You’ve got the band, the venue, and the theme for your next concert…but do you know how to set up concert ticketing? If you haven’t yet thought about where to sell your concert tickets, this guide is for you.
Read on to learn…
- How to sell concert tickets
- Where to sell concert tickets
- How to set up concert ticketing
How to sell concert tickets with the right promotion
It’s not easy to sell concert tickets. So before we get into where to sell them, let’s have a look at ways to promote the concert itself. That way, you’ll avoid an embarrassingly empty venue.
1. Create a band or tour website
If you manage a band, a music venue, or a festival, then you should already have an official website. Make it the central hub for everything to do with the concert you’re promoting.
Make sure you do the following:
- Optimise the website design so it looks intuitive.
- Make sure every page and text is SEO-friendly.
- Start a blog to promote the band, venue, or concert.
2. Post content to social media
Social media is crucial when you want to promote a concert and sell tickets. But not all platforms are equally relevant. (LinkedIn, for example, should not be a top priority when you promote gigs.)
Here are the most relevant social media platforms for concerts:
Here is what to do once you’ve created accounts on them:
- Post images and videos of the artists to create hype around the concert.
- Organise giveaway competitions once you have ticketing in place.
- Send out regular updates to your mailing list subscribers.
3. Use paid ads
Posting content on social media will get you organic traffic, but it may not be enough. That’s where paid ads come in. Fortunately, most social media platforms also offer those.
Here are a few guides on how to run paid ads to promote your concert:
Tip: Remember to also run retargeting ads on platforms like Facebook and Google.
4. Partner with media outlets
Most concert-goers will take to social media for updates. But there is still something to be said for more traditional media. That’s particularly true if you’re planning a tour or a music venue opening.
Here’s what to do if you’re planning a big concert:
- Write a press release and then distribute it to outlets.
- Find a media partner such as a music magazine.
- Approach influencers and bloggers to help with promotion.
5. Use concert ticketing software
Your life will get a lot easier if you use concert ticketing software like Billetto. Not only will such software help you create tickets and accept payments, it can also be a good substitute for having an official website. Many ticketing sites will also integrate with your social media accounts.
Where to sell concert tickets online
Now that you have a few promotional tactics in your arsenal, it’s time to find a decent ticketing platform. There are quite a few on the market, but not all of them will cut you a good deal.
1. Billetto
Our ticketing platform already hosts a number of music concerts and festivals. You’ll only pay fees of around 3% per ticket sold, which is significantly lower than most sites. We offer features like seated tickets, merchandise and food vouchers, sales insights, and ticket scanning on the day of the event. If you organise free concerts, you won’t have to worry about fees at all. The best part? You’re already here. Your first event page is a few clicks away.
2. Ticketor
Ticketor is a platform that offers solutions for concerts and supports 135 different currencies. One of the main upsides of Ticketor is that it integrates seamlessly with physical ticket sales over the phone and at ticket booths. There’s also a seat allocation feature and the option to create ticket price variations.
3. Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster is one of the most well-known sites for concert tickets. Tickets tend to be cheaper than secondary broker sites since Ticketmaster is a primary broker. The downside is that you can’t simply create an account. You have to partner with them through your venue or company.
4. Eventcube
Eventcube is a general ticketing platform that comes with a fully customisable interface. You can easily set up an event store, create an event, and set up group discounts, social ticketing, and upselling options. This ticketing software also promises you’ll get paid as soon as you’ve sold a ticket.
5. Ticket Tailor
The last platform on our list is Ticket Tailor, which also caters to multiple event types. It comes with a WordPress plugin so you can use your event website as the official box office. You’ll also enjoy a lot of sales data, which you can export if you use an external CRM system.
Tip: You can find additional options if you head over to our guide on ticketing sites.
How to set up concert ticketing in five steps
Now you know how to promote your concert and where you can issue the tickets themselves. So far, so good. Now it’s time to look at how you set up concert ticketing.
1. Set up an account
Most ticketing sites will only require an email address and a password to create an account. Make sure you fill out all the other relevant details afterwards, such as your company name.
2. Create an event page
You’ll need an event page for your concert, so create one and fill in all the details. Read our guide on how to write good event page copy so you really sell the concert to your audience.
3. Set up concert ticketing
Once your concert event page is set up, you can create the tickets themselves. You’ll want to look at both paper and mobile tickets.
4. Decide on payment options
Most ticketing sites will offer a wide variety of payment options. That’s good news for you because you don’t have to deal with it. But you do have to choose how you want to get paid.
5. Sell the concert tickets
Once the tickets and payment methods are set up, all there’s left to do is to sell out. Use the promotional strategies we covered earlier in this guide to maximise your concert ticket sales.
Mic check, one-two, one-two
Congratulations, you’re now ready to set up concert ticketing and sell out with the right marketing tools. Know of any other tips or sites we should look at? Let us know in the comments!
