Amiando: Full Service Event Management
This is the fourth review in our series of event management applications. For an introduction to this category, including a rundown of features common to all four applications reviewed this week, please see: Managing Events With Web 2.0.
For event planners and businesses looking to host a large event, web 2.0 event managing applications handle what once it took teams of people to handle, giving the tools to manage contacts, information and promotion. Amiando is one such application, covering the needs of event planning while offering support for ticketing.
No look at amiando would be complete without mentioning the Form function (accessed through the setup process and Ticket Sales tab), which lets users create forms to draw more information from participants. For planners looking to target participants for future events or to learn more about who they are attracting, the custom field function of the form lets you do more than just get an email. Worked into this editor is the choice to specify your own terms, by url or pdf. Each custom field generated has the option of having a subfield or category setting to let you create supplemental questions. For example, if you were asking attendees what their internet type is, you could have a dropdown menu (or radio button, checkbox, and more) with the ranges of internet speed. That way, participants could not only tell you that they use DSL, they could tell you at what speed.
Related to the form function are other options for information, which can be customized to appear on a unique web page (amiando.com/youreventname) that your participants can use to get updates about the event. From polling to a wall where participants can write messages, the web page can be customized as you would like, with the ability to add music, videos, or select from design templates.
Also customizable are the pricing options; amiando is free for free events, but ticketed events have two options. Basic ticketing is a 1.5% take of ticket sales through PayPal (plus PayPal fees), and full service ticketing, which includes cancellation services and fraud protection, is 7.5% (handled through amiando). Participants also have a chance for bonuses if they help sell your tickets (viral ticketing). Discounting and coupons can also be worked into ticket sales for promotion.
Where the application is weak is in promotion - there is no integration with online calendars (like Upcoming) or social networks. That said, they provide buttons and code for integrating your event into your website, and event pages created with amiando are optimized for search engines, making amiando a complete event management application. To find this and other applications like it there is the Listio search: events+manage.
Previously in this series: Eventbrite: Event Management With Options
Next in this series: Comparing Event Management Applications: Eventbrite, Amiando, MadeIt, Eventsbot
Application: amiandoListio Profile: http://www.listio.com/web20/app/amiando/
Website: http://www.amiando.com
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Tags: business, events, manage, organize
Posted in: Event Management | Respond
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