How to Sell Tickets on Facebook: Guide for Tour Operators

Want to make it simple for customers to find and book your tours? Facebook has you covered. With over 2 billion active users, it’s a powerful platform that can help you reach a larger audience and increase bookings.

Whether you’re offering guided hikes, boat tours, or city tours, Facebook offers tools that make selling tickets easy.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through two ways how to sell tickets on Facebook. We'll also provide a breakdown of the pros and cons of each method—helping you choose the best approach for your business.

Why Choose Facebook for Selling Tour Tickets?

Let’s face it, Facebook has become more than a place for social interactions. It’s a marketplace where people look for things to do, especially when traveling. Imagine this: A traveler lands in your city, opens Facebook, and sees your tour on their feed. With a few taps, they could buy tickets for your next tour.

That’s the power of Facebook’s reach. Since most users access the platform on their phones, they're just a click away from your tours. Plus, Facebook’s built-in advertising and marketing features make it easy to find your tours.

Statista's statistics on social media as the biggest influence on travel choices — 75% of travelers say social media, like Facebook, plays a key role in choosing travel destinations. | Infographic: Statista

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Sell Tickets on Facebook

First, Create a Facebook Business Page

First things first, if you haven’t already, create a Facebook Business Page. This will be your tour company’s storefront on Facebook. It’s where people can find your tours, read reviews, and contact you.

Set up your page with a clear profile picture (your logo works nicely), and a cover photo, and make sure your business details are complete. Add a tour description of what you offer, and include your contact information so people can easily reach you.

Once your Facebook Business account is ready, there are two ways to sell tickets for your tours. You can even use a mix of these strategies to maximize your reach and attract more customers.

Here’s a closer look at each option.

Option 1: Set Up Facebook Events and Link to Your Website’s Booking Page (Most Recommended)

Facebook Events are like digital flyers for your upcoming tours. But they’re not just for information—they let people RSVP, ask questions, and most importantly, buy tickets.

Here’s how to set up a Facebook event:

Go to your business page and click “Create Event.”
Add all the relevant details: the name of your tour, date, time, location, and price.
Use eye-catching photos from your tours to grab attention.
Most importantly, add a “Buy Tickets” button that links to your booking page connected to your online booking system.

Pros:

Full Control: You keep all booking data and control the entire booking process on your website.
Integration with Your Booking System: This ensures that all sales (whether from Facebook, your website, or OTAs) are synced in one system, so you don’t overbook.
No Additional Fees: Facebook doesn’t take a cut since transactions occur on your website.

Cons:

Extra Clicks: Potential attendees need to leave Facebook and visit your website to complete the booking, which might cause drop-offs.
Manual Setup: Requires linking and setting up each event manually.

Option 2: Promote Your Tours with Facebook Ads (Paid Method)

Facebook Ads is another powerful way to put your tours in front of the right audience. You can target specific groups based on location, interests, or even behaviors like people who travel.

For example, you can target travelers who have recently posted from your city or those who like travel pages. This way, when someone looks for things to do, your tour ad pops up.

Here’s how to do it:

Go to Facebook Ads Manager.
Create a new campaign and choose your objective (in this case, conversions).
Define your audience by targeting travelers, locals, or specific age groups.
Create your ad using eye-catching images and a clear call to action, like “Book Now.”

Pros:

Highly Targeted: You can reach specific groups of travelers, tourists, or locals based on their interests, location, and behaviors.
Boosted Visibility: Ads increase exposure beyond organic reach, driving more potential buyers to your ticket sales.
Custom Audiences: You can retarget people who have shown interest but haven’t completed a purchase.

Cons:

Cost: You’ll need to pay for Facebook Ads, and depending on your budget, this could add up over time.
Ongoing Management: Facebook Ads require regular monitoring and adjustments to ensure you’re reaching the right audience effectively.

If you’re looking to dive deeper into creating successful Facebook ads for your tours, Tourpreneur Podcast recently published an insightful guide specifically for tour operators. The tips come from a study of 1,600 Facebook ads, featuring insights from Crowdriff’s Amrita Gurney, Vice President of Marketing at Crowdriff.

Best Practices for Maximizing Facebook Ticket Sales

To really boost your ticket sales, follow these best practices:

Use high-quality visuals: People book tours that look fun. Use photos and videos of past customers enjoying your tours.
Run promotions: Offer early-bird discounts or special deals on ticket prices to encourage people to book quickly.
Post regularly: Keep your Facebook page active by posting updates, reviews, and content from your tours.
Encourage sharing: Ask your customers to share your events or tag friends who might be interested.

So, What is the Best Way to Sell Tickets on Facebook?

By now, you’ve seen a few ways to sell tickets on Facebook, but Option 1—connecting your Facebook page to your website’s booking page—is the top option. Why? It gives your customers a smooth, simple booking experience, which boosts your chances of closing more sales.

Here’s why it works for tour operators:

Everything in One Place: All bookings—Facebook, website, in-person—are synced in one dashboard of your booking system. No more juggling between systems.
Real-Time Availability: Avoid overbooking. Your booking system like TicketingHub updates availability instantly across all channels.
Better Customer Experience: Customers can book in just a few clicks, without leaving Facebook. Easy, fast, and convenient.
Boosts Professional Image: A streamlined website makes your business look trustworthy and professional, boosting customer confidence.

So, if you’re looking for a method that saves time, prevents booking mistakes, and makes you look like a pro, this is the way to go. It’s simple, efficient, and gets results.

If you’re looking for extra exposure, running a sponsored ad on Facebook is a great option. Just be sure to direct customers to your booking page, so everything—from bookings to management—can be handled seamlessly through your booking system.

Conclusion: Start Selling Your Tour Tickets on Facebook Today

Now that you know how to sell tickets on Facebook, it’s time to start! Whether you choose Facebook Events or Facebook Ads (or a combination of both), you have options to reach more customers and grow your tour business.

By integrating your booking system, you’ll provide a smooth and simple experience for customers while keeping your operations organized.

Looking for a booking system? Start selling tickets with TicketingHub today. Our tour booking software takes care of the heavy lifting, so you can focus on growing your business. Save time and do more—book a free demo now and see how TicketingHub can streamline your tour bookings!

sell tickets with ticketinghub for tour and activity operators

FAQ Section

1. Can I sell event tickets directly on Facebook without using a third-party platform?

Currently, Facebook has disabled ticket purchases directly from within the app. This means your best option is to link the “Find Tickets” button to your website’s booking page.

We recommend this approach because it integrates smoothly with your booking system. This way, customers can view all other relevant details about your tours and complete their bookings easily and efficiently.

2. What are the costs associated with selling tickets on Facebook?

There are different cost factors to consider.

Facebook Event Pages: No extra charges to list your event.
Facebook Ads: You’ll need to pay for ad campaigns to promote your ticketed event to your target audience.
Apple Device Fees: Purchases made through the Facebook app on Apple devices may include up to a 30% fee.
Third-Party Platforms: Some ticketing platforms may have their own fees when selling event tickets on Facebook.

Keep these costs in mind as they may affect your overall ticket price and revenue generated from each sale.

3. How can I promote my tour events on Facebook to sell more tickets?

Effective Facebook promotion is key to selling more tickets. Here’s how:

Create a Compelling Facebook Event Page: Include clear event details, such as the event name, ticket price, and other relevant information.
Use Facebook Ads: Target your promotion to travelers or users with specific interests in your tour or activity.
Encourage Sharing: Use the “Share Event” button to reach more potential buyers through attendees’ networks.
Track Results: Use the Facebook Pixel to track buyer behavior and measure event promotion success.

How to Sell Tickets on Facebook: Using events and ads