![\"unlock](\"https:\/\/www.attendstar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/unlock-codes-sell-event-tickets.jpg\")
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Every event organizer knows that the sooner you can generate excitement and buzz about your event and the sooner you can sell tickets and generate cash flow, the more successful your event will be. Unlock codes are a great way to do it!<\/p>\n
What are Unlock Codes?<\/h2>\n
Unlock codes are exclusive alphanumeric codes (kind of like a coupon code) that you give to select people in order to jumpstart early ticket sales. With the exclusive code, recipients can \u201cunlock\u201d early access to ticket sales before they go on sale to the general public.<\/p>\n
Unlock codes work well to evoke the fear of missing out (FOMO) emotion, so people will often use unlock codes to buy tickets to an event when they think tickets could sell out quickly. We\u2019ve found that unlock codes work best for events that have been held in the past and ticket sales from the last event were above 90% (of course, sold out is even better).<\/p>\n
However, that\u2019s not a rule. Unlock codes can work for events and performers that are new to a market. Over the years, we\u2019ve learned that it all depends on the market.<\/p>\n
Benefits of Unlock Codes<\/h2>\n
Unlock codes create a sense of demand and a perceived need to buy tickets before they officially go on sale. That means you\u2019ll take in cash early to pay for other aspects of the event like advertising, vendors, and more.<\/p>\n
In addition, unlock codes get tickets into buyers\u2019 hands early so they have more time to talk about their tickets and the event. The more people who buy, the more word-of-mouth marketing the event gets. It\u2019s free advertising, and it builds momentum early in the promotion period. Ultimately, ticket sales should go up from all of this positive buzz about the event.<\/p>\n
People tend to want things that everyone else wants at the same time. That\u2019s why unlock codes work!<\/p>\n
How to Use Unlock Codes to Sell Tickets for Your Event<\/h2>\n
Through a lot of testing and experience, we\u2019ve come up with a few best practices to use unlock codes for event ticket sales:<\/p>\n
1. You Need a Great Landing Page and Email Campaign<\/h3>\n
You have to promote your unlock code, and the best way to do it is by sending a great email marketing message to prior attendees that directs them to a special landing page where they can get the exclusive unlock code.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t worry! If you sell tickets to your event using the AttendStar ticketing platform<\/a>, we can help you create your unlock code email campaign and landing page.<\/p>\n You should send the unlock code promotional email message to people who attended the event the last time you held it, but don\u2019t send it out until the day before tickets go on sale to the general public. This is very important because if you send it out too early, people will share the code and it won\u2019t be exclusive anymore!<\/p>\n Pick the exact moment when you\u2019ll be ready to start selling tickets through the unlock code promotion. That\u2019s when you should tell people the exclusive unlock code ticket sales will open. We\u2019ve found that 9:00 a.m. in the event\u2019s local time zone works well, and we typically choose a Saturday so people aren\u2019t as busy as they are on other days of the week.<\/p>\n Rest-assured, if you choose AttendStar to sell your event tickets, we\u2019ll work with you to help you set up your unlock codes strategy, timing, and promotion<\/a> so you get the best results possible.<\/p>\n Something important that you need to guard against is a sudden rush of a huge number of people buying tickets at the same time. Normally, when tickets go on sale in the traditional \u201csoft launch\u201d method, ticket sales will trickle in. However, the unlock code approach usually leads to a quick blast of hundreds of buyers all at once.<\/p>\n For example, we had an event where the event organizer didn\u2019t take steps to guard against a sudden rush of ticket buyers, and 4,200 people tried to buy tickets using the unlock code at 9:00 a.m. when they went on sale. The server crashed under the rush! Fortunately, we fixed things quickly and ended up selling 6,000 tickets in eight hours! But we don\u2019t recommend such a large rush of ticket buyers at the same time.<\/p>\n Also, if you use a ticketing company that doesn\u2019t provide customer support, then you\u2019ll need to have at least a couple of support agents on your staff who are available to answer the rush of phone calls that will come in when tickets go on sale for the unlock code promotion.<\/p>\n Keep in mind, if you use AttendStar as your ticketing company<\/a>, we handle all ticket-related customer support calls with ticket buyers for you, so you don\u2019t have to worry about answering them. In fact, we add customer service staff for these types of promotions (at no extra charge to the event organizer) since we know they generate so much traffic and sales in a very short period of time!<\/p>\n Unlock codes work extremely well to boost early ticket sales and word-of-mouth marketing. Contact AttendStar using the\u00a0contact form<\/a>\u00a0or by calling 615-223-1973, and we\u2019ll help you with your event ticket sales and promotions, including your unlock code promotions!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n2. Timing Matters \u2013 A Lot<\/h3>\n
3. A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way<\/h3>\n
Your Next Steps to Sell More Tickets with Unlock Codes<\/h2>\n