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Get more responses to your event with a newsletter RSVP button

· 12 min read · Email marketing · Feb 17, 2021

Email event invitations are fast, scalable and practical for everyone. With one click, your subscribers can RSVP without ever having to leave the newsletter.

Whether you’re running a formal event, online webinar or virtual conference, RSVP buttons in your emails can make all the difference for boosting event attendance.

People are more likely to make a decision right away, and the more pages they have to click through, the less likely they are to convert.

One-click RSVP buttons let your subscribers respond immediately when it is top of mind. Instead of having to leave the email and register on a landing page, subscribers sign up straight away—making RSVPing super easy.

You can now seal the deal and get RSVPs directly in your email!

Below, we’ve included some pro tips for promoting your events with email including how to embed RSVP buttons in your newsletters.


Event marketers already know the power of email marketing. In fact, almost 40% of event organizers say that email marketing is their preferred channel for event promotion. Here’s why:

1. You can segment your guest list

Email works so well for events because you can target your invitees using segmentation and interest groups. When you send an online invitation to a specific group of subscribers using a message that resonates just for them, you get more registrations.

For example, if you are promoting an in-person event in Boston, you can create a group of subscribers based on location within driving distance of that area. Or, if you are hosting a webinar, you can create multiple invitations highlighting the key benefits that matter to each targeted group.

Pro tip: Segmenting your invitees 👪

When your subscribers use the one-click RSVP button, their email address is automatically added to a special subscriber group. So you don’t have to think twice about organizing your list. You can track signups, get a final headcount and automate follow-up emails to keep them engaged until the event.

2. You can add countdown timers

Countdown timers in your emails are extremely effective in creating a sense of urgency. These ticking clocks in your email encourage your subscribers to hurry up and RSVP to your event before it’s too late.

You can strengthen the urgency by using time-sensitive language (e.g. ‘last chance’ or ‘only one day left’) and a strong call to action (CTA) along with your countdown timer.

Pro tip: Using countdown clocks 🕒

To create a timer for your event with MailerLite, select the countdown block in the drag and drop editor and place it wherever you like in your newsletter. You can then set the date and time, and this will show based on the timezone of the sender.

3. You can build automated event email sequences

Have you ever signed up for a webinar or virtual event... and then completely forgotten about it? A lot of us have been there and done that (we’re busy people, after all)! That’s why an automated email sequence is a great way to stay top of mind in the run-up to your event.

Email automation allows you to set up a series of emails that will be sent automatically, when your subscribers take a certain action to trigger the sequence. For example, when your subscribers RSVP, they can be added to a group in one click, which will trigger the automation. You could then send them a series of automated email reminders to build anticipation for your event.

Pro tip: Creating an event email reminder series 💡

You could set up an automation workflow that sends invitees an email reminder three days, one day, and then one hour before the event, for example. This way, they’ll have had plenty of time to plan for the event.

4. You can send a follow-up email after the event

After the event, it’s important to keep the ball rolling by following up with your subscribers. For example, you could:

  • Send a thank you message: This shows your guests how much you appreciate them, and it’s a nice personal touch to finish off the event

  • Collect feedback with an email survey block: This is your best opportunity to find out what worked, and what could be even better for your next professional event

  • Share a link to your product or service: This can follow on from any promotions that you mentioned during the event

  • Promote your next event: This is the perfect moment to get people excited about your next event, especially since they are already engaged and interested in your content

  • Share a replay of the event: This allows you to share a recording of your live or virtual event, so that people can go back over it and relive all the best parts, and even share it on social media

Pro tip: Sending a recording of your event 🎬

You can easily embed a video in your email using MailerLite for your post-event marketing. Share it with everyone who RSVP’d so that even people who couldn’t make it won’t miss out.


At MailerLite, we’ve been using the 1-click RSVP button for over a year. Beforehand, we hovered around a 0.8% click-through rate. Since introducing the RSVP button, we average around 1.2%, which is a 50% increase in attendees!

It’s official—these buttons really can make all the difference for your click-through rates.

Instead of taking our subscribers away from the newsletter to a separate registration landing page, the RSVP email block allowed us to keep the entire registration process within the newsletter. Take a look at how we seamlessly integrated the event block in the newsletter below. 

MailerLite webinar invitation email

When the subscriber selects the “Click here to RSVP” button, the web version of the newsletter appears and the event block button changes to “You’re in! We’ll email the webinar access link and a reminder beforehand.” That’s it. Now they’re registered.

There’s also a handy ‘Add to calendar’ feature underneath so that they can quickly log the event in their diary.

RSVP button confirmation message

The subscriber never leaves the newsletter, allowing them to continue reading on after they RSVP’d. On the back-end, their email address is added to a special webinar group.

You can then set up an automated workflow to send them a confirmation email, or send a manual email to that group when you are ready.

After the webinar, we then sent out a replay email with a recording of the event, plus a downloadable document with related resources and notes.

Webinar recording follow-up email

Online RSVPs are quick and easy—and much of the process can be automated to create a smoother experience for everyone.

To learn more about how to create an awesome event email, you can also check out our email marketing guide for event planners.

Now, let’s see how easy event email blocks are to set up and customize.


The event email blocks can be found in the most recent drag & drop builder. Once you're in the editor, you can select two different layout types: Event and Event/Webinar

MailerLite’s email blocks are completely customizable, so you can use them for any type of event including webinars, demos, hangouts and offline events. There’s also plenty of ready-made email templates so that you don’t have to start from scratch. 

We created these email blocks to make your life easier when you are planning an event. With pre-built fields and two RSVP options that add subscribers to a selected group automatically, you can now spend more time focusing on the actual event instead of building an invitation from scratch.

Let's set up an event block

Go to the Event block, which you can find under the Special category.

MailerLite event block screenshot

Now for the date, time and location...

Every event invitation contains vital details that you don’t want to forget, such as time, date and location. The pre-built fields ensure that you won’t forget to include all the necessary information. There are 5 different date formats you can choose from:

Date formats in the MailerLite builder

The Location field auto-completes suggestions to help you find the right address within seconds.

Location field in the MailerLite builder

Set up your RSVP button

The RSVP button is the big time saver of this email block. You select the Show RSVP button and insert the button title, success message and the interest group you want to add to.

Subscribers are added to the selected group automatically, and you can now trigger automations to send event-related emails directly to people who have RSVP’d. Complex automation made simple!

RSVP positive button in the MailerLite builder

Create an RSVP button for people who can't attend

You can now also set up an RSVP button for people who can’t make it. This stops you from bothering them with email reminders (because no one likes nagging)! You can also add them to an interest group for later if you want to send them a recording of the event so that they don’t miss out.

RSVP negative button in MailerLite

Let people add the event to their diary

You can also select Show calendar links to add your event to subscribers’ calendars. This is another great way to remind them that the event is happening, and bump up your attendance rates. 

Calendar links in the MailerLite builder

Or try this different layout...

If you are hosting a webinar or want to use a different layout, you can select the Event/Webinar block, which works the same way. Both the Event and Event/Webinar blocks have the option to show an RSVP button, an RSVP negative link (for those who can't come), and set up calendar links. Here's what the Event/Webinar block looks like:

Event webinar block in the MailerLite builder

RSVP email responses are a quick and easy way to get attendees for your event. Inviting your subscribers to a webinar or live event is now as easy as a drag & drop. 

Just remember...
  • Use interest groups to send more targeted event emails

  • Make the most of countdowns to promote your event

  • Set up automated email reminders to boost attendance

  • Let your subscribers add the event to their calendars

  • Include a negative RSVP link for people who can’t attend

  • Send a follow-up email after the event

Of course, you need to first plan an event that your subscribers will love. That’s the hard part! But once you’re ready, promoting the event in your email should be a cinch (super easy).

Give it a try and let us know how RSVP emails work for you!


Editor's note: This article was originally published in October 2019, and it has now been updated with new insights and examples of email RSVPs. 

Jonas Fischer
Jonas Fischer
I'm Jonas, Content Manager at MailerLite. I’m not the 4th Jonas Brother, but I do write content (which is similar to being a teen heartthrob). After writing for a bunch of companies over the years, I discovered my professional passion—helping add some humanity to B2B marketing. Email is the perfect place to start!