How to sell more tickets online with social media
22nd Nov 2021
Social media can be an excellent way to promote your event, but with features and algorithms constantly changing, it can be difficult to make the most out of these channels.
We’re sure you’re all over the basics of social media marketing, but new features and ways of promoting your event are constantly changing. With that in mind, we put together a guide on different ways of promoting your event on various social media platforms in 2021, including a few methods you may not have thought about!
We’ve found that using a well-rounded approach that considers multiple angles and streams is the best way to manage your event marketing. Here’s some of the most up-to-date features you can use to kickstart your ticket sales.
Facebook Live
Usage of Facebook Live grew by 26.8% in 2020 and will likely continue in 2021. When it comes to promoting your upcoming event, consider scheduling live interviews with special guests or giving them a teaser performance of a music act! These kinds of teasers build anticipation and excitement, particularly for those who are still on the fence about attending.
Messenger
More and more advertisers are using Facebook’s Messenger feature to chat with their prospective customers, so why not consider using the feature to reach out to attendees? For your upcoming events, use Messenger to build up a list of subscribers specifically on Facebook, then send out alerts when new ticket tiers become available or reminders leading up to the event.
Reels
As Instagram’s answer to TikTok, Reels is a feature that is only going to continue to grow in 2021. Reels are a great way to educate through bite-sized video content! If you’re running yoga classes, try creating a Reel that teaches future attendees how to perform certain poses ahead of your next class. If you’re hosting a workshop, try creating a Reel that introduces a complicated subject.
Instagram Live
Instagram’s live feature skyrocketed with new users in 2020 at the peak of the pandemic, and will most certainly continue into 2021. For event organisers, consider using Instagram Live to introduce special guests or perhaps even stream some aspects of your event for those attendees who wait to purchase a ticket until the last minute. It’s also an excellent opportunity to allow people to “attend” the event virtually, and ask questions live.
Thought Leadership
Linkedin is a great place to share educational and instructive content. One awesome way to promote your upcoming event on a certain topic is to demonstrate to potential attendees that you’re knowledgeable in that area. Don’t give everything away, but show your audience that you’ve got awareness and insight, teasing them enough that they’ll want to sign up for your next class!
Linkedin Groups
Take advantage of Linkedin groups that are full of like-minded professionals by promoting your next event to those you know are already interested! Perhaps you could comment on other people’s event recaps to build a relationship, or simply post a link to your event and let the word spread.
Keyword Targeting
Unlike other social media platforms, Twitter allows you to reach potential customers based on specific words in Tweets or hashtags. If you have a budget for advertising on Twitter, consider targeting specific keywords related to your upcoming event so that your event ads are more relevant. If someone uses the word “stressed” in their Tweet, perhaps that might be a perfect attendee for your upcoming meditation class, or if someone uses the word “pizza”, that might be a potential attendee for your upcoming pizza-making event. There’s a world of possibilities using this feature, even if you have a small budget.
Fleets
Twitter has rolled out their answer to Instagram’s Stories, and while it hasn’t quite taken off yet, Fleets could be a nifty little feature that you could use to promote your event. Consider creating a Fleet when different ticket tiers go on sale or include a link to a Spotify playlist that you’ve curated to get people in the mood before the event. Fleets offer an additional point of engagement for potential attendees on a brand-new feature that isn’t particularly crowded!
TikTok
Partner with Influencers
Influencers using TikTok are growing by the day. Whether your event is local or national, influencers have dedicated followings that can provide a great asset in generating ticket sales. You’ll need to develop a mutually beneficial relationship with them. Consider offering them free tickets, a VIP experience, or swag in order to get a shoutout - or, if you’re a charity, make sure you connect and emphasise the cause you support, and how they would be supporting it as well.
Create a #Meme
The hashtag #memes have been used over 30 billion times this year alone and will most certainly grow in 2021. Take a look at other #memes that have been used for inspiration and have a go at building your own one that promotes your event, and become part of the conversation!
For more ideas on how to sell more tickets with a smaller budget, check out our comprehensive marketing guide.
Em Meller
Em Meller lives and works in Sydney, Australia on the unceded lands of the Gadigal people. Her work has appeared in places like The Lifted Brow, Cordite, and Going Down Swinging. She has studied creative writing at the University of Technology, Sydney, and at Oxford University.
