Short answer: To set up Zoho Backstage, create your event (in person, virtual, or hybrid), build the event website, set up tickets and a registration form, connect a payment gateway, add your agenda and speakers, then use the check-in app on event day. Afterward, send surveys and sync attendees to your CRM. A simple event can be ready to publish in an afternoon.
Zoho Backstage is Zoho's event management platform. It handles the event website, registration, ticketing, agendas, check-in, and virtual sessions in one place, and it connects to Zoho CRM and Zoho Campaigns.
Here's a step-by-step setup for your first event.
Step 1: Create Your Event and Choose the Format
In Backstage, create a new event and fill in the basics:
- Event name, dates, and time zone
- Format: in person, virtual, or hybrid
- Venue for in-person events, or your webcasting setup for virtual sessions
- Organizers who will help manage the event
Pick the right plan: Backstage has a free plan with limits on sessions, session length, and speakers, plus paid plans that add capacity, ticketing features, sponsors, and virtual booths. Check what your event needs on Zoho's Backstage pricing page before you build. For an overview of the platform, see How to Run Events with Zoho Backstage.
Step 2: Build the Event Website and Registration
The event website: Backstage includes a drag-and-drop website builder. Start from a theme, then add:
- A clear headline with the date, location, and who the event is for
- The agenda and speaker profiles
- Sponsor logos, if you have sponsors
- A prominent register button
Tickets and registration:
- Create ticket types, such as general admission, early bird, VIP, or free registration.
- Set quantities and sale dates for each ticket.
- Build the registration form. Ask only what you need: name, email, company, and one or two questions that help you plan.
- Connect a payment gateway if you're selling tickets.
- Add discount codes for partners, members, or early registrants.
Test the full registration flow yourself before you publish, including the confirmation email.
Step 3: Add Sessions, Speakers, and Promotion
Agenda and speakers:
- Add sessions with times, rooms or tracks, and descriptions.
- Add speakers with photos and short bios. Backstage can give speakers their own portal for submitting details and materials.
- Set up virtual sessions with Backstage's webcasting or an integration like Zoom or Zoho Meeting on supported plans.
Promote the event:
- Send invitations and reminders from Backstage, or sync with Zoho Campaigns for larger email campaigns.
- Share the event website on social media and your own website.
- Track registrations by source so you know which promotion worked.
For a look at three features worth using, see Zoho Backstage: 3 Event Management Features.
Step 4: Run Check-In and Follow Up
On event day:
- Use the check-in app on a phone or tablet to scan attendee QR codes.
- Print badges on site if your plan and setup support it.
- Watch live attendance from the organizer dashboard.
After the event:
- Send a survey while the event is fresh.
- Share recordings and slides with attendees and people who missed it.
- Sync attendees to Zoho CRM so sales can follow up with the right people.
- Review analytics: registrations, attendance rate, ticket revenue, and session popularity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zoho Backstage free? There's a free plan with limits. Paid plans add capacity and features like ticketing, sponsors, and recordings.
Can I run virtual and hybrid events? Yes. Backstage supports in-person, virtual, and hybrid events.
Does Backstage integrate with Zoho CRM? Yes. Attendees can sync to Zoho CRM for follow-up.
How long does setup take? A simple single-track event can be built in an afternoon. Multi-track conferences with sponsors take longer.
Bottom Line
Zoho Backstage puts your event website, tickets, agenda, check-in, and follow-up in one place. Start with the basics, test registration yourself, and connect attendees to your CRM so the event keeps paying off after it ends.
TechnoMap helps businesses set up Zoho Backstage and connect it to Zoho CRM and Campaigns. Planning an event? Book a 15-minute intro call.
