The Future of Ticket Sales: What Organizers Need to Know Now

The event industry has rapidly evolved in recent years, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated this change. As a result, event organizers must be dynamic and adaptable to keep up with emerging trends and technologies in ticket sales. From mobile ticketing to virtual events, the way people attend events is changing, and organizers must be ready to meet their audience's needs. By being aware of these changes and implementing new strategies, event organizers can drive attendance, engagement, and revenue. In this article, we'll explore some of the emerging trends and technologies in ticket sales and provide tips for event organisers to stay ahead of the curve.

Increased Need for Flexibility

Mobile ticketing has been a growing trend in the industry for years, and it has become increasingly important in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Attendees now expect a contactless experience and want the flexibility to purchase, transfer, and resell tickets through their mobile devices. This trend has led to a rise in ticket resale platforms that allow fans to buy and sell tickets at fair market value. To meet attendees' needs and stay competitive, event organisers must provide a mobile-friendly ticketing experience and offer a resale option.

The best way to create a safe and reliable resale option is to partner with a platform like Tixel. With Tixel, organisers can allow ticket holders to resell their tickets to others, which provides greater flexibility for attendees who can no longer attend the event. Additionally, if an event is rescheduled, Tixel can provide a hassle-free way for organisers to manage ticket refunds by allowing ticket holders to sell their tickets rather than requesting refunds. This helps organisers avoid the costs and logistics of issuing refunds and provides a more convenient option for ticket holders who may still want to attend the event at a later date. By offering resale options through Tixel, event organisers can provide a more flexible ticketing experience and increase attendee satisfaction.

Personalisation and Customisation

Personalisation and customisation are crucial to modern ticket sales. Attendees want a tailored experience that meets their unique needs and interests. To provide this, event organizers need to collect and analyse data on attendees' preferences, demographics, and behaviours. Surveys, social media, and email marketing are all effective ways to gather this data. With this information, organizers can personalize their marketing efforts and provide targeted promotions and content that resonates with attendees.

In a world where nearly 20% of tickets will be resold, it’s important to find a way to obtain data from the new attendees for future targeting and customisation.  Through Tixel's resale platform, event organizers can access data on resale attendees, including their demographics, purchase history and preferences. This data can be used to better understand their audience and provide a more personalized experience, from marketing campaigns to on-site activities. By partnering with Tixel, event organizers can ensure they are not only maximizing revenue but also enhancing the overall attendee experience through personalization and customization.

Social Media and Influencer Marketing

Social media and influencer marketing can be powerful tools for event organisers to reach new audiences and generate buzz. By creating shareable content and partnering with influencers, organisers can tap into the social networks of potential attendees and drive ticket sales. To leverage social media and influencer marketing effectively, organisers should identify relevant influencers and create engaging content that resonates with their target audience.

In addition to creating shareable content and working with influencers, social media can also be powerful tools for building and promoting your brand. By developing a consistent brand voice and aesthetic on social media, event organisers can establish a strong brand identity that resonates with their target audience.  Social media also allows for real-time communication with attendees, providing a platform for engagement before, during, and after events.

Social media platforms also offer targeted advertising options that allow event organizers to reach specific demographics and interests, increasing the likelihood of ticket sales.  For example, an event organizer hosting a music festival could use Facebook's targeted advertising options to reach users who have shown an interest in similar festivals or genres of music. By creating ad content that speaks directly to this audience and highlighting the unique features of their festival, organizers can increase their chances of converting these targeted users into ticket buyers.

Virtual Events and Live streaming

Virtual events and live streaming have exploded in popularity in recent years, and this trend has accelerated due to the pandemic. While virtual events can't replicate the in-person experience, they offer several benefits, such as expanded reach and reduced costs. Event organizers can use virtual events and live streaming to reach audiences who wouldn't be able to attend in person and provide a hybrid experience that combines virtual and in-person elements. To host a successful virtual event, organisers should invest in high-quality products and provide interactive features for attendees.

An exciting option for creating interactive features is the emerging trend of Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). These technologies allow attendees to experience events in new and exciting ways.  In-person attendees can experience immersive VR booths while live stream viewers can interact with AR displays.  With VR and AR, event organisers can offer attendees a more engaging and memorable experience, which can lead to increased interest and positive word-of-mouth marketing. As these technologies become more mainstream and affordable, it's likely that we'll see even more creative and innovative uses of VR and AR at events in the future. Event organisers should keep an eye on these trends and consider how they can incorporate them into their virtual events and live streams to stand out and offer something truly unique to attendees.

Ticket sales are evolving rapidly, and event organisers must keep up with emerging trends and technologies to remain competitive. By providing a mobile-friendly ticketing experience, offering a resale option, personalising marketing efforts, leveraging social media and influencer marketing, and experimenting with virtual reality and live streaming, organisers can attract new attendees, increase engagement, and generate buzz. To thrive in the future, event organisers must be adaptable, innovative, and willing to experiment with new strategies.