Today, everything is digital and that includes online tickets for events. If you are looking to host an event, you should be looking at ways to provide an online ticketing service that is accessible from mobiles and desktops. When we are living online, we expect everything to be at the reach of our fingertips, and event management is the same. When was the last time you went to a ticket desk to pick up a ticket paper, or even printed one-off? It’s time to make the change from paper to an online ticketing system
Reasons to Switch to an Online Ticketing System
It has to be the most important reason, but you will sell more tickets simply because your tickets will be available on more platforms. Every person with a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer will be able to purchase your tickets, and the more tickets that are sold, the greater your income.
Fewer people will not abandon the purchasing process when the process is more convenient. Waiting in line can cause a great deal of frustration, especially if people are in a rush and they might just walk away. This is less likely to happen when in one click a ticket is in a virtual basket and in another, it is paid for.
It is quite exhausting to think about how much work it takes to keep up a traditional ticketing system. There is little way of automating the process which might include contact forms, emails, sales booths, and then keeping a record of ticket distribution and incoming payments. Wouldn’t it be better to invest all of that time and money into making the event spectacular?
With the right online ticketing system, you can also gather and arrange demographic data on your attendees. This will help you learn about the type of person who is interested in the event you are hosting and then you can use this to improve your marketing strategy for future events. Those who provide more information online are those who are most likely to be keen to receive more information from you.
Before you jump straight into setting up your online ticketing system, we have put together a few things to consider when putting one into practice.
- Keep it simple. Nobody likes being redirected to multiple different pages to buy one ticket. A customer or attendee needs to be able to buy their ticket from one app or webpage. Where possible, avoid third-party tools.
- Include various different payment methods. The more options there are the easier it is to pay and the more tickets you will sell.
- Offer different types of tickets. Think about what else people want and this includes in tiered tickets. Make people feel special and encourage them to pay for the higher priced tickets by including workshops, promotional material, or discounts on group bookings. Discounts can also be given for early registration.
- Ensure your online ticketing system allows you to collect demographics, specifically email addresses to build an email database.
- Use social media to promote your event and add links to your site where people can purchase tickets. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are just a few of the most popular.
- Consider the costs associated with your online ticketing system and how these costs are going to be met. This is more important when it comes to non-profit organizations where some people are expecting more. In other cases, a flat amount is more suitable.
Although most of the world has gone digital, there are some who will still look for physical tickets. To avoid alienating potential attendees, have tickets available on the door. The main advantage of an online ticketing system is that you increase the number of ways people can buy your tickets, not simply replace the old with the new.
