How to Create a Local Events Directory and Ticketing Service (Profitable Online Business Series #3)

How to Create an Events Directory and Ticketing Service for Your Local Community

Local communities have events each day of the year. Sometimes these are regular monthly events like classes, clubs or meeting associations. Some events are one off occasions like fundraisers and other kinds of significant events. Many people need a way for participants to register or buy tickets Others need help to promote or spread the word about an event. If you are ready to launch a new business this year, providing these services to your community could be a great idea.

With a local ticketing service and events directory, you could give your neighbors the ability to sell tickets, collect RSVP information, share events through social networking media like Facebook and Twitter. The difference between a local ticket and event portal and largest sites like Eventbrite is that you can create a community atmosphere around events. Members can create recurring tickets for events that occur regularly, and everyone who advertises on the site could benefit from cross promotion (if they so choose). You can also create an event website around third-party events like concerts and the like that are happening in your town. With the use of an API like BandsInTown, you can automatically incorporate upcoming events into your website.

How to Implement a Local Events Site

You have a number of options for implementing your events website. If your company hosts regular events, you could purchase complete online event management software as a service solution such as Cvent, which also features mobile event apps. The Events + plugin from WPMU Dev allows you to create and manage events on your WordPress, BuddyPress or Multisite installation. The plugin integrates with PayPal and Google Maps. Guests can RSVP for events with Facebook or Twitter accounts. Events Manager plugin for WordPress lets you quickly and easily create events, accept bookings, publish calendars and maps, and manage attendees. It is compatible with Multisite and BuddyPress, which means you can set up a site where visitors can create their own separate mini event sites or they can just post to one central events database. There are also WordPress themes designed for Events that integrate with third-party websites like Eventbrite.

Remember, the events do not have to be a physical location. An event could be virtual, like a webinar or video conference. You could charge a fee per ticket or a monthly fee and allow members to post unlimited events. Most sites allow charity and free events to be listed for free. This will increase retention and usage and encourage people to come back when they have a paid event to ticket or announce.

Examples of local event sites:

http://ecincinnati.com/entertainment/events_new/
Cincinnati events – Interactive, independent public calendar of Cincinnati events

http://seattlepipeline.com/
Seattle events: Music, art, entertainment, festivals

The Seattle Networking Guide
http://www.iloveseattle.org/networking-guide/group-tools-resources/event-submit.asp

Go Downtown Raleigh
http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/event-calendar

Originally posted 2013-05-12 15:33:01.