Simbarashe Mukondo

Simbarashe Mukondo

With the increasing need to make event ticketing and registration easier, and to improve the attendee experience from pre-event to post-event stages, there has been a rise in event-specific websites. This concept, however, has not been grasped in the Zimbabwean market, which is quite regrettable.

Event-specific websites bring five key advantages:

Centralized information hubs

Enhanced credibility and professionalism

Increased engagement

Streamlined ticketing and registration

Easier promotions and marketing

With all these advantages, one wonders why we do not have specific event websites for big events such as the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), the recently concluded ADMA, and many other large and annually held events. It is 2024, and we do not have a single event that has come along with a dedicated event website. It is quite disappointing.

If you choose to have a website for your event, these are the key elements you should include:

Event essential details

Registration and ticketing

Detailed event information

Multimedia content

Interactive elements

Social media integration

Networking tools

You can even have a website for your wedding! People can get details about the wedding, RSVP there, and indicate any special needs they may have, such as food allergies. Everyone attending can be informed about their table number via the website. All wedding multimedia content can be posted, and everyone can go back to the website and download their pictures and other files. The same can be done for recurring Zimbabwean events and concerts like Janet Manyowa’s A Night of Thanksgiving (ANOT) concert, Gateway’s Redefined concert, the Castle Tankard, The Braai Fest, The Munch n Sip, Pichani, Fiesta Fiesta, and other events.

Organisers might have their reasons for not having event-specific websites, such as the costs involved in development and design, reliance on social media, or sometimes just an unwillingness to change and adapt. However, the benefits of having a website for an event far outweigh the disadvantages.

There are other platforms used by organisers to cut corners and avoid having an event website, such as Eventbrite (ticketing, registration, and event promotion) and Cvent (venue sourcing, budgeting, marketing, and analytics). But what about a one-stop-shop event management suite that offers an easy way to get an event-based website? This is an idea I had, and if you are a developer out there with the funds, you can work this out into fruition.

It is an event management system designed to streamline event creation, promotion, and management. It caters to both event organizers and attendees, offering a one-stop solution for all their event needs.

Key features

Event creation and design: A user-friendly interface for creating an event page. Pre-designed templates with customization options will be available to achieve a specific brand feel. AI-powered suggestions will also be included to enhance content and design.

Ticketing and registration: Operates as an e-commerce platform, ensuring secure online ticketing and registration with various payment gateway integrations.

Networking and communication: Built-in forum and chat features for event-specific communication between attendees. An appointment booking functionality can also be added to facilitate attendee networking.

Robust search engine: Allows for finding events by location, date, category, or keywords. Personalised recommendations based on user interests and past attendance will be provided.

Social media integration: Enables seamless event promotion and sharing across social media platforms.

E-Commerce platform: Provides secure in-system payment processing for tickets, registrations, and potentially even merchandise sales.

Subscription plans: Offers a tiered pricing structure with basic plans offering core features and premium plans with advanced functionalities.

Event page management: Event organisers can monitor visitor activity and engagement on their event pages.

Event rating and evaluation: Attendees can rate events and write reviews about their experience with a specific event, allowing organizers to improve their events and providing guidance for potential attendees.

Security and scalability: Robust security measures will be implemented to ensure that user data and financial transactions are protected. The system will be built to handle a large volume of events and users simultaneously.

The concept in detail

An event organiser will log into the system, click “Create Event,” and if subscribed, will be taken to the event creation page. There, they can fill out all event-related information. The system will offer a selection of pre-designed templates that organisers can customise with their preferred fonts, colours, and layouts. AI-powered suggestions can further enhance the content and design.

Once content and design are finalised, creators can publish the event page and generate a QR code and link for sharing and promotion purposes. Creators will have a dashboard to monitor visitor activity and engagement on their event page. They can also manage registrations, ticketing, and potentially other features. Additionally, creators can utilize dynamic ads to promote their events.

For attendees

Attendees can log in and browse events through a search engine using filters such as location, keywords, category, or date. The system can also recommend relevant events based on their interests and past attendance.

Since users can search for an event, they can find the event they want, click on it, and access its dedicated event page. On the page, they can see all the event-related information and details. Users can register for the event, purchase tickets (if applicable), and interact with other attendees through the forum, chat, or appointment booking features. They can also write event reviews, rate events after the event and download media from the page.

Final note

I know someone is thinking, “Why are you putting out such a brilliant idea? How is it brilliant when it is in the mind of someone who cannot push it out there?” Well, if there’s anyone with the capacity to do so, they can take it and improve our beloved event industry

Zimbabwe’s event scene is ripe for a revolution. Event-specific websites offer a one-stop shop for organisers and attendees, boosting professionalism, engagement, and promotion. This article proposed a solution: an all-in-one event management platform. Imagine user-friendly creation tools, secure ticketing, and attendee networking features – all under one roof. For developers seeking a brilliant idea, this platform could be the key to unlocking a more vibrant Zimbabwean event industry.

Simbarashe Mukondo is an event planning professional and marketer. He can be contacted on +263 78 297 4806.

Simbarashe Able Mukondo

No one wants a low-standard event, but few are willing to pay for a high-standard one. Not all event planners are willing to put in the work, either.

Have you ever been to an event where the setup and mood are inconsistent? The decor is good but the food is bad. The DJ is trying but the sound is failing them, and the director of the ceremony is doing their best but the event lacks flow? I’m about to tell you why.

When you approach an event planner and they say they have everything in-house, from security to catering to entertainment to decorating, be skeptical. On the planner’s side, they’re trying to control the environment in which they’re going to be operating and make a profit. On the client’s side, they want it easy: one meeting and all is done. It sounds cheaper and easier. However, the key question is: Is it the best that you’re going to get?

Most event planners have become middlemen. A client comes to them with a budget of $1,000 and says they want something for their employees and key clients for an end-of-year party, with 50 guests expected. The planner knows that the perfect setup is a cocktail party, but because their catering partner is not good with making finger foods and they’ll need to outsource a mixologist, they go ahead with a proper dinner. They make it a two-course meal, but now because resources are strained, everything is going to look cheap.

As a planner, I wanted to have a list of event service and equipment providers and profiles so that when I get an event, I can check the database and call those who suit the concept and budget at hand. I would then pick the top three quotations for each particular service or equipment needed and let the client decide and make the payments. However, all providers wanted to be included in some sort of package deal.

I once did on-the-day management of a wedding where the venue owner said they were offering cutlery. When I saw the cutlery, I almost cried. It was plastic glasses and all, very dirty, and the wedding was already underway. I had to quickly organise to get them washed. They said they were offering decor, but it was not nice at all.

Next time you pick packages, be cautious. Planners, don’t be middlemen. Do the job: plan events!

Simbarashe Able Mukondo is the Chief Executive Officer at Varisync Planners (Pvt) Ltd, an entity which is into event planning and marketing. He can be contacted on 0782 974 806.

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