The Mistakes That Trip Up Most Events (and How to Dodge Them)

Here are the mistakes we see most often (and how to avoid them).
Spaceman wearing a party hat

At Forumm, we’ve helped organisations run everything from intimate workshops to large conferences with hundreds of attendees. And we’ve noticed something important: most events don’t fail on the day… they fail in the build-up. Empty seats, last-minute drop-offs, or disengaged audiences usually come down to the small details of how you invite, register, and keep people engaged before the doors even open.

1. Weak Invite Emails


The first invite sets the tone. If it’s vague, people won’t click through. Subject lines often miss the real value, or the copy assumes readers will already know why the event matters.

What to do instead:

  • Lead with benefits, not logistics. “The place where this year’s biggest brand ideas are born” is much stronger than “Annual Marketing Conference.”
  • Be clear on audience. People need to know the event is for them. For example: “For marketing leaders and comms teams” instead of “For anyone interested in comms.”
  • Add urgency. “Spaces are limited” or “Early bird registration closes Friday” gives people a reason to act now, not later.

2. Registration That Puts People Off

Getting someone to click through is hard work, don’t lose them with clunky registration pages or missing details.

What to do instead:

  • Keep forms short. Stick to the basics: name, email, organisation.
  • Include essentials upfront:
    • A clear event description
    • An agenda, even if high-level
    • Speaker bios with photos
  • Show a public attendee list (opt-in). People love seeing who else is attending, it builds community before the event and helps attendees map out who they want to connect with at the event.

Forumm’s attendee management add-on helps streamline this process, making sure registration is smooth and attendees get exactly what they need without friction.

3. Announcing Everything All at Once

One big launch email with every speaker and every detail kills momentum. After that, you’ve got nothing new to say.

What to do instead:

  • Announce one big-name speaker first to create your hook.
  • Drip-feed new speakers or sessions each week.
  • Use each announcement as fresh content for email and social.

4. Forgetting the Event Identity

A plain registration page with no visuals makes an event feel forgettable. Your event should have a recognisable look across emails, social, and landing pages.

What to do instead:

  • Use tools like Canva to create simple, consistent graphics.
  • Stick to a colour palette and font to build recognition.
  • For bigger events, invest in professional design.

At Forumm, we connect organisers with trusted designers who create event identities that carry through from the registration page to social media campaigns.

5. Skipping the Countdown

Many organisers send one invite and then go silent until the day of the event. Attendees forget, diaries fill up, and no-shows rise.

What to do instead:

  • Marketing emails to everyone:
    • Two weeks before: teaser or speaker highlight
    • One week before: agenda or “what you’ll learn”
    • One day before: last chance to register
  • Reminder emails to those already signed up:
    • Two weeks before: confirmation + calendar invite
    • One week before: practical info like timings and location
    • One day before: directions, or webinar access details
    • On the day: a quick “see you soon” reminder

Our marketing add-on takes this pressure off by planning and sending these comms for you, so you can focus on the event itself.

6. Making It Free (and Only Free)

Free events sound attractive, but they come with one major drawback: no-shows. Industry data (and our own experience) shows that 30–40% of free registrations don’t turn up.

What to do instead:

  • Add a small fee (even £5) to boost commitment.
  • If you want to keep it accessible, offer a discount code to students or those that need it by emailing you. It also creates an additional touchpoint for your attendees.

Final Thought

Successful events are built in the details: from the invite email to the last reminder. Get those right, and you’ll arrive on event day with an audience that’s informed, excited, and ready to connect.

And if you’d rather not juggle all of this yourself, Forumm can help. Through our marketing and attendee management add-ons, we’ll support you in the build-up so your event has the best chance of success. Or, if you want the entire pressure of organising taken off your shoulders, we can connect you with one of our recommended professional organisers who do this day in, day out.

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