Looking for a fresh revenue stream that also supercharges your brand awareness? Learn how to sell event tickets on Shopify and watch your audience grow faster than you ever thought possible. With the right strategies and Shopify’s user-friendly interface, you can transform a regular event into an unforgettable experience that skyrockets sales and strengthens brand loyalty.
Pro Tips for Selling Event Tickets on Shopify
Events are a great way for businesses to promote themselves. Many companies put on concerts, tastings, and shows to draw attention to their brands.
On the other hand, events can be the primary product of your site. For example, over 60,000 stores on Shopify are in the arts and entertainment category.
Whatever your reason for using Shopify for ticket sales, we have the best tips to help you boost your audience.
Create a Compelling Event Page When Using Shopify for Ticket Sales
Try to design an event page that gives FOMO to everyone who sees it. Fortunately, Shopify makes that easy. On your Shopify admin, go to the “Online Store” section and then the “Pages” section. Click “Add page” and start creating content.
An eye-catching Shopify theme with a hero image or a colorful banner is often a great choice. Teaser videos and photos from past events are another way to drum up excitement.
What if you get stuck and can’t come up with any ideas? The Shopify Magic tool uses AI to generate a title and content to get you started.
Though the page should be captivating and exciting, the key details need to stand out. The content can’t be too busy, or people won’t know the what, when, and where of the event. Make it easy to find:
- The date, time, location, and purpose
- How to buy tickets
- Parking information
- Disability accommodations
- Rules and restrictions
Include strong call-to-action words that motivate people to join you, such as “Register Now” or “Get Your Tickets Here.”
Use an App That Simplifies the Ticket-Selling Process
You could simply sell event tickets on Shopify as products. However, this strategy requires a lot of manual work for managing inventory and attendees. Third-party vendors can handle the work, but this option can be expensive and require using multiple platforms.
Manage the ticketing process yourself with a comprehensive events and ticketing app, such as Evey Events. This integration shows you how to sell tickets on Shopify the easy way.
The app also streamlines event management. You’ll easily be able to message attendees and offer virtual check-ins to speed up entry. Various team members can securely access the app with only necessary permissions, and attendees can update information as necessary.
You’re also able to collect key marketing data about attendees to use for future events and other campaigns. The ability to program recurring events allows you to use consistent Shopify themes and settings for each. Best of all, Evey Events has transparent pricing that helps you keep event planning and management within your budget.
Optimize Your Event Site for Mobile
Don’t force people to go home to a PC to make a purchase. Optimize your website and ticketing pages for mobile devices because many people use their smartphones to buy tickets.
Once again, Shopify streamlines optimization because most themes are automatically mobile-responsive. However, you should still test features to make sure they look and work well on smartphones. A good way to ensure this is by building your pages from your own smartphone using the Shopify app.
Remember to include smartphone-friendly features. For example, QR codes are a great way to get people to your event page. Attendees can also use a QR code on their tickets for quick check-in.
Make Sure Checkout Is Super Simple
Sell more tickets on Shopify by using the seamless and secure Shopify Checkout. In your admin, go to Settings > Checkout to customize your forms.
If possible, opt for the one-page checkout setup and add other features that customers may expect. Accept all popular payment options and allow customers to auto-fill their details.
Clear call-to-action buttons help users move through the process, and automated chat support can assist whenever someone has trouble completing an order. Make sure pricing is clear, including whether you’re charging sales tax in addition to other standard fees.
Offer Discounts and Special Promotions
Incentivize early purchases by offering discounts to the first individuals who buy tickets on your Shopify page. One idea for encouraging early sales is to use a countdown timer. Check the Shopify app store to find top-rated timers for your store.
You might also provide promo codes that are only available for a limited time or flash sales that temporarily reduce prices. Likewise, group discounts motivate people to buy in bulk so you can fill up seats faster. Consider a referral program where ticket holders get swag for referring friends to buy tickets.
Bundle packages can increase the value to the buyer, too. Offer exclusive access, food vouchers, or merchandise as possible perks. VIP discounts, season tickets, and tiered pricing are additional ideas to promote your event.
Sell Physical Tickets and Merchandise
Promoting your events on Shopify doesn’t mean you’re restricted to selling digital tickets. Maybe your target audience includes people who would like a memento of the event. You can allow attendees to receive and print PDF tickets, which you can scan at the door.
Shopify POS can help streamline scanning tickets and selling merchandise. Customize the look and feel of tickets to make them memorable and more than just a part of the transaction. If you’re selling tickets in person anywhere, consider printing them out for buyers on durable stock paper or including fancy details such as holographic foil.
Also, be ready to sell tickets at the door for people who decide to attend at the last minute. Often, you charge more for these spots.
Promote Your Event Across Channels
Don’t be shy about letting others know about your event. Find ways to make mentions of the gathering in all of your content using an omnichannel approach. Shopify has countless apps that let you integrate your social media and email marketing campaigns into pages. The Evey Events app integrates with many marketing apps, too.
Showcase photos and video previews on social networking sites. Remember to share event details and how to purchase tickets on social media. Paid ads can be effective as long as you have the data to run a highly targeted campaign.
An event often presents an opportunity to partner with influencers and local businesses. Make sure these collaborators are promoting the event on their sites, media, and marketing, too.
Another way to drive traffic to your site is with a blog using Shopify’s built-in blogging engine. Write articles about the event itself and other subjects that interest your target audience. When writing about related topics, include organic references to your event and links to the event page to drive views and online ticket sales.
Set Up Automated Messaging for Reminders and Follow-Ups
Shopify marketing automation apps save time and energy with preprogrammed messages and reminders to visitors and buyers. Send a few messages to build anticipation before event tickets go on sale. A waitlist system can notify customers when tickets are available, especially for those who want the early bird specials.
Use order confirmations to make sure buyers have the necessary information and know where to go for help or additional information. Schedule reminder notifications before the event for ticket holders. Set automated follow-up for abandoned carts, too.
Encourage buyers to accept SMS notifications, which are more immediate and direct than email. For maximum effect, use both methods for communicating with ticket holders all the way up to check-in.
Afterward, show your appreciation and build enthusiasm for future events with coupons and gifts. Request feedback through surveys and questionnaires to learn how you can improve the next function. If your event led to bookings for future appointments, use the calendar features in Evey Events for reminders and scheduling.
Allow Buyers To Resell Event Tickets
It’s a wasted opportunity when someone buys a ticket but can’t attend your event. If you don’t allow them to return, transfer, or resell the ticket, the ticket holder might even have a negative view of your brand.
Instead, give buyers the option to resell or transfer tickets if they can’t make the program. However, you retain a measure of control over the transaction with a solid Shopify events app. For example, you have to give them permission to resell or transfer tickets, and you can set rules that prevent them from reselling tickets for more than their face value.
Use Data To Improve Sales and Marketing
As you use apps to communicate with and market to attendees, turn on features that allow you to collect data. That information can help you improve how you promote current and future events.
For instance, demographic data lets you target others of a similar age, in the same location, or with similar interests. Sales patterns also help you optimize your pricing strategy. Use AI-powered business intelligence tools to interpret the data and decide how to adjust your pricing and scheduling.
Evey Events Is the Easiest Way To Sell Event Tickets on Shopify
Shopify is an excellent platform for promoting and managing event ticket sales, but you need a third-party vendor or app to do it. What’s the best way to sell event tickets on Shopify? Download and use the Evey Events ticketing app. Start using Evey today to see how we can help make your event a success.
