Can I allow payments for an "event" after it is over?

[cameronjpu]

I am doing a webinar for which my clients will pay in advance to join.  I would like to be able to give any people who miss the event time a chance to still buy a ticket afterwards, because the event will be recorded and available after the fact as well, making the 'after the event' experience almost identical to the 'live' experience.   

To accomplish this on the first go-round, I changed the date of the event to a week later, after the event had passed, but that's not the perfect solution for obvious reasons.  Any way possible to allow sales even after the event has passed or have I landed on the best solution already?

[Stacelyn24]

While Square’s events system is primarily designed for booking live sessions, you can still offer access to the recording after the fact. Here’s a more streamlined way to accomplish your goal:

Option 1: Use a Product or Service to Sell Post-Event Access

1. Create a New Product for Post-Event Access:

   • Instead of changing the event date, create a new product (or service) that’s priced for access to the recorded version of the webinar.
   • You can list this as a “webinar replay” or something similar, so clients know they are purchasing the ability to access the recorded session.

2. Link to the Recording:

   • After the event, upload the recording to a platform like YouTube (private link), Vimeo, or another video hosting platform that allows you to keep the video secure.
   • In the product/service description, provide a link to the recorded webinar or give clients instructions on how to access it once they purchase.

3. Post the Replay Product on Your Website:

   • Add this product to your Square Online store or direct people to it via an email link or on your social media, so clients who missed the event can still purchase and view the recording.

4. Send an Automated Email:

   • Once someone purchases the product for post-event access, you can set up an automated email in Square to send them the link to the recording (or details on how to access it).

Option 2: Use Square’s Online Booking (for more structured sales)

1. Create a Service for Post-Event Sales:

   • Set up a service in Square Appointments for the post-event purchase, even though there is no specific "appointment" involved.
   • Clients can purchase this service as an "access pass" to the recording.

2. Set Availability After the Event:

   • Configure the service to be available for booking after the live event date, allowing clients to buy it whenever they want. This way, your clients can book the service (i.e., buy access) even after the event date has passed.

Option 3: Use Eventbrite or Similar Platforms

• If you want to provide a seamless way for both live and recorded event tickets, you could consider using an event ticketing platform like Eventbrite. These platforms allow you to set up ticket sales for both live and on-demand access to your webinars. You can integrate Eventbrite with your website or link to it in your marketing emails.

Conclusion

Changing the event date is a quick workaround, but to make it more efficient and professional in the long term, creating a separate post-event access product or service is a much better solution. This gives your clients a chance to purchase the webinar after it’s over and allows you to keep your event marketing and sales separate for future events. 🙂