A simple guide to publishing your first event online

The short answer

Set up an event, publish its details on your website, choose how people register and prepare for the day. The event itself can be in person or online.

Plan the basics

Choose the event name, date, location or online details, who can attend and who will manage it. Set up a private draft manually or with Sprout, then review and edit the details. SorrelSites website event tools require a paid plan.

Set registration and payment

Choose whether registration is taken on your site, who may register, and any questions or ticket prices. To let non-members register, enable that option and, for a ticketed event, offer an eligible non-member or everyone price. For online payments, connect your organization's Stripe account; payment-processing fees apply separately. Explain your cancellation and refund policy.

Set capacity and review how you will handle a waiting list if places fill. You can publish an event before registration opens so people can see it on the calendar ahead of time.

Review and publish

Check dates, access, prices and the registration path before publishing. The person registering signs in or creates a free account; if non-members are allowed, they can create one while registering. A purchaser can book additional guests who do not already have an account, subject to the event's rules.

Run the day

An authorized organizer can check people in on a phone by scanning tickets or using the list. Print a sign-in sheet beforehand if connectivity may be unreliable, and record paper check-ins in the system afterward. Agree who handles changes and refunds; cancelling a registration does not automatically issue a refund.

A free account for the registering person is separate from the event price. Eligibility and ticket availability depend on the event.