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Key Takeaways
- Non-response usually signals low immediacy perception, not disinterest.
- Segment by relationship proximity + logistics impact (core, nice-to-have, overflow).
- Three-step ladder (Invite → Soft Reminder → Decision Trigger) beats weekly nags.
- RSVP capacity tracking informs safe headcount buffers.
- Adaptive copy referencing nearing planning locks increases conversion.
Why Guests Ghost
People delay decisions with diffuse deadlines. Without a salient scarcity or operational dependency, RSVP sits in a cognitive parking lot. Behavioral insights (Ariely's work on procrastination triggers) show vague future actions get discounted rapidly.
The Humane Nudge Ladder
- Invite (T0): Clear value + frictionless action button.
- Soft Reminder (T0 + 5d): Light tone: "Locking food counts soon—would love to know."
- Decision Trigger (T0 + 9–10d): Introduce consequence: seating & dietary ordering lock tomorrow.
Avoid guilt frames; emphasize operational clarity and guest comfort (dietary, seating preference) as the reason.
Segmentation
- Core Guests: High emotional + logistic weight. Early individual follow-up if silent post soft reminder.
- General Guests: Standard ladder only.
- Overflow / Conditional: Held until attrition forecast clarifies.
Inside LOMAevents
- RSVP dashboard tracks response status for each guest invitation (you still send any follow-up reminders manually—only the initial confirmation email is automated).
- Guest analytics show completion rates and response breakdown.
- Set capacity limits to prevent overbooked events with automatic enforcement.
- Universal link sharing lets guests RSVP from any device with deep links back to app.
- Guests can include dietary & accessibility notes as part of their RSVP submission.
Pro Tip: Add a calendar hold link manually inside the soft reminder (the app doesn't generate calendar invites)—commitment inertia rises once a time block exists.
Copy Patterns
- Soft: "Quick nudge—finalizing portion counts soon. Tap to lock your spot if you're in."
- Trigger: "Seating map freeze tonight. Need your yes/no so we can group you with friends."
- Escalation (Core only): Personal text referencing specific shared context.
References & Influence
- Predictably Irrational – procrastination & immediacy discounting.
- Influence – commitment & consistency cues.
- Everybody Writes – clarity & tone calibration for conversion copy.
Concepts paraphrased; no direct quotes.
Your Next Action
Open your guest list. Set up your RSVP form with clear capacity limits and track responses in real-time.