How to choose event ticketing system for your events

Before you begin analyzing the potential ticketing platforms in the market, take a moment to assess and understand your event ticketing needs. It's better to gather your requirements first rather than choosing a platform and then trying to align with its features. Here are some questions to help you figure out your requirements:

• What type of events will you be organizing?
• Will the events be in person, virtual, or a mix of both?
• How many attendee registrations are you expecting?
• Do you need extensive branding and customization options?
• How important is a real-time sales and revenue dashboard?

Starting with your requirements ensures that you search with intent and avoid the mistake of selecting an event management software that functions well generally but just isn't fit for your ticketing needs.

The very first criteria that could narrow down your event ticketing software options is comparing price and user experience. While it's natural to filter out platforms that don't fit your budget, you shouldn't compromise on user experience.

The goal of event ticketing is to create a smooth buying experience for your prospects. From quick page loads to mobile-responsive design, user satisfaction has become non-negotiable when it comes to event ticketing.

Pro tip:During your product trial, try purchasing a test event ticket for yourself. If you don't find the buying experience to be seamless, your attendees are likely to feel the same.

Ticketing commissions might not be the first thing you would consider when choosing an event ticketing platform. Though commissions may seem negligible at first, the hidden fees quickly add up—especially for larger events—and eat up your overall revenue.

That's why it pays to choose a ticketing software that doesn't take a cut from the ticket sales. With 0% ticketing commission, Zoho Backstage ensures that all the event revenue stays with you, the organizer, and not with the ticketing platforms. You earned the revenue, so why share it?

Another critical—yet often overlooked—component of event ticketing is the platform's ability to support both online and offline payment methods. Look for a ticketing software that accepts a range of digital payments by partnering with multiple vendors and is flexible enough to accept cash or checks at the venue.

Imagine a last-minute attendee shows up at the event with only cash. If your ticketing software doesn't support offline payment, that's not just a lost ticket but a missed opportunity to upsell. Being open to diverse payment methods not only creates a hassle-free ticketing experience but also improves conversions.

Event formats have evolved in recent years, and so has event ticketing. Whether you're organizing an offline event with printed tickets, a complete virtual event, or a hybrid event, the event ticketing software should effortlessly adapt without compromising on branding.

From customizing event tickets with your logo to crafting dedicated event pages, the ticketing platform needs to put your brand in the spotlight. Beyond brand visibility, the ability to create and customize multiple ticket classes and assign discount codes to specific ticket tiers can generate early signups.

An event ticketing software that gives you real-time visibility of ticket sales and revenue has an edge over the competition. An event analytics dashboard showing how many total tickets have been sold, how much revenue has been generated, and how sales are distributed across ticket classes can make a huge difference.

For instance, the team at BusinessNZ Council, BusinessNZ's governance body, found a real-time ticket sales dashboard to be a great addition to their event management experience.

"Our favorite thing about Zoho Backstage is the ability to track ticket sales and watch the money come in!"— Matt, Event Coordinator, Business New Zealand