Comparing Invite and RSVP Applications: Meet With Approval, MyPunchbowl, Pingg, Socializr

Organizing events, either social or professional, can be complicated, but here to help you manage the guest lists and the information flow are a few invite and RSVP applications. Designed to create invites and keep a tab on who’s coming, these applications offer services to help you keep it under control.

All of the applications we reviewed for this comparison had the basics to manage guest lists: you can craft an invite, email it, and see who responded. Where they differed and where we judged these applications were on the how they let us do these things, and how what kind of features they added. Some of the differences are visible in the chart below, and we’ll talk more about the applications after the chart.

The first thing one notices with MyPunchbowl are the playful graphics and the “Party Planning Advice” that is always present on their Dashboard. These two things are more telling than one might think, since MyPunchbowl is an application designed more with the individual than business in mind. From graphics to invite templates MyPunchbowl uses bright colors, and has no pre-made templates that reflect the seriousness of meetings and corporate events. That said, the application is quite capable, offering a range of light spirited templates for invites, live help chat, and import options from any .csv file (Outlook, Mac, Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, Excel, and MSN). Customizing the invite, by background image or logo, attaching the event to a gift registry, or setting notifications are also part of the package.

To keep updated on your reader with any new developments MyPunchbowl has added an RSS function to the Dashboard, and for help with party planning they’ve added the “Pick a Date” function, where guests can contribute to the date selection. MyPunchbowl also features a message board for the invite, which can be used to discuss timing or the event with guests. For party coordination MyPunchbowl has added a printer-friendly Checklist, where users can enter in items they need for the event. Items can be dragged and dropped in the order preferred, or added, by the click of a button, to a potluck list for the guests.

The most streamlined of applications is Meet With Approval, which offers a basic invite and RSVP function, and is so streamlined, in fact, that it is well suited for data enabled mobiles such as the iPhone. With Meet With Approval you can receive notifications via email or RSS, export to Outlook, and manage your contacts through an address book. You and your guests can leave public comments and you can send reminder mails to guests who have not replied.

The downside to Meet With Approval is the opposite of MyPunchbowl — Meet With Approval has no sense of play, even calling events meetings rather than events and offering little in the way of customization. Meet With Approval does allow you to upload a logo, but has no other options for customizing the invite. Ultimately Meet With Approval functions well on a basic level but the application may not offer enough features for users that want to customize or use the application for larger events.

If MyPunchbowl has a party in mind, than Socializr has a large party in mind. Socializr is an RSVP and invite tool that incorporates other social tools, from social networks to media. Unlike the other applications, Socializr is not content to be a tool for events - they want to be a destination, and have created a platform to be a social network in their own right. To do this they have added links in their interface for Friends, Photos (shared), and Messages, which you can use to share events with friends. Don’t be misled by these functions though. Socializr is stronger as an RSVP and invite tool than a social network.

In addition to the common invite functions, Socializr has an extensive range of options for customizing your invite. Starting with background templates and uploading your own images, you can also add fonts, music, video, Flash, chat, and import photos from Flickr for your invite. There are even options to you can share your invite on MySpace, IM, Twitter, Facebook, or send guests to a payment site for paid events. Once you’ve set up your invite, there is easy management through the event dashboard, where you can edit the invite, manage or export the guest list, send the event to Outlook, or see statistics (how many have RSVP’ed). For recurring events, the option to copy the event or save the design will be appealing, saving users from having to recreate invites. Socializr too has few templates for the business user, but with the range of customization and sharing possible, Socializr could be a resource for any use.

In terms of interface, Pingg is certainly the most pleasing - its spare but colorful design is easy on the eyes - but the invite and RSVP application that has a wide range of options for customization and features that rival Socializr. Beginning with customization, Pingg offers a number of professionally photographed images for the background (premium photos have a one time fee of $10) of the invite, or you can upload your own and use the cropping tool to get the best fit. Fonts, colors, as well as text alignment can all be changed, and when adding event details in Pingg, there is an option to include a Google map with the invite.

Delivery options too are impressive with Pingg. Once you have imported (csv, vCard, and online mail) or entered in the addresses of your guests, you can set your sending preferences to email, sms, or snail mail. Mail and sms both have some cost attached to them, but for users that want the convenience, Pingg will send out as many as you like. You can also post your event onto Twitter with a simple check in the Guest List section. For guests that want a reference, or if you prefer to send an url, Pingg provides an event page online where you can post event news or set the privacy settings for the event. Photos and videos can be integrated into the web page, as can an album from your Flickr account. A gift registry, and payment services are also provided for events that ask for giving.

Pingg is free to use, though some of the features do cost money. Premium photos are $10, sms are 20 for $1.50, and regular mail is $1.50 per printed invite. These are hardly detractions to Pingg, but are important things to remember when creating guest lists.

Ultimately each of the four applications has a niche: MyPunchbowl is good for casual events where guests help set the date, Meet With Approval is well suited to business meetings, Socializr has the social tools to make reaching out through networks easy, and Pingg has the versatility to handle any event and customize how the guests find out about it. To read more about these applications, or to find similar applications there is the Listio search events+manage.

Previously in this series: Pingg: Well Packaged RSVP And Invite Management

Application: Pingg
Listio Profile: http://www.listio.com/web20/app/Pingg/
Website: http://www.pingg.com

Pingg is a new digital invitation service that allows you to create stylish and professional looking invitations and manage your event with ease. First of all, pingg invitations are grown up looking. Even the kids invitations look professional. There are no banner ads and no clip art or cheesy desi... Learn more

Application: Socializr
Listio Profile: http://www.listio.com/web20/app/Socializr/
Website: http://www.socializr.com

Socializr is a free web service for sharing event and party information with your friends. Socializr is a Web 3.1 company. Socializr, Inc. is a six-person startup company, headquartered in beautiful San Francsico, CA.... Learn more

Application: MyPunchbowl
Listio Profile: http://www.listio.com/web20/app/MyPunchbowl/
Website: http://www.mypunchbowl.com

MyPunchbowl is a great site for party planning and free online invitations. Unique features such as "Pick a Date" and "Party Checklists" MyPunchbowl takes you through every step of planning a party.... Learn more

Application: MeetWithApproval
Listio Profile: http://www.listio.com/web20/app/MeetWithApproval/
Website: http://www.meetwithapproval.com

Use MeetWithApproval to arrange meetings, parties, reunions and corporate events. MeetWithApproval helps you determine which meeting date/time works for your group or friends and allows to you to keep track of the people who will attend. Create an event by including your name, email, event name, ev... Learn more

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Tags: comparisons, events, invites, manage, organize
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