How to Choose a Ticketing Strategy for Your Online Event

We all must have seen various kinds of events. These events cater to different types of audiences. And to serve multiple purposes. That is why they are so different. However, one thing is common in all these events. And that is, they all depend on the attendees. One can say that the sales of tickets are the determining factor for the success of the event.

Since the pandemic has begun, the event organisers are focussing more on online or virtual events. And the reasons are pretty obvious. First, there are strict guidelines for social distancing. It applies that physical events cannot be organised. And secondly, due to travel restrictions, not everyone can travel to the venue of the event. Also, this makes virtual events a more feasible way to organise an event. But what are online or virtual events? Let's see.

Concept of Online Events

Online events are also known as digital or virtual events. And as the name suggests, these events are organised digitally or online. Therefore the audience can attend the event from their own respective locations. This convenience made online events popular among the event organisers since last year.

When it comes to hosting an online event, it is much more convenient when compared to physical events. The main ingredient of an online event is a virtual event platform or virtual event software. These platforms or software attempts to provide the audience with a premium experience. For this, they use a 3-D and dynamic interface. It massively enhances the audience experience.

Since virtual event technology is flexible, it allows you to host any kind of event online. You can host conferences, trade shows, exhibitions, fest and fairs online. It is one of the significant reasons behind the boom in the digital event industry last year.

Before we talk about the sales of the online event. First, let's understand what the attendees at the online events are looking for.

Understanding the Audience of Online Event

To sell the maximum amount of tickets for your online event, you need to deliver what the audience is looking for. Also, try to understand the background of the audience.

In these difficult times, people are facing different challenges. And this includes financial problems also. Some people are seeing a reduction in their income. While others have lost their jobs. So try to provide the best value for the money.

You should keep the prices reasonable for your online events. But it doesn't mean that you need to take losses just to keep the cost of the ticket low.

Now that you know how to price the tickets for your event. It's now time to see how you can maximise the sales of your online event tickets.

Strategies to Increase the Sales of Your Online Event Tickets

The first thing that you need to consider is the time for selling the tickets. You can sell tickets for your events at different periods. And during each period, you need to change the price and the quantity of the event tickets.

1.Pre-release tickets

You can begin the ticket sales drive by starting with a limited number of tickets. It will create excitement around the event. And people like to buy things that are limited in quantity. Also, that can't be accessed by a large number of people. It creates a sense of uniqueness and exclusivity. Apart from this, you can offer deals on purchasing tickets in this sale. These can be special discount offers or gifts like event merchandise. Also, you can provide different types of vouchers. It will help you to grab the attention of the people. And they will come to know about your event.

2. Early Bird Tickets

You must have heard about the early bird offers or ticket sales. Also, it is pretty common to have this type of sales in the event industry. So you can use this technique for increasing sales for your online event.

With early bird tickets, you can target two different types of people. The first type of people are those who are aware of your brand and event. These types of people are the loyal followers of your brand. So get them on the board with early birds ticket sales.

The second type of people are more sensitive to the price. So to convince them to make a purchase of the event tickets, you need to provide them with attractive deals. This might include special discounts or gift vouchers. Also, you can offer a bundle of multiple services or memberships with the ticket. It will make your event ticket a better value for the money.

3. Common Ticket Sales

This type of ticket sales is the most popular among the masses. So you need to price your tickets more carefully. It means the tickets cannot be less expensive than early birds. While it cannot be too expensive in comparison to early birds.

Also, you can bifurcate tickets depending on the length of the event. For instance, you can offer a complete event pass, single-day pass or even a single session pass. It will help you price your event ticket more flexibly, allowing you to target a broader audience.

4. VIP/Premium Pass

You can boost your event ticket sales by offering a VIP or Premium Pass. If you are thinking about what a VIP pass includes? Or why should anyone buy a VIP Pass? Then let me explain to you the perks of a VIP or Premium Pass.

It will give access to content, features and services that are exclusive for the VIP audience only. This technique will create a desire among those people who want the best content, sessions or services. And the exclusivity of this tier will make them feel important.

You include features like access to VIP Lounge or VIP Networking session. Also, one can chat with keynote speakers. It will vary from event to event. But you should provide some unique features or functions since you will be charging more for a VIP or Premium pass.

5. The Last-Minute Ticket Sales

To use the full potential of last-minute tickets, you need to declare ONLY A FEW TICKETS ARE LEFT before selling all the event tickets. It will give an impression that your event is quite famous. And that you are selling tickets at a rapid pace. And soon there will be no tickets left. This will make your event more desirable. And will motivate more people to take action (buy a ticket) as soon as possible. Leading up to create a unique demand from people willing to pay more for the event ticket.

These are time and cost-based strategies to sell tickets for your event. Now let's see how you can price tickets to get more sales.

Setting the price of the tickets of your online event

1. Discounts for Initial Sales

To achieve higher sales from the pre-release and early birds, you should provide them with special discounts. It will encourage them to buy tickets. However, you can vary discount offers according to the sales time. For instance, those who purchased a ticket during pre-release will get more discounts than early birds. Similarly, early birds will get a higher discount than regular ticket sales.

2. Discount on bulk Ticket Orders

You can attract more people to your event by providing a special discount on the purchase of bulk tickets. It will motivate the interested people to convince their family and friends to attend the event. Hence, your event will be noticed by a broader set of people. So provide such offers on bulk orders.

3. Higher price for VIP and Last-Minute Tickets

It is obvious to charge more for VIP Passes and last minute tickets. Since you are offering more features and services to VIP pass holders. And for last-minute tickets, the demand for your event is higher than the tickets left for the event. Also, it should not be surprising to see that the number of last-minute attendees is more massive than physical events. So the timing of the sales is in your favour.

These are some of the strategies to increase the sales of your online event.