skip to Main Content

Email Marketing: Emojis in Emails 🎟

Fun & Playful, Emojis: Can they help or hurt your emails?

It seems like a small thing, but the subject line in an email is a major factor in increasing your open rate. 

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves – is the emoji in a subject line right for everything?  Probably not.

And if we send too many emails with Emojis it can also have a negative effect on consumers which ultimately unsubscribe. 

So, what’s the answer?  Testing of course!  Make sure you test your subject lines using A/B testing.  This can help you determine if the Emoji is an attention grabber or an annoyance.

As you put your tests together, here are some best practices to consider.

  • It can be too much of a good thing: Just like WRITING IN ALL CAPS, too many Emojis may indicate spam to recipients.
  • Context is key: with thousands of Emojis you can customize your choice to be relevant.
  • Consider your target audience: A survey of 1,000 Americans showed that, millennials regard using emojis positively.
  • Email Tone: Emojis can change an email from formal to playful. If you are messaging something serious, maybe skip the Emoji.

With CrowdConnect, the Tickets.com official email marketing platform powered by WhatCounts, we will help you easily add and test Emojis to your ❤️’s content.   

If you are a current client, learn more about setting up your new welcome series in CrowdConnect:

Interested in CrowdConnect:

Theatre North Improves Entry Experiences with Alfred Powered by Tickets.com

North Wollongong, Australia – Theatre North, located in Launceston, Tasmania, is an independent, not-for-profit organisation located at Launceston’s historic Princess Theatre.  Theatre North and Tickets.com have shared a ticketing relationship since 1999, with Theatre North using Tickets.com’s state-of-the-art ticketing software, ProVenue® since 2014. Utilising ProVenue, Tickets.com creates and prepares all of the Theatre North events on their behalf.

The past year and the COVID-19 pandemic brought venues challenges like never before, including temporary closures and new restrictions, and the team at Theatre North was keen to welcome patrons back into the venue for ‘Coming Home’, a community-led fundraiser held in September. With a safety-first approach and eager to meet all of the government recommended guidelines, Theatre North took the opportunity to trial, Alfred™, the Tickets.com mobile all-in-one access control solution. Hayley Dobbs, General Manager Tickets.com Asia Pacific said,

“With so much change in the live experience industry, Theatre North has been strategic by testing new technology and solutions to fit their venue and their patrons.”  

About Alfred

Alfred, developed for android devices is fully integrated with ProVenue and offers patrons a frictionless venue entry experience, streamlining the ticket validation process for both patrons and venue staff. Alfred provides the ability to not only validate traditional barcodes but also validate digital tickets and contactless tickets via the convenience of Near Field Communication (NFC).

Alfred supports complex ticket validation rules such as entry/exit scanning, specific entry restrictions, timed admission, and controlled interior access to areas such as suites and clubs. With centralised, remote management of devices–plus a choice of Wi-Fi and/or cellular data connectivity. Mandy Sheperd, General Manager commented,

“Along with providing additional ticket security, the Alfred scanners allow us to track real-time arrivals and enhance our attendance records. After the trial our Front of House team gave Alfred the thumbs up, and they are now able to check tickets using a safe, touchless, mobile system at all our events”.

The use of Alfred at entry points assisted with COVID related regulations and ensured that patrons were moving through the doors promptly to be seated. The use of Access Control at the Princess Theatre created opportunities for ticket delivery to be expanded, enabling patrons to receive their tickets via Tickets@home, utilise Digital tickets with the ability to add tickets to their mobile wallets, and access the online ticket management portal, MyTickets. Ange Cole, Box office manager said,

“The customer service from the technical support team has been second to none. They have the devices pre-set and talk through the easy operation and any settings we might need to change. The technology also allows for their remote login to provide any technical support we might need at short notice”

After great success with their Alfred trial, the team at Theatre North decided to move forward with the use of Alfred during their end-of-year dance season and as a permanent fixture for shows throughout 2021.

“We are thrilled to assist the Theatre North as they transition to 2021 utilising Tickets.com technology and support.”  

Hayley Dobbs, General Manager Tickets.com Asia Pacific

About Theatre North

Theatre North, located in Launceston, Tasmania, is an independent, not for profit organisation located at Launceston’s historic Princess Theatre. As well as managing the Princess Theatre and Earl Arts Centre, Theatre North presents an annual season of professional performing arts from around Australia. Theatre North is passionate about exciting audiences and providing vibrant and varied experiences as part of the thriving cultural lifestyle enjoyed by the Northern Tasmanian community.

About Tickets.com

Tickets.com is a technology solutions provider focused on building premium live event experiences for clients and patrons. Established in 1995, Tickets.com has been the technology provider for over 1M live events across the globe. Our team is dedicated to developing and delivering the most innovative and modern ticketing technology in the world. Through strategy, partnership, and innovation, Tickets.com is on a mission to disrupt the ticketing industry and provide the best live experiences.

Email Marketing: Button Up.

Buttons, links, and other clickable actions are a major part of creating an email campaign with purpose.  So, let’s get down to some strategies to help you improve your click-ability.

The link is a powerful tool that can be placed on text, and images. 

Something to consider is the hover.  When you roll your mouse over this link – what does it say?  Does it give you context on where it will take you? 

Links are primarily used to “go somewhere.” Any time someone is navigating to a website, using a link is helpful and can be a good formula for providing more in-depth information.

Why Use a Button?

Buttons on the other hand are typically used to indicate an ACTION or getting a subscriber to “do something”, like buy a ticket.  They also have the ability to stand out.

With CrowdConnect the Tickets.com official email marketing platform powered by WhatCounts you can easily add buttons and links to optimize your email performance.   

If you are a current client learn more about how to set up Buttons and Links in CrowdConnect today.

Interested in CrowdConnect?

TICKETS.COM KNOCKS IT OUT OF THE BALLPARK WITH THE AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE

2020/21 CHAMPIONS – MELBOURNE ACES

North Wollongong, Australia – Monday, February 15th 2021, the Australian Baseball League (ABL) 2020/21 season has come to an unprecedented, yet successful end during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tickets.com congratulates the 2020/21 Claxton Shield Championship winners, the Melbourne Aces.

The ABL began doing business with Tickets.com during the World Baseball Classic Qualifier in 2016, and the pair signed a league deal shortly thereafter.  In 2020, the ABL renewed a 5-year deal with Tickets.com. The ABL utilises Tickets.com’s ProVenue® suite of products and services offerings, including the administrative support in creating events on behalf of the participating teams, provided by Tickets.com staff.  

“Unlike other ticketing platforms, Tickets.com is willing to step up to the plate and offer more kinds of customer service experiences to meet the unique needs of each client.” Shane Tonkin, GM Commercial & Marketing, Australian Baseball League.

With modified conditions throughout the 2020/21 season, Tickets.com worked with the teams to ensure that there was a solution for all of the curveballs this unpredictable season threw.  With sudden changes in border closures due to COVID restrictions, cancelled games, and changes in opponents, Tickets.com and ABL were covering all bases throughout the season.

“At each turn, we adapted to the event changes by creating, removing, adjusting, and cancelling as needed.  We automated refunds so that cancelled games were processed seamlessly.  This allowed the ABL to offer patrons the option to have refunds added as a credit for redemption in-house or online for their next purchase. ” Hayley Dobbs, General Manager Tickets.com Asia Pacific.

Despite the fluid situation, another successful season has come to an end.  Rollovers for Season Memberships and Auto Memberships Renewals are underway for the 2021/22 season, and patrons can lock in their preferred seats in advance.   

“We look forward to working with ABL over the coming seasons” Hayley Dobbs, General Manager Tickets.com Asia Pacific


ABOUT Australian Baseball League

Founded in 2010 as a joint venture between Baseball Australia and Major League Baseball, and since 2016 owned solely by Baseball Australia, the Australian Baseball League (ABL) continues to thrill fans around the world with a dazzling combination of Australia and New Zealand’s best home-grown talent and top prospects from around the world.

The creation of the ABL gives Oceania’s best baseball talent the rare chance to showcase their skills in front of a home crowd and reinforces the existence of a legitimate pathway to the Big Leagues right in our own backyard.

ABOUT Tickets.com

Tickets.com is a technology solutions provider focused on building premium live event experiences for clients and patrons. Established in 1995, Tickets.com has been the technology provider for over 1M live events across the globe. Our team is dedicated to developing and delivering the most innovative and modern ticketing technology in the world. Through strategy, partnership, and innovation, Tickets.com is on a mission to disrupt the ticketing industry and provide the best live experiences.

Tickets.com’s Alfred™ to Provide Contactless Ticketing Convenience for Fans at NASCAR’s DAYTONA 500 and DAYTONA Speedweeks Events

COSTA MESA, Calif. (February 8, 2021) – Tickets.com announced today its new Alfred mobile platform will power the access control for the start to NASCAR’s 2021 season with DAYTONA Speedweeks presented by AdventHealth events and the DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway. To provide a tap-and-go experience that moves fans quickly into the venue, NASCAR will validate all ticket entry for fans this week with Janam’s XT3 handheld devices powered by Alfred, a contactless solution that offers the most advanced digital ticketing technology. 

The DAYTONA 500, known as The Great American Race, draws the largest audience in motorsports for the iconic race event celebrated for its drama, pageantry and thrills along the high banks at the World Center of Racing.

Alfred is the proprietary all-in-one access control solution provided by Tickets.com for ticket validation. Comprehensive and agile, Alfred is directly integrated with ProVenue®, providing the back office operations with enhanced ticket tracking, ticket history, and more.  When deployed on  Janam’s XT3, Alfred delivers digital ticketing and a safe, secure, and contactless fan experience. Purchased tickets are delivered directly to each NASCAR fan’s phone and may be securely stored in Apple Wallet™ or  Google Pay™. Upon arrival at DAYTONA International Speedway, fans may simply position their phone close to XT3 and the integrated proximity-based NFC technology automatically pulls the digital ticket, accelerating validation and reducing contact between staff and fans.

“Migrating to the Tickets.com platform has been a great first step in our ticketing evolution across all NASCAR-owned facilities to create a more convenient buying experience and gate entry process for our fans,” said Kari Gritton, Managing Director, Consumer Strategy, NASCAR. “The Alfred technology makes mobile ticketing simple and easy, allowing use of digital wallets along with providing data collection opportunities for remarketing purposes.”

Alfred supports complex ticket validation rules including specific entry restrictions and timed admission that makes coordinating social distancing much easier. With 280 Janam devices being shared for NASCAR-owned facilities including Auto Club Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Daytona International Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Phoenix Raceway, Richmond Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway, and Watkins Glen International, the access control solution allows NASCAR to move fans quickly and safely through its entry gates.


ABOUT JANAM

Janam is a leading provider of rugged, mobile computers and pedestal-mounted access solutions. Small, light and affordable, Janam’s handheld devices deliver powerful computing performance, superior barcode scanning, state-of-the-art NFC, and proven ruggedness. As a key component of contactless digital ticketing systems, Janam’s handhelds and accessories enable venues of all types and sizes to increase guest throughput, eliminate fraud, reduce costs and connect more meaningfully to their customers. Learn More.


ABOUT Tickets.com

Tickets.com is a technology solutions provider focused on building premium live event experiences for clients and patrons. Established in 1995, Tickets.com has been the technology provider for over 1MM live events across the globe. Our team is dedicated to developing and delivering the most innovative and modern ticketing technology in the world. Through strategy, partnership, and innovation, Tickets.com is on a mission to disrupt the ticketing industry and provide the best live experiences.


About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR consists of three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour), one local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series) and three international series (NASCAR Pinty’s Series, NASCAR Peak Mexico Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

T.Cares Heart

2019 sees T.Cares grow

Throughout 2019, the Tickets.com UK team continued to embrace the T.Cares programme by supporting a number of initiatives in Milton Keynes and the surrounding area.

Through the global T.Cares initiative, Tickets.com employees seek to support the communities where they work and live – from charity fundraising and community service, to creating unforgettable experiences for those in need.

Earlier this year, staff volunteered at Emily’s Star to make up boxes for neonatal babies and new mothers in the area as part of the charity’s Neonatal Box Project.

Neonatal Box Project is a new initiative where the Emily’s Star delivered over 6,500 boxes to local and national neonatal units. The boxes created are emergency hospital necessities for babies born prematurely or underweight.

Tickets.com UK staff also showed their support by donating ten corporate hospitality tickets for the recent Bristol Rovers vs Milton Keynes (MK) Dons game in Sky Bet League One to the Bristol Rovers Community Trust and the ‘Gas Girls’ a Senior and Under 18 football team.

The Bristol Rovers Community Trust works with a variety of community offerings on social inclusion, health, education and sports participation projects to give back to the community. 

Most recently, Tickets.com donated four VIP matchday tickets to the home game against Coventry in Sky Bet League One to the Henry Allen Trust’s Treats and Wishes program.

The Henry Allen Trust was formed in memory of Henry Allen who tragically lost his battle with cancer in October 2013. The family chosen by the trust were treated to a once in a lifetime experience including a full stadium tour pre-match, lunch, pitch side access and were on hand for the Man of the Match presentations after the game in Club Platinum. 

For more information about T.Cares and to find out how your charity or project could get involved, visit https://provenue.tickets.com/uk/t-cares/.

Tickets.com & Semperoper shortlisted for Ticketing Technology Awards 2017

The team at Tickets.com is excited to announce that the recent roll-out of ProVenue at Semperoper has been shortlisted for the Moving On Up Award at the Ticketing Technology Awards 2017.

The category acknowledges the best in recent migration, upgrade or implementation projects and seeks to find a winning entry that demonstrates a boost in revenue and retention aligned with the introduction of the new platform.

In the case of Semperoper, a Tickets.com client for more than 25 years, the globally-renowned opera house migrated across to ProVenue® in 2016, becoming the first venue in Germany to do so.

 Since introducing the new platform, Semperoper has benefitted from an increase in online sales across many of its events; at any one time the venue can be selling tickets for up to 300 events at its main venue and 200 events at sister venues.

The advanced functionality of ProVenue® has also facilitated a range of upsells, including guided tours, event programmes and food and beverage options; this, coupled with the growth in online ticket sales has seen the venue’s online revenue increase by approximately 30% in the first three months of utilising ProVenue® (August – October 2016) compared to the same period last year.

Commenting on the announcement, Derek Palmer, managing director & executive VP, international “We are delighted to be shortlisted for the Moving On Up Award at this year’s Ticketing Technology Awards; Semperoper is a fantastic venue and very progressive as an organisation; we are proud to continue our longstanding relationship with them.

“Over time, its ticketing requirements have developed and we’ve worked closely with the project team to ensure that ProVenue® not only meets these requirements, but offers advanced levels of functionality and flexibility to allow the system to evolve in line with the venue’s projected growth.”

Tickets.com will be up against entries from Regiondo Pro, Ingresso, TiXX Sports and Skiddle, who have also been shortlisted for projects from across Europe.

“As Europe’s leading gathering of entertainment ticketing professionals, each year Ticketing Technology Forum brings together the very best of the industry to showcase what’s new, explore the challenges we face and debate the future trends,” says Ian Nuttall, Founder, Ticketing Technology Forum.

“Alongside the conference and workshops, this year we will also celebrate and recognise those people and organisations which are really changing the way we service the ticketing needs of our customers.

“The public nominated and after careful consideration, the judges have delivered a comprehensive shortlist of worthy finalists for Ticketing Technology Awards 2017 – which Tickets.com and Semperoper have been selected for.”

The Ticketing Technology Awards recognise leadership, innovation and achievement in the application of technology in ticketing across sports, performing arts, music, cinema, live entertainment and visitor attractions. The Awards aim to increase the standards and best practice of ticketing, drive awareness and adoption of future ticketing technology, and improve the customer experience for ticket-buyers across all sectors.

Click here for more information about the Ticketing Technology Awards and follow @tickettechforum on Twitter for live updates.

Back To Top