| The ever increasing use of the internet in our daily | | | | providing them with an enhanced level of customer |
| lives, has significantly changed how many products are | | | | service by offering the option of printing an e-ticket |
| purchased these days, especially non-bulky products, | | | | online, printing a voucher to exchange at the box office |
| information-based products and items that you don't | | | | or requesting tickets to be posted. |
| need to see before buying. | | | | Tickets can be sold from anywhere in the world. |
| As a result, most people these days assume that it | | | | With many web based box office ticketing systems, |
| should be possible to purchase tickets for any event | | | | you can not only access the full administrative |
| online, ideally from the event organizer's website. | | | | functionality of your box office system from |
| But setting up online ticketing system on your own | | | | anywhere in the world but you can Sell tickets, take |
| website is not just about making it easier for your | | | | payments and instantly print the tickets if you wish, just |
| patrons to purchase tickets. If you enable people to | | | | as if you were sitting in your local box office. For small |
| buy tickets online, you can expect increased ticket | | | | or non profit organizations, and especially if you rely on |
| sales and attendance, increased efficiency, higher | | | | a handful of volunteers, you'll appreciate how useful |
| profits, enhanced patron satisfaction and reduced | | | | this can be in farming out the workload. |
| costs. | | | | Set up a network of resellers. |
| Let's take look at some of the main benefits in more | | | | With a web based box office ticketing system, you |
| detail. | | | | can set up resellers or distributors in any location with |
| A box office that's open 24/7. | | | | an internet connections. These resellers simply log on |
| Whilst simply setting up a web site is a great way of | | | | to your system via their PC and internet connection |
| promoting your organization, you're definitely losing | | | | and use your ticketing application to sell tickets the |
| customers if they can't purchase tickets whilst they | | | | same as if they were sitting at a local box office |
| are on your site. Very often they'll make a decision | | | | terminal. |
| about attending an event the minute they read your | | | | Increase "brand" awareness. |
| program description... so should make it as easy as | | | | More people visiting your site to purchase tickets |
| possible for them to purchase tickets right at that | | | | means more referrals and more awareness of your |
| moment. If they have to wait until the following day to | | | | organization. And displaying your URL on all publicity |
| call your box office, its quite possible they could | | | | materials (brochures, posters, print media etc) as the |
| change their mind, simply forget or decide to spend | | | | place to buy tickets, is much more effective than |
| their money on something else. | | | | simply quoting a contact phone number. |
| Eliminates high booking fees charged by ticketing | | | | Build Customer loyalty. |
| services. | | | | Your own web site is always your customer's primary |
| Both patrons and venue operators are becoming more | | | | choice when looking for information about events or |
| and more disenchanted with the large booking fees | | | | ticket availability. Most people expect that your website |
| charged by middlemen. Having your own online | | | | will display the most up to date information about |
| ticketing system means you can take back control of | | | | events and the best offers. Serving your patrons well |
| your ticket sales and pricing, eliminate service charges | | | | by a website that's not only informative, but allows |
| showing for online ticket purchases and thus develop | | | | them to buy tickets online, is a great way to build |
| better and happier relationships with your customers. | | | | loyalty. And your web site is by far your lowest cost |
| Your customers can select the exact seats they want | | | | sales channel, plus the one with the highest return. |
| from an interactive seating chart. | | | | Send emails automatically to your patrons. |
| With many online box office ticketing systems, | | | | With most web based box office ticketing systems |
| customers are able to select and purchase the exact | | | | you can enhance your marketing efforts with minimal |
| seats they want in real time with just a click of a | | | | effort by sending emails direct from your database |
| mouse via an interactive seating chart. Such systems | | | | with just a click of your mouse, informing them about |
| may offer the ability to display both the full auditorium | | | | upcoming events. And you will generally have the |
| or each section separately, to hover over seats and | | | | ability to fine tune you mail outs by selecting patrons on |
| display the seat and row number and ticket price, to | | | | the basis of events attended, location or other |
| zoom and scroll over the seating chart, show available | | | | categories that are set in your database. |
| and unsold seats, or even show a view of the stage | | | | There's an increasing number of online box office |
| from the selected seat . | | | | ticketing systems available, all with somewhat different |
| Saves time, reduces workload. | | | | features and methods of operation. Take some time |
| An online ticketing system greatly reduces the time | | | | to check out what is on offer, draw up a chart listing |
| you'll spend answering phone calls, correspondence | | | | what features are most important to you and you'll |
| and other box office related matters ... a huge benefit | | | | surely find a system that will meet your needs and |
| if you are a non-profit or volunteer run organization. | | | | help you capitalize on all the benefits that online |
| And although this does mean that personal contact | | | | ticketing can offer. |
| with your customers may be reduced, you'll still be | | | | |