Promotion & Marketing

How to Really Boost Event Ticket Sales Online

  • Aron Kansal
    by Aron Kansal • August 20, 2015

Founder & CEO of SimpleTix.com, the World's most flexible e-Ticketing Platform. Entrepreneur and software developer by trade. My current role is SimpleTix is to seek out partnerships with other e-commerce platforms, payment gateways, and channel partnership opportunities.

Social media has changed the way that people experience events – but that doesn’t mean that event promotion has got any easier. Setting up a Twitter account or Facebook ad is one thing, but seeing measurable results in ticket sales is another.

Starting early with promotion is more important now than ever before. The accessibility of social media has lured some event promoters into a reliance on immediacy. With a few clicks and some funds spent on advertising, they can get their event in front of thousands of targeted social media fans. However, getting in front of a social media audience isn’t as valuable as you think.

When your social media promotions are short sighted, your event gets lost in the social media clutter. You have to take a multi-technique and phased approach to event marketing to boost your sales. Visibility of your event is built in layers. Here’s the pre-event, during event and post-event techniques that really boost ticket event sales online.

BEFORE THE EVENT

Define a hashtag for your event.

This might have seemed frivolous just a few years ago, but it’s now become an essential for event marketing. Your attendees want to participate in the event on social media. It’s part of the experience of attending an event – and essential one at that. It brings together a feeling of community whether you’re hosting a conference or a concert. Don’t disappoint your audience or leave hashtag creation up to the masses (because it will happen). Select a unique hashtag and start promoting it early and often. Incorporate it into marketing materials and encourage any event social media ambassadors to start using it immediately.

Curate and share content that will draw in your audience.

Social media is fueled by content. During the course of your event, your attendees, speakers and staff will be creating content about the event – but before everything begins, you need to get your social media engine running. Curating content from other sources is an effective way to do this. Curation is sharing other people’s content with attribution. Find interesting articles, engaging stories, funny images or interactive tools that your event audience might like. You’ll have enough activity for your social media channels to start getting attention, and your target audience will start to engage with you. This keeps you top of mind and reminds people to buy tickets to your event.

Get your main attractions involved.

Whether you’re hosting speakers or a group at your event, they can help lay the groundwork for more ticket sales. Not only are their names a draw to your event, but by leveraging their own social media presence they can help contribute to ticket sales. Make it simple for speakers to promote the event. Prepare and present them with a marketing kit including logos, essential dates and times as well as sample social media updates and other collateral. The easier it is for main attractions to get involved with promotion, the more likely they’ll be able to do it.

DURING THE EVENT

Engage your audience – on site and online.

Once the event is taking place, you can’t do much to boost ticket sales – but you can lay the groundwork for buzz about your event and future sales. Keep event attendees involved by sponsoring a social media contest or several during the course of the event. Give away a prize for specific activities during the event, using the event hashtag. Your audience’s social media activity not only gets them engaged but it displays the popularity of your event to the social web. This can result in better attendance in the future, as well as better search engine rankings in the long run.

AFTER THE EVENT

Review time!

Where did your ticket sales come from this time around?

That’s exactly where you need to focus your attention for a future event Review your data. Which social platforms brought in the most sales? Which particular tweets, Facebook page updates or Instagram photos resulted in more ticket sales?

Use your past success as a template for your future event marketing plans. If your sales were lackluster, a post event review is even more important.

Look at your promotion timeline and determine where you can make improvements. Maybe it’s time to simplify your purchasing process so that you see fewer people abandoning your shopping cart. You may want to incorporate a way to chat with customers in real time, or offer direct sales through Facebook. Or perhaps a more focused hashtag campaign is what you need. Without a review, you’ll never know!

If you’re ready to boost your ticket event sales, it’s time to adopt new processes before, during and after the event. Get help every step of the way with SimpleTix – get your free trial now.

Latest News

Related Articles

Event Planner

Religious Organizations

  • Aron Kansal
    by Aron Kansal • April 24, 2025

Overview Religious organizations have unique event needs—from weekly services and fundraisers to High Holy Day events. SimpleTix offers a comprehensive, affordable event ticketing system that simplifies registration, integrates online donation options, and enhances communication with your congregation. This lets you focus on your mission while managing events efficiently. Onboarding Process Create Your Account & Connect Your Payment Processor: Sign up for SimpleTix and integrate with Square, Stripe, or Authorize.net. Create Your Event: Enter event details, select ticket types (General Admission, Member, Guest), and add donation options. Customize Your Event Page: Reflect your organization’s branding and mission using logos, images, and compelling narratives. Integrate Communication Tools: Connect Mailchimp to automate email updates and engage your congregation. Download the Organizer App: Use the Organizer app for efficient on-site check-in and sales. Run a Test Event: Validate the complete process before going live. FAQs Can free events be managed? Yes, free events incur only a nominal fee. How do I handle reserved seating for High Holy Days? Use the seating chart designer for accurate seat assignments. How are donations processed? Donations are integrated directly into the ticketing flow. What if an attendee forgets their ticket? Check in attendees manually using the Organizer app.

Inspiration

Comedy Clubs

  • Aron Kansal
    by Aron Kansal • April 24, 2025

Overview Comedy clubs thrive on energy and engagement. SimpleTix provides a ticketing solution that supports both general admission and reserved seating, along with mobile check-in and seamless integration with Square for secure payments. Our system helps you maximize ticket sales and create a hassle-free experience for your audience. Onboarding Process Create Your Account & Connect Square: Sign up for SimpleTix and integrate your Square account. Launch Your Event: Enter show details, choose ticket types (General Admission, Reserved, VIP), and set pricing. Customize Your Event Page: Add your club’s logo, images, performer bios, and special offers. Set Up Promo Codes & Upsells: Create exclusive promo codes and add upsell items like drink packages through Square. Enable Mobile Check-In: Download the Organizer app for efficient on-site ticket scanning. Promote Your Show: Utilize social sharing, QR codes, and email campaigns to drive ticket sales. Run a Test Event: Confirm that the entire process works seamlessly before going live. FAQs Can I offer both reserved and GA tickets? Yes, simply create separate ticket types. How are on-site sales processed? Through the Organizer app with a Square card reader. How do I set up promo codes? Use our platform to create unique codes for discounts. What is the refund process? Refunds are processed directly via SimpleTix.

Event ticketing

Educational Workshops & Seminars

  • Aron Kansal
    by Aron Kansal • April 24, 2025

Overview Educational workshops and seminars demand a system that not only sells tickets but also facilitates learning. SimpleTix supports both in-person and virtual sessions with customizable registration forms, multiple pricing tiers, and seamless Zoom integration—allowing you to focus on delivering impactful educational experiences. Onboarding Process Create Your Account & Connect a Payment Processor: Sign up and integrate with Square or Stripe. (Optional) Connect Your Zoom Account: Enable virtual session integration. Create Your Event: Choose the event type (General Admission for in-person, Online Webinar for virtual) and input event details. Configure Ticketing Options: Set different pricing tiers (e.g., Standard, Student, Early Bird). Customize Registration Forms: Add custom questions to capture detailed attendee information. Integrate Mailchimp: Connect with Mailchimp to automate targeted email campaigns. Promote Your Event: Use social media, QR codes, and website embeds. Download the Organizer App & Run a Test: Ensure the complete setup is smooth before going live. FAQs Can I host hybrid events? Yes, SimpleTix supports both in-person and online sessions. How does Zoom integration work? Connect your Zoom Pro account under Settings > Plugins. Can I offer multiple pricing tiers? Yes, create separate ticket types for each pricing level. How do I handle cancellations? Refunds and cancellations are managed directly through the platform.

Sell More Tickets—More Easily

Attractions, seasonal events, performing arts centers and festivals love SimpleTix because it makes selling tickets… Simple!

GET STARTED FOR FREE