Add an RSVP block to an email

Get a headcount for an event with an RSVP block

Review your plan: This feature is not available in all Constant Contact plans. See where to compare plans, and if you don’t have full access, you may need to upgrade your plan.

You don't always need a full-blown event marketing tool to run an event, especially when you just need to get a headcount. Sending an RSVP gives you a good idea of how many people you can expect at your event so that you can plan for things like venue, food and beverages, entertainment, and permits. Plus, the reporting makes it easy to send future communications to those who are interested in attending!

• Add an RSVP block
• Responding to an RSVP

Add an RSVP block

Creating an RSVP is as simple as dragging a block into your email template and adding some basic event information:

1. Drag-and-drop, or click-and-stick, the RSVP block into your email. Use the guidelines to help you find the right place.
   
   
    
2. Click on the RSVP block to open the toolbar and then click Edit.
   
   
    
3. Add a name for your event.
4. Enter the location where the event is taking place.
5. Select the start and end date and time of the event.
6. Give a brief description of what your event is all about. You can give additional information in the body of your email.
   Note: Information added to this section is visible on a personal calendar if your contact clicks the "Add to calendar" link on the "Thank you" page and downloads the ICS file. If you want the link to a virtual meeting (GoToMeeting, JoinMe, Skype, Zoom, etc.) to appear in the calendar entry, include it here.
7. (Optional) Edit the text you want to display on the RSVP option buttons, delete buttons you don't need, or reorder the buttons.
8. Click Save to finish editing the rest of your email.
   
   
    

Once your RSVP block is added, the font and button colors can be styled from the Design tab:

• The background color of your RSVP block corresponds to the Inner background color under the Backgrounds & borders section. Alternatively, you can choose a different background color for the individual block.
  
  
   
• The text font and style for the RSVP block corresponds to the Body text options under the Fonts section.
  
  
   
• The button color, text, and style correspond to the options you’ve selected under the Buttons section.
  
  
   

When you're finished adding your content and branding to your email, click Continue to send it out to your contacts.

Responding to an RSVP

Once you send your email, you can see the reporting for your RSVP from the Email Details page in your account. From there, you can drill down to see the individual contacts who clicked on the different button options in your RSVP and export a CSV file for each response type.

Save time: If you're planning on sending additional emails to the contacts who RSVP'd for your event, consider adding them to a new list that's set up to receive an automation path. Whenever you add a new contact to that list, it triggers the first email in the series. Your "series" can even be a single email!

Existing contacts

When your contacts RSVP, they see a page thanking them for responding. They can also add the event to their personal calendars by clicking the "Add to calendar" link. Information included in the Event description field is visible in the calendar entry once the ICS file is downloaded and added to the calendar.

Note: The "Add to calendar" link is only available after your email is sent. You won't see it when clicking the RSVP option from the preview or test email send.

Non-contacts

If you share your email on social media or share the campaign URL anywhere (like on your blog or website), anyone who RSVPs for your event is presented with a form to fill out to give you permission to email them. If someone reaches the form and then closes it, that person's response isn't included in your reporting.

Note: If a contact forwards your email to someone and that person tries to RSVP, they won't be presented with the form and their response will be recorded for the original contact, since the email is tied to the contact's email address. If you want to be able to capture RSVPs through a forwarded email, create your email in the Cross Device Editor first and then insert a social sharing button so contacts can easily forward the email to others.

New contacts gathered through the RSVP block are added to your account but are not automatically added to a specific list. You can add these contacts to a list when viewing your RSVP responses.

Questions?