If you’ve tried to add a link to purchase tickets for your Facebook event, you may have noticed that the option to include a ticket link is missing. This can be frustrating if you’re trying to sell tickets to your event through a third-party ticketing site. So why doesn’t Facebook allow you to add a ticket link directly in the event description?
Facebook’s rules around external links
The main reason you can’t add a ticket link to your Facebook event is that Facebook restricts the use of external links in events. Their Event Policies state that you can’t include “links that direct people off of Facebook to purchase tickets or RSVP for events.”
Facebook has these rules in place to protect users from potential spam and scams. They want to make sure any links shared on their platform are legitimate and safe to click on. So adding a direct link to purchase tickets from an external site goes against their policies.
How to share ticket links for events
While you can’t add a clickable ticket link directly in the event description, there are a couple workarounds to share ticket info with your guests:
- Include the full URL in the event description: You can type out the full ticket URL instead of linking it. This allows guests to manually copy and paste the URL into their browser.
- Add the ticketing site name: Mention the name of the site you’re using to sell tickets, like “Tickets available through Ticketmaster.” Guests can then search for your event on that site.
- Share the link in the Event Discussion: The Event Discussion is separate from the main description, so you may be able to post a clickable link there without issue.
- Share the link in an edit to the post: After creating the event, you can edit the post to include a ticket link, though Facebook may remove it if reported.
While not quite as seamless as a live link, these options allow your guests to find and purchase tickets for your event through external sites.
Use Facebook Events for free ticket registration
If your event is free and you just need people to RSVP, you can use Facebook Events for this directly. Under the Ticket Info section when you create an event, choose “Free” and people can use the Join button to register.
This built-in RSVP system is great for free community events, club meetings, or open houses. People can see right on Facebook who’s coming and get reminders about the event.
Use Facebook ads to promote ticket sales
Another option is to create a Facebook ad campaign specifically promoting the ticket sales for your event. You’ll have more flexibility to include clickable ticket links in your ad copy and image.
Some best practices for ticket ad campaigns include:
- Creating a sense of urgency like “Limited tickets left!”
- Using eye-catching visuals like the event venue or performers
- Tailoring the ads to people interested in the event type or acts
- Reminding people when the event is approaching in follow-up ads
This technique uses Facebook’s advertising tools to get the ticket link directly in front of your target audience.
Use a Facebook Pixel to track ticket conversions
You can also use Facebook Pixel tracking to see how many ticket purchases result from your Facebook event. Here’s how it works:
- Install the Facebook Pixel on your ticketing website.
- When someone purchases a ticket, the Pixel fires and logs a conversion.
- View conversions for your Pixel to see overall ticket sales.
While you don’t get data on specific events, you can correlate spikes in conversions with your event promotion efforts on Facebook.
Use an events management platform
For organizers running multiple events, an events management platform like Eventbrite or Tickettailor can make ticket sales easier. These sites let you:
- Create professional ticketing pages for events
- Integrate with Facebook for promoting your events
- Track ticket sales and manage attendees
- Sell tickets directly through the site using various payment gateways
While there may be additional fees, these services can streamline your process for selling tickets online and integrating with Facebook.
Conclusion
In summary, while you can’t directly link to ticket sales from a Facebook event, there are several workarounds to promote and share ticket info. A few options include posting the ticket URL without a live link, running Facebook ad campaigns, tracking sales via Facebook Pixel, or using a dedicated events management platform.
Focus on driving interest in your event on Facebook, then make it easy for people to find ticket info through other channels. With smart promotion and convenient ticket purchasing, you can successfully sell tickets for your next Facebook event.