The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the lifestyles people were well-adjusted to. The 9-5 corporate workers have to now work from home on their laptops, probably longer than 5 p.m. The workload has increased as communication is no longer straightforward and face-to-face. Meetings and work calls are scheduled for every message that needs to be communicated. Interactions are digitized, and we cannot meet people without a mask or a laptop screen.
In these stressful situations, entertainment is one of the things that can bring a smile to people’s faces. Adventure seekers who once used to visit escape room brands to quench their thirst for thrill and excitement are presently compelled to find virtual alternatives.
Online escape rooms are virtual rooms designed by brands that want to provide the same experience without risking the player’s health. Virtual escape rooms are the newest trend in the entertainment industry, where customers can easily visit the escape brand’s website and make an effortless booking.
Social media and digital marketing have become some of the most efficient forms of marketing products and services to customers, so making a user-friendly escape room website has become necessary. That is where compatible WP plugins play a significant role.
What are WordPress plugins?
A plugin is software that provides a list of functions to make your work on WordPress easy and more productive, similar to how apps on your smartphone help you get things done faster. Plugins help you add features to your website without a single code and can be ‘plugged’ into your website, hence the name.
Once you click on the ‘plugins’ option on your dashboard, you will notice WordPress offers tens of thousands of plugins. Some do not offer tech support, while others provide efficient functionality. Now, the question arises: Which plugin can make your escape room website user-friendly without causing trouble? Find out by reading further!
Things to consider before choosing a plugin for an escape room website
- Reviews – Reviews usually hint at the company’s credibility and efficiency. As long as there are positive reviews, you are good to go!
- Regular updates—If the company regularly updates the plugin according to website compatibility, it is more likely to be secure.
WordPress plugins for escape room websites
Here, we have compiled the plugins to make your websites easy to access.
1. Chatbot by QuantumCloud
Usually, when you click on any customer-oriented website, a new message appears at the bottom of the screen. If users have doubts about the information on the website, they can text the chatbot instead of going through an unnecessary phone call with customer service. These are called Chatbots.
This feature can display a set of FAQs about the escape rooms, events, or amenities with text answers you created from the WordPress backend.
Some additional features are:
- Chatbot full-screen options for phones
- Built-in facilities for users to drop a phone number
- Supports multiple languages for international fans
2. Foogallery by Fooplugins
Who would love browsing an unattractive website with only text-based information? Provide your potential customers with some eye candy before they choose the food for their souls!
Foogallery is a responsive photo gallery plugin that has a lightning-fast loading speed. It gives customers an insight into what they are getting themselves into and keeps them excited till the day of the game. Using this plugin, you can show them a glance at the party rooms, previous happy customers, and the amenities the escape room venue provides.
Some additional features are:
- Easy to customize options for the pictures
- Gallery widget
- Built-in media library
3. Online Booking System by Checkfront
Every customer who lands on your escape room website would want a fast and hassle-free booking experience. This plugin provides the required functions.
Guests can view the availability of the escape rooms and book their events at a time of their choice. They can submit the details about the number of players, if catering services are required, and sign digital waivers. Finally, online transactions can be done smoothly through credit or suitable payment apps on their smartphone or desktops.
Some additional features are:
- Multi-gateway payment processing with apps like Square and PayPal
- Creation of customer accounts to view booking history
- Mobile-friendly booking processes
4. Appointment Hour Booking by CodePeople
Appointment Hour Booking is another WordPress plugin that manages customer appointments with a defined duration and schedule. It provides customers with information like when the escape brand is open, how many appointments can be made, and swift online payments. It also informs guests about the number of available time slots for the team members they have.
The plugin also allows the client to choose multiple services, such as catering, drinks, decorations, and numerical escape rooms and provides automatic price calculations based on these services.
Some additional features are:
- Automatically managed schedules to avoid double booking.
- Form validation and captcha protection
- Calendar with over 53 languages for foreign escape room fans
5. Social Media Widget by Noah Kagan
When customers search for a suitable escape room brand to show their families and friends a good time, they do a lot of research. They would love to check user reviews and the company’s social media presence. After all, an escape room brand’s success depends on how much escape enthusiasts love it. You cannot add all your information on the website alone; providing links to your social media communities is a good idea.
This plugin supports major social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Yelp, and Google+. It speeds up and simplifies users’ experience on your website.
Some additional features are:
- Animated and eye-catching icons
- Widget text editor
- Widget Alignment
Conclusion
Attractive details, easy communication, and express-quick booking options can help your website attract escape room customers. You may design the most immersive escape rooms, but if you don’t market them right, all your efforts will be in vain.
Plugins can perform those tasks for you if you choose the right ones!
Plugins can make or break any website. They can make your website ten times more efficient, or they can slow it down if they are poorly coded. Nevertheless, we have done the research to provide you with the best plugins for your escape room websites. Incorporate these on your website; you will have an eye-catching, user-friendly escape room website in no time!
If you are unsure, contact the WordPress experts at DigiSol360 for assistance. We can provide ongoing WordPress support for your WordPress website.
