We have a series Customer Case Studies, in which we take your stories and share your challenges and successes as a learning tool for other RunSignUp users. This Case Study focuses on RunSignUp Race Websites, the Referral Program, and the RaceDay CheckIn Mobile App.
Download PDF Version of the Case Study
About Negative Split Productions and RunSignUp
Tony Sapp is the owner of Negative Split Productions, and 50% owner of Houston Race Series, LLC, a collaboration with Aaron Palaian’s Onurmark Productions. Houston Race Series, LLC owns and operates the Run Houston! Race Series and the Bayou City Half Marathon Series.
The Houston Race Series Races were moved over to RunSignUp from another registration platform in June of 2016. In their short time on RunSignUp, they have taken advantage of a number of opportunities afforded by RunSignUp’s comprehensive suite of tools.
In Depth: Using Race Websites to Relay Information Seamlessly
Negative Split Productions takes full advantage of the customization options for RunSignUp’s free websites, with 3 key results: (1) keeping runners informed, (2) reducing customer service, (3) maintaining brand integrity. They achieve this is a few ways:
- Extensive custom pages with logical menu-order: The pages cover virtually
- Integration with Series Websites: To connect the races within each series, there is a series website with information that is relevant to all races; each individual race also has it’s own website on RunSignUp. To ensure that runners can find series information on the individual websites, as well, specific tabs (like the Series Charity info) simply link back to the series website.
- Page Branding: Each page has its own logo and theme for the specific event; series branding is maintained with a common page header.
- Participant Management Access: Each event page includes tabs to find a participant, review the refund policy, and manage registration (i.e., errors in entering participant info, changes in t-shirt size, etc) directly from the website. This consistent, easy access to participant data reduces customer support over time as runners become accustomed to managing their own data.
“Managing your registration has worked out really well for us – it’s an education process, but getting people to do it on their own is a really big time saver. It reduced the amount of work I had to do to answer emails, etc.” – Tony Sapp
Run Houston! For Free: The Referral Program
The Run Houston! Race Series is using the RunSignUp Referral Program in a creative way by branding it as a “Run Houston! For Free” Program. In their pilot test of the program, they are offering a $10 refund every time a runner gets 5 runners to register with their referral link. The results from their first try:
In spite of a late start to the program (registration was not opened on RunSignUp until June, and marketing for the Run Houston! For Free program kicked off shortly before the race),
Referrals brought in 122 registrations with only $60 of refunds given. Each registration acquisition cost the race only 49 cents.
Over time, they will watch the ROI and if the program seems to stagnate, may try increasing the amount of refund given.
Speedy CheckIn with RaceDay CheckIn Mobile App
Previously, check-in for races was done by downloading a participant list, assigning bib numbers, and using a 
With the RunSignUp Mobile App, the race sent out QR codes for each registrant to speed
check-in. With 60-70% of runners bringing their code and a simple search option for the remaining runners, a single volunteer was able to check-in almost 500 runners in the first 90 minutes of packet pickup.
In addition to speed, the check-in reports made it quick and easy to predict the number of runners who still needed to pick up bibs on race morning, and helped the race to staff volunteers accordingly.
If you have a success story about your race, store or club, big or small, email us
…we’d love to explore a Case Study on your topic!