How to Move from Hard Tickets to Selling Tickets Online

Moving from printed hard tickets to online sales isn’t just about convenience—it’s about revenue, data, and speed. Here’s a step-by-step plan that keeps costs in check while giving buyers the easiest path to purchase.



Step 1: Choose a Platform That Lowers Friction (and Costs)

Look for mobile-first checkout with wallet pay and transparent fees. The iTickets Technology stack is built for fast phone purchases and clear pricing, which together reduce cart abandonment and support requests. Pair that with targeted outreach from Marketing Services when you need quick momentum. 

Step 2: Set Up Your Event

• Title, dates, doors/showtime
  
  
• Ticket types (GA, child/senior, VIP)
  
  
• Capacity and holds (sponsors, ADA, artist)
  
  
• Refund/exchange policy
  
  

If you use seating, have a custom map created so pricing by section is easy and seat upgrades can be offered during checkout. How iTickets handles maps. 

Step 3: Price Smart—and Automate It

Replace “print more tickets” runs with rules: pre-sale passcodes, BOGO promotions, price-by-quantity discounts, and deadline-based increases are built-in. Publish the calendar of price changes up front to motivate early buys. Details: Technology. 

Step 4: Launch Marketing That Reaches Buyers Fast

• Email past attendees by genre and location.
• Feature your event listing on high-intent pages.
  
  

If you want hands-on help, the Marketing Services team runs targeted email and featured iTickets.com placements synced with your inventory. 

Step 5: Prepare Your Door

Use mobile/print tickets, fast QR scanning, and (if needed) offline mode for patchy Wi-Fi. Add RFID for VIP areas at larger events. Train volunteers with a 10-minute run-through and do a test scan before doors. See what to expect from a modern platform. 

Step 6: Keep Costs Low Over Time

• Use clear fee settings (absorb, split, or pass through) to hit price points.
  
  
• Push early-bird timelines and bundles to increase AOV.
  
  
• Re-engage buyers post-show with surveys and the next on-sale date.
  
  

Ready to ditch hard stock for good? Explore the Technology or book a consult.