Hosting events effectively promotes your brand, connects with your audience, and boosts revenue. However, in order to make the most of your event, you need to sell tickets. While there are many ways to market your event, one of the most important is to engage your event venue. Your event venue is not only the physical space where your event takes place, but it is also a valuable partner in your event promotion efforts. This article will explore how to engage your event venue to sell more tickets. From choosing the right venue to leveraging the venue’s marketing channels, we’ll provide you with actionable tips to help you maximize the impact of your event and achieve your ticket sales goals.
1. Offer a commission to the venue:
A commission or revenue share can effectively motivate the venue to promote your event. This method can work incredibly well if the platform can sell tickets directly through its own channels, such as its website or box office. The venue has a financial incentive to sell as many tickets as possible by offering a percentage of ticket sales as a commission.
2. Offer discounts or promotions:
Offering discounts or promotions can be an effective way to sell more tickets to your event. Here are a few ways one can use discounts or promotions to drive ticket sales:
- Early bird discounts: Offer discounts to people who purchase tickets before the event. This trick can create a sense of top priority and encourage people to buy tickets sooner rather than later.
- Group discounts: Offer a discount to groups who purchase tickets together. This can be an excellent way to encourage friends and families to attend the event together.
- Promotional codes: Offer promotional codes that can be used to receive a discount on tickets. You can share these codes through social media, email, or other channels to reach a wider audience.
- Bundled tickets: Offer discounts on tickets purchased with other items, such as merchandise or food and beverage packages.
It’s essential to consider the terms of any discounts or promotions you offer and to communicate them clearly to potential ticket buyers.
3. Cross-promote:
Cross-promotion is a marketing strategy in which two or more companies or organisations promote each other’s products, services, or events. Cross-promoting allows each company or organisation to reach a larger audience and gain more exposure. For example, if you are hosting an event and want to engage the venue to sell more tickets, you can ask the forum to cross-promote your event on their social media channels or email list. In return, you can promote the venue’s upcoming events on your own social media channels or email list. This can be a mutually beneficial setting, as it helps both parties reach a larger audience and drive more ticket sales.
4. Utilise social media:
Social media can be an effective way to engage event venues and sell more tickets. Here are some strategies for using social media to promote your event and drive ticket sales:
- Create a social media event page: Create a dedicated event page on social media platforms such as Facebook or Instagram to promote your event and sell tickets.
- Use hashtags: Use relevant hashtags to help promote your event and make it easier for people to discover your content.
- Share updates and behind-the-scenes content: Share updates and behind-the-scenes content about your event to generate buzz and excitement.
- Offer discounts and promotions: Consider offering discounts or promotions on tickets to your event through social media.
- Collaborate with influencers: Consider partnering with influencers in your industry or local area to promote your event and drive ticket sales.
5. Host a pre-event reception:
Hosting a pre-event reception can be an effective way to engage event venues and sell more tickets. A pre-event reception is a gathering before the main event and is typically used to generate buzz and excitement. Here are some win-win tips for hosting a successful pre-event reception:
- Determine the location: Decide where the pre-event reception will take place. This could be at the event venue or a nearby location.
- Invite attendees: Invite attendees to the pre-event reception through email or by including an invitation with their event ticket.
- Plan the menu: Decide what food and drinks will be served at the pre-event reception. Consider offering light snacks or a full meal, depending on the length of the reception.
- Coordinate logistics: Coordinate logistics such as setup, staff, and any necessary permits or licenses.
- Promote the event: Use social media and other channels to promote the pre-event reception and encourage attendance.
6. Utilise email marketing
Utilising email marketing can be an effective way to engage event venues and sell more tickets. Here are some beneficial tips for using email marketing to promote your event and drive ticket sales:
- Build an email list: Build an email list of people interested in your event. You can do this by using an email sign-up form on your website or collecting email addresses at previous events.
- Create an email marketing campaign: Develop an email marketing campaign to promote your event. This could include a series of emails leading up to the event, with each email highlighting a different aspect of the event or offering promotions.
- Personalise your emails: Personalise your emails by using the recipient’s name and targeting the content to their interests.
- Use a clear call-to-action: Include a clear call-to-action in your emails, such as “Buy tickets now” or “RSVP for the event.”
- Track and analyse your results: Use email marketing software to track and analyse your campaign results. This will help you understand what is working and what can be improved.
7. Offer exclusive access:
Offering exclusive access can be an effective way to engage event venues and sell more tickets. Exclusive access refers to offering attendees special privileges or perks unavailable to the general public. Here are some ideas for providing exclusive access to your event:
- Backstage passes: Offer backstage passes to attendees, allowing them access to the event venue’s behind-the-scenes areas.
- Meet-and-greets: Consider offering meet-and-greets with performers or other VIPs at your event.
- VIP experiences: Offer VIP experiences, including premium seating, exclusive access to VIP areas, and other unique amenities.
- Limited edition merchandise: Offer altered edition merchandise or other exclusive items to attendees as part of their ticket purchase.
You can engage event venues and sell more tickets by offering exclusive access to your event. It can also help create a sense of exclusivity and make attendees feel special.
8. Host a ticket giveaway:
Hosting a ticket giveaway can be a great way to engage event venues and sell more tickets. Here are some tips and tricks for hosting a successful ticket giveaway:
- Determine the prize: Decide what you will be giving away as the prize. This could be tickets to your event, backstage passes, or other perks.
- Choose the winner: Determine how you will choose the ticket giveaway winner. This could be through a random drawing or selecting the best contest entry.
- Promote the giveaway: Use social media, email marketing, and other channels to promote the ticket giveaway and encourage people to enter.
- Set the rules: Clearly outline the rules of the giveaway, including how to enter, eligibility requirements, and any other relevant details.
- Announce the winner: Make sure to announce the ticket giveaway winner and contact them to let them know they have won.
9. Utilise the venue’s on-site marketing channels:
Utilising the venue’s on-site marketing channels can effectively engage event venues and sell more tickets. On-site marketing channels include in-venue signage, kiosks, and on-site staff. Here are some ways you can utilise these channels to sell more tickets:
- Utilise in-venue signage: Use in-venue signage to promote your event and encourage ticket sales. This could include banners, posters, or other types of signage.
- Use kiosks: Consider using kiosks to sell tickets at the venue. This can make it easier for people to purchase tickets on-site.
- Train on-site staff: Train on-site staff about your event. Please encourage them to promote the event to attendees and offer assistance with ticket purchases.
If you’re interested, you can take a quick look at How to Sell Tickets for an Event: The Complete Guide
10. Collaborate with local businesses:
Collaborating with local businesses can be an effective way to engage event venues and sell more tickets. Here are some ideas for how you can collaborate with local businesses to drive ticket sales:
- Consider offering discounts on tickets to your event to customers of local businesses. This can be a great way to generate buzz and drive ticket sales.
- Look for opportunities to cross-promote each other’s events on social media or through email marketing. This can help both parties reach a larger audience and generate more interest in their events.
- Consider hosting joint events with local businesses. This can be a great way to drive traffic to both parties and generate more interest in your circumstances.
- Look for opportunities to partner with local businesses on promotional materials such as flyers or posters. They can help you reach a larger audience and generate more interest in your event.
11. Utilise online ticketing platforms:
Online ticketing platforms allow you to quickly sell tickets to your event online and track ticket sales in real-time. One of the most popular online event ticketing platforms is EventBookings which can help you in every aspect. Here are some benefits of using online ticketing platforms:
- Convenience: Online ticketing platforms make it easy for people to purchase tickets to your event anywhere, anytime.
- Increased visibility: Online ticketing platforms can help increase the visibility of your event and make it easier for people to discover and purchase tickets.
- Real-time tracking: Online ticketing platforms allow you to track ticket sales to see how your event performs.
- Security: Online ticketing platforms use secure payment processing systems to protect ticket buyers’ personal and financial information.
In conclusion, there are several strategies you can use to engage event venues. These include offering a commission or revenue share to the platform, collaborating on marketing and promotion, utilising the venue’s social media channels, offering VIP experiences or meet and greets, and creating a sense of urgency around purchasing tickets. Establishing a good relationship with the venue and working together to generate a mutually beneficial marketing and promotion strategy is essential. By combining these techniques, you can effectively promote your event and drive ticket sales.
