Using ON24 Registration

Benefits

• Ease of Use - Data is captured directly within ON24. Thus, there is no need to send the registration data from your external system to ON24 because we already have it.
  • Create only one registration form per event. No need to create the corresponding external form. This decreases manual efforts and helps drive optimization from an integration standpoint.
  • Less field configuration is needed when you use ON24 forms. You don't have to map fields between systems. You don’t have to be concerned with custom registration field consistency.
• Less Point of Failures - Troubleshooting is much simpler without the extra layer of external registration. If the external registration form isn't setup correctly, then data won’t pass over to ON24. Time will be required to review the setup to identify the root cause.
• Event Series - ON24 and external registration supports registration via an event series. Though, it is recommended to use ON24 registration forms because it doesn’t require extra coding.
  • The Registration API Fields (including field setup) must be the same on the Event Series Form as well as the individual events included in the series.  If you do not, data will not show correctly on your Event Dashboard report.  Find more information registration mapping here.
• Recurring Simu-Live Events - If you use recurring Simu-live events, then ON24 registration is required as it is not supported by external registration.

Considerations

• Workflow - The workflow may not be customizable for your specific business requirements.

Using External Registration

Benefits

• Control - You can have full control the registration process in your external system.
• Branding - If you don’t want your registrants to see the ON24 branded registration emails and lobby page, then use external registration.
• Extra Features and Customization - External registration forms may have extra features and offer customization that are not supported in ON24 registration form, such as auto generated drop-drown menus.
• Embedded Forms - Use external registration if you want to embed the registration form in your website for your Elite events. 
• Familiarity - You may be more comfortable using external registration forms, especially if you’ve been using it for many years.

Considerations

• Retry Policies - If you use external registration and send ON24 registration data, include retry policies as part of your process.
  • During scheduled server maintenance windows (i.e., Datacenter Failback), we will not be able to accept data.
    • Furthermore, Platform or Event changes made during this time will not be saved and connectivity may be interrupted. 
    • We recommend you not schedule any events or activity during this timeframe. 
    • To receive the upcoming maintenance schedule, press the Subscribe To Updates button on our platform status page here. 
    • Note: ON24 has already included retry policies for your data integrations when sending data from ON24 to your end system.

Additional Information

Login Only

If you are NOT using the ON24 registration form, then toggle the Login Only Option field on in the event's Registration page settings.

• When toggled on, registrants will be prompted to enter their email addresses to gain entry into the webcast. 
• The ON24 registration page will become disabled, so participants will not be required to re-register or fill out additional registration fields.
  • Ensure the fields in your external registration form and the corresponding Elite registration page match exactly if you want the reporting data to appear in the ON24 Platform. 
  • This includes the field display names, the assignment of required fields, and the same number of fields.
  • For example, you cannot have 5 fields in the external registration form, while only 3 in the Elite registration form.

Double Opt-In

• If you are using external registration with the Double Opt-in feature in ON24, the registrants must click on the confirmation email link (sent to them after registration) in order for them to show up in the ON24’s Registrant report. 

Email Address Considerations

• Email addresses used in external registration must match ON24's email validation rules.
  • ON24 email validation rules allow for letters and numbers, plus ._%+- before the @
  • After the @, only alphanumeric characters and dots are allowed

Registration Form Best Practices

The following are best practice recommendations when creating registration forms, no matter which version you use. 

By following these recommendations, you will ensure data consistency and accuracy between your end system and ON24’s reports, as well as reduce data sync issues.

Match Field Types

• When identifying the fields to map, ensure the field type matches between the ON24 and your end system fields. 
  • For example, the ON24 marketing_email field, which is reserved for opt-in requests, is a checkbox that returns a Y or N value. 
• Do not map to it if your end system's corresponding field is Boolean type, which returns a true or false value. Rather, change your end system's field type to string. 
• Alternatively, consider testing the ON24 custom dropdown field (std) to determine if this field could be used instead.
• When passing a country parameter, the country must match one of the values on the registration page. Click here for the full country list. 
• Find more information on registration mapping here.

Enforce Custom Field Consistency

• Ensure the ON24 custom fields (i.e., "std1") are used consistently across events. 
• For example, custom field #1 (std1) cannot be "How did you hear about this event" in ON24 Event ID: 0012345 and "What are your social media handles" in ON24 Event ID: 0015678. 
• Otherwise, the std1 field values will not make sense when evaluating it aggregately and the values can show in different fields within your ON24 reports, CRM/MAP, or end system.

Create a Template Event

• Once you configure your ON24 registration form to your liking, we highly recommend you create a template, so you don't have to remember the tips listed above. 
• In Elite, use the word Template in the event name. Go to the Overview page and toggle the Test Event field on, so you don't get billed for it.