Could multi-site replace Event Aggragator for this client

[serpcom]

In light of the new Facebook API changes, causing the event aggregator to stop working I have a question about 1 client of ours that was using it.

It is Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston MA. We built their website on a multisite network on wordpress. They have 100+ merchants who are all a part of the merchant association that pays for their website. Each merchant has their own website on the multi-site network, that they can log-into and schedule post content, post jobs, etc.

We had been using the event aggragator, so the merchants did not need to post their events into their wordpress website, and instructed them to strictly post their events on facebook, and we would connect their page to event aggragator, which we then pulled into one overall event calendar for the entire property. Thing of a mall and all the retailers, sharing one event calendar.

Now that, the event aggragator no longer works, and we have a live site. Do you know if we put the event calendar on every ones site (they would need the ability to each set recurring events) if all their events could pool together on one calendar.

Right now, just the corporate marketing team who manages the “aggragator site” where all the merchants individual content broadcasts too; has Event Calendar Pro, as we removed event calendar from each individual page. So we would need event calendar pro for a multi-site environment, where this client is a little different because we have a website in place for each individual merchant that they can access on their own and post the events too.

Can someone please clarify if this is the best solution for us to quickly move forward without a lot of downtime, and if their can be any discount since our existing solution paid for doesn’t work.

We have 3 event aggragtor licenses, but only this particular client is built on a multi-site network, where this solution could resolve the issue with event aggragator, as the merchants already login to the back end and post their other content as well.

Please advise at your earliest convenience. Thank You.
Steve

[Andras]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for reaching out and the thorough explanation.

Yeah, Facebook is giving everybody challenges nowadays. 🙂

Here’s my thinking on this:

Option 1:

Each site owner creates their events on Facebook. Then they all pull in their events with EA to their site.

Then on the main site you pull all the calendar feeds of the users, so you have the calendar as before.

(I’m currently checking how this can be solved easily with EA.)

Option 2, which might be better a bit:

Each site owner creates their events on Facebook AND on their own site as well.

Then on the main site you pull all the calendar feeds of the users, so you have the calendar as before.

In my view option 2 would be more reliable, though it requires a bit more work from the site owners.

In option 1 you would need to walk through all users on how to set up EA scheduled imports to pull the events from Facebook.

Also we do not yet know which direction Facebook will be taking, so the less dependent one is on it the better. Hopefully this will change to the better soon.

Let me know if this helps and if you have any further questions.

Cheers,
Andras

 

[serpcom]

Hi Andras.

Is Option 1 that you suggest still possible with EA?

I thought Facebook Sync no longer works?

 

[Andras]

Based on my tests yesterday I was able to import an event when all the following were true:

• I created a public event on Facebook with my FB account
• I connected EA with Facebook with my FB account (basically the same account as the event was created with

Note, I just tested basic event details. I didn’t test venues and organizers.

So at the moment this works. But we don’t know what’s going to happen next, and when that is going to be. We are also eager to find out more, but it’s beyond our reach.

So it could work like that, but based on my opinion option 2 is less risky, as that doesn’t rely on Facebook.

Cheers,
Andras

[serpcom]

Thanks Andras,

It sounds like we should abandon the facebook sync.

Is there any chance we can somehow look at our account for faneuil hall and
potentially, update our licenses. Previously we did not put the event
calendar on the individual merchant sites, as we purchased two event
aggregators and one events calendar pro account to accomplish the one
calendar desired.

Since we need events calendar pro now for a merchant to set up recurring
events locally on each site since Facebook no longer works. Is there any
chance we could get our events calendar Pro license upgraded to a
multi-site license for this account for free?

Here is the license key I’m referring
too: [removed by admin]

Even if just until the current license is up for renewal….I just need to
have a solution in place before I go back to them with the news….

We launched this site early this year and spent hours setting everything
up, that we now have to go back and set up using this new method across the
entire network which is going to take us quite some time, so if possible it
would be greatly appreciated.

We plan to continue to use you guys for most everything related to events.
But this particular account is a little time sensitive and it would be
greatly appreciated to help us get it back on track.

Thank you for your consideration of this.

Best,
Steve

 

[Andras]

This reply is private.

[Andras]

This reply is private.

[serpcom]

Thank You Andras. I’m trying to upgrade the license from the personal to
the multi-site, however when I log into our account and go to upgrade the
license, their is only options to upgrade to a business, agency or
unlimited license, no mention of multi-site. Can you assist in upgrading
the below license to the multi-site license if I provide the credit card
details?

I have a new card from the client to use for this. Please advise at your
earliest convenience. Thanks!

 

[Andras]

This reply is private.

[Support Droid]

Hey there! This thread has been pretty quiet for the last three weeks, so we’re going to go ahead and close it to avoid confusion with other topics. If you’re still looking for help with this, please do open a new thread, reference this one and we’d be more than happy to continue the conversation over there.

Thanks so much!
The Events Calendar Support Team

[Author]

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