check-ins each day.
• FooEvents Calendar: Display all event dates and times clearly, ensuring everyone knows the schedule.
• FooEvents Custom Attendee Fields: Collect specific participant information, such as medical details or race preferences.
• FooEvents Check-ins App: Use the app for quick QR code scans at various entry points, ideal for large sports events with multiple locations.
• FooEvents Express Check-in: Efficiently manage large crowds using barcode scanners for speedy check-ins.
• AutomateWoo Integration: Send automated event emails and SMS messages to keep participants informed about race details, reminders, and follow-ups, enhancing their overall experience.

Suggested Bundle: The FooEvents Point of Sale Bundle offers all the necessary extensions for efficient management of sports events. The FooEvents Calendar extension is not included FooEvents Point of Sale Bundle, however you download it for free here, and if needed you can purchase support here.

Start selling tickets for your WooCommerce Events

Choosing the right FooEvents extensions depends on the specific needs of your event. If you’re still unsure which FooEvents extensions you need for your WooCommerce events, please get in touch. Our team will help you determine which FooEvents extensions are best suited for your particular use case.