RSVP for events: how to increase your response rate

Your invitation is your event’s first impression, so it’s important that it creates an impact.

One of its most crucial responsibilities is creating buzz that will entice your guests to RSVP for events and, most importantly, attend them. You can put in months of effort planning the greatest event of the year, but if your invitation is underwhelming, you risk all of that planning going to waste.

Here are six tactics you can use for creating offline and online invitations that will make your event RSVPs and headcount sky rocket.

Interactive invitations will encourage guests to RSVP for events

No matter how excited your guests may be about your event, if it takes them only a few seconds to look over your invitation before it gets tossed on their desk, the need to RSVP could easily slip their mind. Creating an interactive invitation that encourages guests to spend time with it will make it stand out and help it stick, and help guests remember to RSVP for events.

Some favorite tricks include printing the invite on a balloon that guests must blow up in order to read the crucial information, making a scratch-off card, or unveiling the event details through a game or code. If you choose the last option just make sure it’s easy to crack, or that you include the answer key in the envelope as well!

Make your invite a keepsake

If your invitation doubles as a little treat for your guests they'll be even happier to receive it, and it will make it even easier for them remember to RSVP for events.

If guests are getting something special out of the event before they even step foot in your venue, the intrigue will be through the roof. If the invitation is something that’s displayed or used (rather than something that can be forgotten in a pile of papers) it’ll be even more on their radar.

Try engraving the event information on a candle or figurine, printing it on a tea towel or handkerchief, or putting it on a paper sculpture for guests to fold into an object representing your event.

Turn your RSVP for events request into a preview

If your event has a theme, tap into that right from the get-go with your invitation and RSVP request, making it feel like the event has already begun by the time guests are invited. It will help get your guests excited as well as making them feel involved, and therefore more committed.

If you’re hosting a rustic event, include a treasure map or print your invitations using natural materials. If it’s a concert, design the invite as a classic rock poster. If it’s a corporate event, include a product giveaway. Have some fun with it: send guests a little bit of your event to experience at home as a playful reminder to RSVP for events.

Make your invitation count(down!)

Showcasing the amount of time left until your event in the invitation is a good way to help your guests get organized. It also borrows the advertising trick of encouraging action by highlighting the time sensitivity of an event.

Turn your invitation into a paper or digital countdown, or a nice calendar that suits your event, and you’ve incorporated a little of all four of the tips so far.

Turn the RSVP for events into a story

Sometimes invitations feel a little impersonal. If you use the opportunity to tell the story of your event, it can pique guests’ interest and make them feel more involved.

If it’s a corporate event, give the sponsor a human face by sharing their business story, or a little profile of the founder. For something more social, like a wedding, give the people what they want: how the couple met, details of the proposal, what the venue or theme means to them.

You can turn the invitation into a newspaper, magazine, or comic book, or tell the story through illustrations. If you’re particularly digitally savvy (or want to hire someone who is), why not commission an inspiring video, or make a short video game for a digital RSVP?

Follow up with an RSVP reminder

If you decide to go down the digital route and send online invitations, a platform like zkipster will make it even easier for guests to RSVP for events, and for you to track attendance.

You can create beautifully branded, completely custom online invitations that will excite your guests - and all they need to do to RSVP is click a button! You can track who has opened, clicked and responded to your invitation, as well as see any delivery issues, and follow up with a targeted RSVP reminder to gather even more responses.

Whatever type of invitation you choose, get creative with it to encourage more RSVPs for events! This is your chance to get the ball rolling on an event your guests will never forget.