TicketMaster has been in business since 1989 and it's still going strong! The company operates more than 500 retail locations across North America, Europe, Australia, Asia Pacific and Brazil. They're also one of the largest providers of mobile apps for airport check-in kiosks globally.
Since its inception, Ticket Master has always been an industry leader with their "no frills" approach that focuses on providing a great experience for customers by offering affordable prices without sacrificing quality or service. You could say they've earned their reputation over time. But what if there was another way to do things? What if there were other ways to offer your clients better experiences at lower costs? That's where white label ticketing comes into play.
White Label Ticketing Explained
In short, white label ticketing allows companies who sell products (airline tickets) to be able to create their own branded website that looks like the official site but offers different functionality. It's basically taking the original design of the company's site and changing out some parts while leaving others untouched so that when people go to the site, they see something familiar yet unique enough to make them want to buy from the brand instead.
By using this method, companies can save money on marketing expenses because they don't have to pay an agency to develop new designs every single year. However, this doesn't mean that these sites lack creativity. In fact, many of the world's most popular websites use white label technology today. Some examples include Google, YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Yahoo!, and even Microsoft Office 365. So, why not take advantage of this type of technology right now? Here's how...
Airline Tickets - Airline Ticket Software
There are two primary types of software available for companies looking to sell travel services online such as airline tickets. These programs allow users to manage sales activity around specific events including flights, hotels, cars, cruises, etc. There are several third party options available, however, we'll focus on two main ones here. We'll call them SeatLab Price and TIXSERVE. Both are relatively inexpensive solutions that will get you up and running quickly.
SeatLab Price
SeatLab Price is a cloud based solution that is easy to set up and customize according to your needs. Pricing starts at $20 per month which includes unlimited seats with no setup fees and no minimum contract length. Each account gets access to 25,000 seats per day. If you plan on selling thousands of seats each week, then this might work well for you. Otherwise, you may find yourself paying too much just to support your growth.
The application itself is very simple to navigate through. Users start by creating a profile page which contains basic information about themselves and their organization. From there, you'll be able to add multiple sections for different categories of seats, such as economy, premium, first class, etc. Once you finish setting everything up, you'll be ready to begin promoting your product. All users must register before making any purchases. After that, you simply enter the details of the customer and select the desired seating category. Then click'sell' and you're done!
If you'd rather keep things simple and stay away from complex pricing models, this program is perfect for you.
TIXSERVE
TIXSERVE is designed specifically for airlines only. Its features are limited compared to SeatLab Price but it does come with a few benefits. For example, you can choose between monthly, quarterly, yearly, bi-annual, or annual plans, depending on your budget. Another perk is that you can integrate with major social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram. Additionally, you can easily embed your app onto your existing website.
While both applications provide similar results, I prefer Seat Lab Price personally due to the simplicity of the interface. Plus, SeatLab Price is completely free whereas TIXSERVE charges a fee for each transaction. Overall though, both are solid choices and should fit the bill nicely.
Air Travel Website Platforms
When choosing an air travel website platform, there are two primary factors to consider. First, you want to ensure that your chosen provider is reliable and responsive. Second, you'll want to look for additional tools that give you added flexibility in terms of customization capabilities. Below we outline four top options for those interested in learning more.
GoToMeeting
GoToMeeting is considered to be one of the most advanced web conferencing solutions available today. With GoToMeeting, you can host meetings anywhere in the world with ease. And thanks to its high level of security, you won't ever worry about someone hacking into your computer during a meeting session. As far as performance goes, you can expect average download speeds of 1 Mbps.
You'll also receive plenty of extra benefits if you decide to upgrade to the Pro version. This option gives you added storage space, greater video resolution, faster upload/download speeds, and 24/7 phone support.
Eventbrite
Eventbrite is a widely known name in the tech community and for good reason. Thanks to its robust feature set, Eventbrite continues to grow stronger despite being owned by Salesforce.com. When it comes to hosting large conferences and events, Eventbrite is definitely worth checking out. To learn more, visit our post detailing five reasons to book your next conference with EventBrite.
HootSuite
Hootsuite is a powerful tool if you want to promote your upcoming events on social media. You can schedule posts ahead of time to increase engagement and reach potential attendees. Hootsuite also provides realtime analytics so you can track responses to your content.
Lastly, Hootsuite is extremely flexible. You can connect your accounts via API to automate various tasks. For instance, you can automatically update your status whenever you complete certain actions within the application. Or, you can send emails to subscribers in response to certain keywords.
Airlines Ticket Resellers
These days you can find almost anything sold online. Whether you're buying groceries, clothes, electronics, books, furniture, or even vacation packages, chances are there's a website somewhere that sells whatever it is you want. One thing that hasn't changed though is the process involved in buying a plane ticket. Airlines are notorious for charging exorbitant amounts for tickets (sometimes upwards of $500). While they claim to offer cheap fares, you're often left wondering whether you got ripped off. Fortunately, there are alternatives to traditional methods.
One alternative involves partnering with a 3rd party provider. Companies like Priceline and Hotwire have become household names after years of success. The concept behind these sites is pretty straightforward. Buyers submit bids for discounted hotel rooms, car rentals, and airplane reservations. Sellers respond by posting their availability along with the lowest possible price for each item. After the buyer selects his preferred bid, he receives a confirmation email with the final purchase amount.
Another popular choice among travelers is the use of a travel agent. Even though this model isn't directly associated with air travel, it works exactly the same way. Instead of bidding on individual items, you're given an entire itinerary that you can pick and choose from. Of course, this requires quite a bit more effort on behalf of the traveler. On the flip side, agents typically charge less than airlines for their services.
Finally, there are the independent resellers that operate independently of airlines. Most of these businesses rely heavily upon social media marketing to attract buyers. Because of this, you'll likely hear some references to Tripadvisor, Yelp, Foursquare, and Facebook throughout conversations regarding these programs.
Ticketing has always been an integral part of any live music or sporting event that wants people in attendance. Whether it's for a rock concert, sporting event, political rally, or just a regular party, there are plenty of reasons why someone would want to buy and sell tickets to events they attend. And, if you're one of those people who buys and sells tickets on the side, then chances are you've probably used some type of third-party ticketing site like StubHub, SeatGeek, TixMobi, et al. These sites allow users to easily find and purchase tickets from other sellers. But what happens when your own band needs to sell their own tickets? Or perhaps you want to use a ticket broker to help promote concerts where you perform as well. What do these options look like? How can you get started building up inventory so you don't have to depend solely on big ticket retailers like TicketMaster?
If you decide to build out your own ticketing platform, you may be interested in learning more about how it works before jumping into the process. For example, does your new ticketing company have its own database with data on every single person who purchased tickets through your website? If not, this means you'll likely have to rely on a third-party provider like Seatedly (which we reviewed) to maintain this information. Of course, you also have to consider whether your customers will trust you enough to buy tickets directly from your site instead of going elsewhere. Ultimately, though, it comes down to user experience. Are you able to provide them with the same features that their preferred ticketing websites offer? Do you make things easy for buyers by offering discounts and promotions? Will they feel comfortable buying tickets right off your site without having to go through multiple steps? The answers to these questions determine which ticketing solution you should choose.
In this article we'll discuss what exactly "white label" ticketing refers to, how it differs from traditional ticketing platforms, and whether or not it's something you might want to explore further. We'll talk about the pros and cons of different types of ticketing services, including hosted solutions, resellers, and self-hosted systems. We'll even briefly touch upon some of the most popular ticketing platforms available today. So if you'd rather skip straight to the bottom line, scroll down below! Otherwise, read on for our full guide to choosing the perfect ticketing service for your next event...
As mentioned above, many people prefer using third-party ticketing services because they have access to thousands of individual listings across hundreds of venues around the country, while others simply enjoy managing their own inventory. Either way, each option has advantages over the other. Hosted solutions like TicketsNow and Seatedly give users direct control over their entire inventory, but they lack flexibility when it comes to customizing pricing structures. On the flipside, DIY ticketing platforms such as EventBrite, Ticketfly, and Seatgeek let you customize prices according to specific rules, but you must manually update every listing yourself. So what really makes one solution better than another? Here are three key factors to keep in mind when deciding between hosting vs. DIY ticketing:
1.) Customization - Whether you're looking at hosted solutions or DIY platforms, the biggest difference is customization. While both options allow you to set certain parameters based on date, time, location, etc., only the DIY route lets you completely change pricing structures depending on the number of seats sold. With hosted solutions, you typically pay a flat fee per month regardless of how much inventory you manage.
2.) Inventory Management - The second primary factor to consider when comparing hosting vs. DIY is the extent of inventory management included. Some companies require manual updates whenever you add or remove a listing, whereas others include bulk import/export tools that automatically pull in new sales and adjust prices accordingly. Obviously, DIY platforms tend to be easier to work with since you aren't responsible for updating every single item each week. However, if you plan to grow quickly, it could become difficult to handle everything manually.
3.) Customer Service - Finally, customer service plays a huge role in determining which platform you should use. Allowing your customers to contact you via phone or email helps ensure that everyone gets support when needed. You shouldn’t ever have to wait long periods of time for customer service reps to respond, either. A great host should be quick to reply to all inquiries within 24 hours, no matter the issue.
The easiest answer here is obvious -- anywhere online, of course. Online ticketing is now ubiquitous thanks to the Internet, and there are tons of ways to market tickets to your fans. Even if you're planning on giving away free tickets to a local show, you can still sell tickets to the rest of the world. In fact, with the popularity of social media and mobile apps, you can reach almost anyone on earth. Just take a look at Facebook Marketplace, GroupMe, Venmo, PayPal, and Uber to see how far the internet has come in terms of marketing technology. It's possible to create a successful online ticket sale even if you run a small shop. Keep in mind, however, that there are some downsides associated with doing business online. First off, you won't receive any physical mailings unless you pay extra. Second, you won't have as many sales associates ready to assist you during peak times. Third, there's no guarantee that you'll actually earn money after paying fees to various providers. To avoid running afoul of the law, you'll also need to register with the state government. Most states require businesses to obtain licenses and permits in order to operate legally.
On top of that, the sheer volume of competition among online ticket markets can sometimes cause headaches. As a result, you should consider working with a reputable ticket seller. One thing to remember is that you may end up spending less overall if you use a third-party vendor. After all, a lot of companies charge hefty fees to connect with big ticket vendors like TicketMaster, Live Nation, and AXS. Instead, you can save money by purchasing tickets directly from artists' websites. They usually cost less than $5 apiece, and you can often find deals on premium seating. Another benefit to using a larger ticket retailer is that you'll never have to worry about being underpriced again. Because large ticket sellers already negotiate rates with artists, they're bound to give you a good deal. That said, you should try to stay away from brokers like Stubhub and Viagogo. Both companies are notorious for ripping consumers off, especially when it comes to shipping charges.
Finally, you should also think about the legal ramifications of dealing with ticket distributors. Many states prohibit individuals from operating ticketing websites, so you'll need to check with regulators first. Additionally, you'll have to comply with federal laws regarding copyright infringement, consumer protection, and anti-discrimination policies. For instance, you may need to collect names, addresses, credit card numbers, and Social Security Numbers in order to verify age requirements.
When it comes to selling tickets fast, scalping seems to reign supreme. Scalpers are basically professional ticket takers who buy up massive amounts of expensive tickets and then attempt to resell them for profit. There are numerous stories of scalpers getting busted due to fraudulent activity, so it's important to understand the risks involved. Still, scalping remains wildly profitable for some people, and it's definitely worth considering if you're trying to fill a high demand venue. Unfortunately, scalping isn't illegal everywhere, so it's hard to predict where you might encounter problems. For the most part, however, you'll need to be careful when buying tickets at shows featuring major acts. Artists generally frown upon scalping, and they may request that their representatives cancel orders made outside official channels. Regardless, you should ask before making purchases, and if necessary, refrain until the artist gives permission.
Another common method of speeding up sales involves creating a marketplace similar to eBay. Sites like SeatGeek, StubHub, and Digital River all focus entirely on facilitating transactions between sellers and buyers. Because they allow users to search for items in real time, these portals can bring together lots of potential buyers in minutes. Plus, once you upload your listings, you won't have to bother reposting them later.
Lastly, if you're willing to put in some effort upfront, you can bypass the middleman altogether and start selling your own tickets. By setting up a simple website and signing up for a reselling account, you can instantly generate income through commissions earned by connecting with fans who wish to buy your tickets.
Ticketmaster has been around for over 50 years and they are one of America's leading ticket sellers. As an online marketplace that sells tickets for entertainment events like concerts, sporting events, theater shows, festivals and more, it’s important to have access to the best technology in order to make your business as successful as possible. For this reason, many companies choose to purchase their own ticketing systems or hire someone else to do so on their behalf.
However, there are also other options available if you don't want to buy or rent out equipment yourself. One such option is purchasing a white label ticketing solution from another company who specializes in selling these products. The advantage here is that you won't be dealing with any technical issues because everything will be handled by the vendor. Your customers will love being able to book tickets using your brand name rather than theirs. They'll also enjoy knowing that you're providing them with quality service instead of having to deal with tech support when something goes wrong.
In this article we explore what exactly "white label" means, why it's becoming increasingly popular among businesses, how much it costs, and some examples of vendors offering solutions along those lines.
If you've ever bought tickets at a concert, festival or sports game then you probably noticed that the process was pretty similar regardless of whether you were buying in person or doing so online through a website. You got into line, paid cash or used credit/debit card, purchased a ticket, checked in and waited until showtime before entering the venue where you would find your seats. All of these steps could take several minutes depending on which venue you visited. It might even feel a bit tedious especially during peak hours. By comparison, going to the grocery store may only involve checking out but still requires quite a few steps including waiting in line and paying for items. In fact, it usually takes longer simply getting to the checkout counter! When it comes to selling tickets however, most people seem content to just click a button and hope for the best.
That said, not everyone feels comfortable ordering tickets online, especially if they haven't done so before. Some people aren't sure whether it's safe to use a credit card while others prefer to pay in cash due to privacy concerns. Others worry about fraudsters stealing their personal information. If you're looking for ways to improve customer experience then consider adding a mobile payment feature to your site. For example, PayPal allows users to quickly and securely send money via SMS text message or email address. There are plenty of other apps and services that offer similar features. Another way to increase conversion rates is to offer discounts for early purchases. For instance, SeatGeek offers 10% off tickets sold within 24 hours of the original sale date.
The term “ticketing system” refers to anything related to selling tickets. This includes things like managing inventory, setting up promotions, creating customer accounts and billing subscribers. The main purpose of a ticketing system is to streamline the entire sales process, making it easier for both buyers and sellers to get involved.
Some of the major players include TIXSERVE (which recently merged with Seatedly), SeatLab Price, EventBee and Ticket Tailor. Each has its own unique approach to solving problems associated with selling tickets. Here's a quick rundown of each:
SeatLab Price is a cloud-based platform designed specifically for digital ticketing. Its goal is to help small venues set up a fully automated revenue model without needing to build custom software themselves. Users can create branded eCommerce stores, manage multiple sites, optimize inventory, monitor traffic & conversions, and track individual account performance across channels and devices.
EventBee provides a suite of tools that allow organizers to easily plan, promote, market, sell, and deliver tickets to their audiences. Features include automatic social media updates, real time analytics, audience engagement surveys, personalized marketing campaigns, and targeted emails.
Ticket Tailor is a web-based tool that helps businesses organize and automate every aspect of their ticketing workflow. From creating unlimited ticket types to building customized seating charts, Ticket Tailor makes it easy to customize pricing plans based on user preferences.
A ticket booking system is essentially a database that holds records of upcoming events and ticket prices. These databases often come preloaded with hundreds of thousands of listings organized according to location, type of event, date, etc. Vendors typically provide clients with the ability to upload their own data directly to their ticketing system. However, some companies specialize in building custom solutions that focus solely on a single industry. An example of this is SeatGeek, whose core product focuses exclusively on live music events. Other examples include VividSeats and Ticketfly.
Another common method of generating leads involves partnering with local organizations who hold large amounts of inventory. While this can work well for smaller businesses, bigger companies tend to go straight to the source – i.e., the venues - and bypass middlemen like Ticketmaster.
This one is fairly simple. A white label event app is basically a version of the same program offered by a larger competitor. Instead of running their own server, the app runs on top of a third party platform like Google App Engine, Amazon Web Services or Heroku. What does this mean for you? Essentially, you no longer need to spend countless hours learning how to operate your own server and install new plugins. Instead, you can simply download the code onto your computer and start coding right away. Once complete, you can either host your website elsewhere or continue working on your project locally.
There are three primary advantages to choosing a white label solution instead of starting from scratch:
1) Lower upfront cost. Many developers charge less than $500 per month for hosting space.
2) No maintenance fees. Most platforms handle upgrades automatically so you never have to worry about upgrading servers or installing new plugins.
3) Better security. Because the vendor handles the backend, hackers cannot steal your data. Also, since the vendor doesn't run their own servers, they don't have access to your files. This can protect against potential breaches like Heartbleed and Spectre.
It should be noted that there are some disadvantages too. Most importantly, you lose control over the look and feel of your website. That said, this isn't necessarily a bad thing because you can always change the theme later. Another issue relates to scalability: although the vendor typically hosts your website, you still end up handling backups and monitoring uptime.
Overall though, the pros outweigh the cons and it pays to weigh the tradeoffs carefully before deciding whether or not to switch. Ultimately, if you're interested in improving your bottom line, chances are good that switching to a white label system will ultimately save you tons of time and money.
Check our next page for some tips on how to decide between different ticketing providers.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.