Ready to set up your first race on RunSignup, and not sure where to start? Welcome! RunSignup is a self-serve platform, meaning you can get started with RunSignup anytime, whether you’re ready to go live soon or simply want to test out the platform before moving forward.
Blog Contents
Getting Started with RunSignup
The very, very short answer: to get started with RunSignup, just click the “Create a Race” button found at the top right of the RunSignup website (or just below).
There is no requirement that you speak with someone at RunSignup before creating your race. However, if you need help first, you can always schedule a call with a representative on our Sales Team.
The Create a Race Button will drop you into our Race Wizard. This 7-step process collects all key information so your event can be created. Don’t worry if you don’t know everything for every step to start with – you will be able to customize and edit your race after the initial setup. For most races, we recommend clicking the button at the bottom of the first step of the Wizard to “Set as Draft”. This means you will be able to continue to edit and update your race as a race director, but it will not be publicly viewable (or findable by any search engines).
When your race is ready to go live, you can publish it (take it out of Draft Mode) from your event dashboard by navigating to Race >> Display >> Draft Mode Settings.
Race Wizard Walkthrough
If you want to follow along with our team as you complete your race wizard, you can find a video walkthrough of each step here:
Note: our technology is continuously improving. Since these videos were recorded, minor changes may have been made to the Race Wizard. Follow the steps as you see them in your Wizard.
Race Director’s 101
Getting started on RunSignup is simple, but races can be much more complicated. For new users, we recommend reviewing our RunSignup 101 content for next steps for customizing your event.
- All Race Director 101 resources can be found here.
- We run a regularly rotating set of RunSignup 101 webinars on key RunSignup features. Check our Upcoming Webinars to find and sing up for any live RunSignup 101 webinars; otherwise, you can refer to our recent on-demand RunSignup 101 webinars.
RunSignup 101 On-Demand Webinars:
- Core Features (Setup & Race Access)
- Adyen V2 (Payment Account Setup & Management)
- Website V2 (Race Website Customization)
- Email V2 (Email Marketing Features)
- Reporting (Understanding Your Data)
- Overlooked Features (Thing You May Have Missed)
Help Resources for RunSignup
Looking for more help customizing your event or understanding your options? Our most-loved resources can be found below.
- RunSignup Support contains hundreds of how-to articles and videos (and an AI Chatbot in the bottom right corner that you can ask for instant assistance).
- RunSignup Blog is where you can find all the latest technology updates. Not sure where to start? Use the search icon at the top of the RunSignup website to find content related to your specific question.
- RunSignup Webinars is home to upcoming and on-demand webinars covering a broad range of features.
Customer Support for Your First RunSignup Event
Self-serve doesn’t mean you’re on your won. Our RunSignup Support Team is here to help with questions about your setup, and customization options on your race dashboard after setup. In addition to dedicated Account Managers, you can email info@runsignup.com or fill out a support ticket to reach our support team 7 days a week.
Optional Next Steps
Some events are ready for registration after the initial Wizard and payment setup. However, RunSignup has a wide array of tools, giving you a ton of flexibility to customize your race website, create email marketing campaigns, and manage check-in on race day. If you’re looking to further refine your event, these are a five of our recommended next steps:
- Take your race website to the next level and add an FAQ and an AI Chatbot for Customer Support
- Create an Email Marketing campaign by uploading all verified contacts, sending emails, and enabling automated emails
- Use integrated tools to create a marketing plan for your event
- Add add-ons or store items to boost revenue through merchandise and add-on experiences (like VIP parking)
- Prepare for race day by downloading and configuring the RaceDay CheckIn App