A test registration allows you to experience the booking journey from a participant's perspective and identify any issues before entries open to the public.
It's one of the simplest and most effective ways to ensure your event is ready to launch.
What Should You Check?
As you complete your test entry, review the participant journey from start to finish.
1. Your Event Page
Before participants begin their registration, check that your event page clearly communicates everything they need to know.
Review:
Event description and key information
Images and branding
Event dates and pricing
Charity information, sponsors, and FAQs
Links and calls to action
Ask yourself: Would I feel confident entering this event?
2. Your Entry Form
Next, complete the registration form exactly as a participant would.
Check that:
Questions appear in the correct order.
Only essential information is requested.
Add-ons and donations display correctly.
Pricing and discount codes work as expected.
The registration process is straightforward on both desktop and mobile devices.
đĄ Best practice: Every additional question or decision is an opportunity for a participant to abandon their registration. Keep the experience as simple as possible.
3. Your Entry Confirmation Email
Once your registration is complete, review the confirmation email carefully.
Check that:
Your branding is displayed correctly.
Event details are accurate.
Important participant information is included.
Links and buttons work correctly.
Any personalised content or merge tags display as expected.
This is often the first communication participants receive after entering, so it's worth taking the time to ensure it creates a great first impression.
How to Make a Test Entry
To avoid processing a real payment, we recommend creating a 100% discount code and using it when completing your test registration.
Your event must also be open for entries while testing.
đ Related guide: Creating a Discount Code
Before You Launch
If you manually open your event to complete a test entry but aren't ready to launch, remember to close your tickets afterwards.
If your event has a scheduled launch date, reopening and closing it manually can override the automated opening.
To ensure your event opens automatically as planned:
Reset the scheduled opening date after testing, if required.
Confirm the event displays Register Interest rather than Closed if a future opening date has been configured.
This helps ensure participants see the correct status when visiting your event page.
Summary
Completing a test entry is one of the most valuable checks you can perform before launching your event.
By reviewing your event page, registration form, and entry confirmation email, you can identify improvements, resolve issues early, and deliver a smooth, professional experience from the very first registration.