Selling tickets to your event has never been easier with modern online ticketing platforms. Whether you're organizing a small community fundraiser, a workshop, a concert, or a large festival, the process of getting tickets into the hands of attendees follows similar principles.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about selling event tickets successfully in 2026, from selecting the right platform to implementing effective marketing strategies.
Quick Start Summary
If you're in a hurry, here's the essential process:
- Choose a ticketing platform (like Bloom Tickets, Eventbrite, or Showpass)
- Create your event listing with compelling details
- Set your ticket prices and availability
- Promote your event through social media, email, and paid ads
- Monitor sales and adjust your strategy as needed
Step 1: Choose Your Ticketing Platform
Your ticketing platform is the foundation of your ticket sales. The right choice depends on your event type, expected attendance, and budget.
1 Evaluate Your Options
Key factors to consider when choosing a platform:
- Fee Structure: Does the platform charge per-ticket fees, percentage-based fees, or monthly subscriptions? Calculate total costs based on your expected sales.
- Features: Do you need reserved seating, QR code scanning, email marketing tools, or analytics?
- Ease of Use: Can you set up your event quickly without technical expertise?
- Payout Speed: How quickly can you access your ticket revenue?
- Branding Options: Can you customize the ticket purchase experience to match your brand?
- Customer Support: Is help available when you need it?
Platform Recommendation
For Canadian events, Bloom Tickets offers transparent flat-rate pricing ($0.75 per ticket) with no hidden fees, making budgeting straightforward. The platform includes all essential features like QR scanning, analytics, and instant payouts without monthly costs.
Compare this to percentage-based platforms where a $50 ticket might incur $3-5 in fees versus $0.75 flat – the savings add up quickly.
Step 2: Create Your Event Listing
Once you've selected your platform, it's time to create an engaging event listing that converts browsers into buyers.
2 Craft Compelling Event Details
Essential Information to Include:
- Clear, descriptive event title
- Date, time, and timezone
- Venue location (with address or "Online" for virtual events)
- Compelling event description (300-500 words)
- High-quality event image or banner (1200x630px recommended)
- Lineup, speakers, or performers
- Event schedule or agenda
- FAQ section addressing common questions
- Refund and cancellation policy
- Contact information for inquiries
Pro Tip: Write for Your Audience
Focus on benefits, not just features. Instead of "3-hour workshop," try "Master Instagram marketing in just 3 hours – leave with a complete content calendar." Use action words and paint a picture of the experience attendees will have.
Step 3: Set Your Ticket Pricing Strategy
Pricing can make or break your event. Price too high, and you'll struggle with sales. Price too low, and you'll leave money on the table or appear less valuable.
3 Determine the Right Price Point
Factors that influence ticket pricing:
- Event Costs: Calculate venue rental, speakers/performers, catering, marketing, and platform fees
- Market Research: What do similar events in your area charge?
- Perceived Value: What unique experience or outcome do attendees receive?
- Target Audience: What is their willingness and ability to pay?
- Event Capacity: Limited capacity can support higher prices
Popular Pricing Strategies:
Early Bird Pricing
Offer discounted tickets for early buyers to generate momentum and cash flow. Example: $30 for first 50 tickets, then $40 regular price.
Tiered Pricing
Create multiple ticket types with different benefits. Example: General Admission ($50), VIP ($100 with premium seating and meet-and-greet), Student ($30 with ID).
Dynamic Pricing
Gradually increase prices as the event date approaches or as capacity fills up.
Don't Forget Platform Fees
When setting prices, factor in ticketing platform fees. If you're on a percentage-based platform charging 5% + $1.59, a $50 ticket actually nets you $45.91. With flat-fee platforms like Bloom Tickets ($0.75), you keep $49.25 – a difference of $3.34 per ticket!
Step 4: Set Up Payment Processing
4 Configure Secure Payments
Most modern ticketing platforms handle payment processing for you, but you'll need to:
- Connect your bank account for payouts
- Verify your identity (required by payment processors)
- Choose when to receive payouts (immediate, weekly, or after event)
- Set your preferred currency (CAD for Canadian events)
- Configure tax settings if applicable
Payment methods to offer: Credit/debit cards are essential. Some platforms also support Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other digital wallets for faster checkout.
Step 5: Promote Your Event
Creating your event listing is just the beginning. Now comes the crucial part: getting people to actually buy tickets.
5 Build a Multi-Channel Marketing Strategy
Social Media Marketing
- Facebook Events: Create an event page and invite your network. Share updates regularly.
- Instagram: Post visually appealing graphics, behind-the-scenes content, and countdown stories.
- LinkedIn: Essential for professional events, workshops, and networking gatherings.
- TikTok: Great for reaching younger audiences with creative, authentic content.
- Twitter/X: Share updates, engage with industry influencers, use relevant hashtags.
Email Marketing
- Send announcement emails to your existing mailing list
- Create an early bird campaign for subscribers
- Send reminder emails as the event approaches
- Personalize messages based on recipient interests
- Include clear calls-to-action with direct ticket purchase links
Paid Advertising
- Facebook/Instagram Ads: Target by location, age, interests, and behaviors
- Google Ads: Capture search traffic from people looking for events like yours
- Local Community Groups: Many cities have online event calendars and community boards
Partnerships & Influencers
- Partner with complementary businesses for cross-promotion
- Reach out to local influencers or bloggers in your niche
- Offer affiliate codes to partners who can promote your event
- Contact local media for event coverage
Marketing Timeline
6-8 weeks before: Launch your event and begin promotion
4-6 weeks before: Ramp up social media, send email campaigns
2-4 weeks before: Launch paid advertising, partner promotions
1 week before: Final push with urgency messaging ("Last chance!")
Day before: Reminder emails and social posts
Step 6: Use Promotional Tools
6 Leverage Discounts and Incentives
Effective promotional tactics:
- Promo Codes: Create unique codes for different marketing channels to track effectiveness
- Referral Programs: Reward attendees who bring friends with discounts or perks
- Flash Sales: Limited-time offers create urgency (e.g., "24-hour sale: $10 off")
- Contests and Giveaways: Give away free tickets on social media to boost engagement
- Bundle Deals: Offer package pricing for multiple events or group purchases
Step 7: Monitor and Optimize
7 Track Your Progress
Use your ticketing platform's analytics to monitor:
- Daily and total ticket sales
- Which ticket types are selling fastest
- Traffic sources (where buyers are coming from)
- Conversion rate (views to purchases)
- Peak purchasing times
- Geographic distribution of attendees
Based on data, you can:
- Adjust pricing if sales are too slow or too fast
- Increase marketing spend on channels that convert well
- Create urgency messaging if sales are lagging
- Add more tickets if demand exceeds expectations
- Target specific demographics with tailored messaging
Step 8: Manage Attendee Experience
8 Prepare for Event Day
Pre-event communication:
- Send confirmation emails immediately after purchase
- Email event details and tickets 1 week before
- Send reminder email 24 hours before with important info
- Provide parking/transportation details
- Share what to bring or expect
Day-of logistics:
- Test QR code scanners before doors open
- Have backup ticket list (printed or tablet)
- Set up smooth check-in flow to avoid bottlenecks
- Train staff on using ticketing system
- Have plan for handling ticket issues or disputes
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't Make These Errors
- Waiting too long to start selling: Give yourself at least 6-8 weeks for promotion
- Unclear event details: Answer the who, what, when, where, why completely
- Ignoring mobile experience: Over 60% of ticket buyers use mobile devices
- No refund policy: Clear policies build trust even if you don't offer refunds
- Forgetting to test: Buy a test ticket to experience the full customer journey
- Poor follow-up: Engage with attendees after purchase to build excitement
- Not collecting data: Email addresses are gold for future event marketing
Quick Checklist: Before You Launch
Pre-Launch Checklist
- Event details are complete and compelling
- High-quality images/graphics uploaded
- Ticket prices and types configured
- Payment processing tested
- Refund policy clearly stated
- Test ticket purchase completed successfully
- Confirmation emails reviewed
- Social media posts scheduled
- Email campaigns drafted
- Marketing budget allocated
- Team trained on ticketing system
Ready to Start Selling Tickets?
Bloom Tickets makes it easy to sell tickets to any event. Set up your event in minutes with transparent $0.75 per-ticket pricing – no hidden fees, no monthly costs.
Create Your Event Free →No credit card required • Free QR scanning • Instant payouts
Conclusion
Selling tickets to an event successfully requires careful planning, the right tools, and consistent promotion. By choosing a reliable ticketing platform, creating compelling event details, implementing smart pricing strategies, and actively marketing to your target audience, you can maximize ticket sales and create a seamless experience for attendees.
Remember that selling tickets is not a "set it and forget it" process. Monitor your sales data, engage with potential attendees on social media, send regular email updates, and adjust your strategy based on what's working. The effort you put into ticket sales directly impacts your event's success.
💡 Final Tip: Start small if this is your first event. Test your systems, learn what works for your audience, and scale up. Every successful event organizer started somewhere – the key is to begin, learn from each experience, and continuously improve your approach.