The short answer
Make the event page public, give it a title that says what it is and where, write a real description of a few paragraphs, add a picture, and get the link onto sites people already visit. Search engines need time to find a new page, so publish early rather than the week before.
Nobody can promise you a spot on the first page. But a clear page that other sites link to gives you the best chance.
Write a title people would search
Think about what someone would type. “Saturday Sessions” means nothing to a stranger. “Beginner Pottery Class in Fitzroy, Saturday Mornings” tells them, and Google, exactly what it is. Put the kind of event and the suburb or city in the title where it reads naturally.
Write a real description
A sentence or two is not enough for a search engine to understand your event. Aim for a few short paragraphs:
- what happens, in plain words
- who it is for, and what level
- where it is, with the suburb and venue name
- what is included and what to bring
Write for people, not for search engines. Do not stuff in keywords. A description that answers people’s questions is also the one that ranks.
Add a picture
Events with a good image look better in search results and when shared. Use a clear photo of the actual event or venue if you have one.
Get linked from other places
Search engines find and trust pages that other sites link to. Good places to share your link:
- your own website or club page
- the venue’s website, if they list events
- your council’s community events calendar
- local Facebook groups and community noticeboards
- partner organisations and sponsors
Each link helps people find you directly too, which matters more than search in the end.
Publish early and keep it tidy
A page published two months ahead has time to be found. Keep the date, time and place correct, because search engines show those details, and a wrong date costs you bookings. For a regular event, keep one page or series alive rather than starting fresh each time.
On One Ticket
A public event that is live, has a cover and a real description, more than a few words, is included in the sitemap One Ticket gives search engines. Each event page carries its details in the structured format search engines read: the name, dates, place and ticket prices. An event drops out of the sitemap about 90 days after its last date.
Unlisted and private events are never submitted, so check your event is set to public. For a weekly series, the series page lists every session, and the sitemap includes the soonest few.
Related: How to sell tickets on Instagram, How to create an event page and How do I make a private or unlisted event?
Answers to your questions
Is One Ticket free to use?
Yes. The Free plan has everything you need to sell tickets, with no monthly cost, no setup fee, no payout fee and no card needed. Pro and Team are open now: upgrade any time in Settings › Plan. Limited-time offer: A$1 for your first year (first 100 organisers), then A$29/month for Pro or A$79/month for Team. Cancel anytime.
Who pays the booking fee?
The buyer, on a paid ticket, on top of the price you set, so you receive 100% of your ticket price. Free tickets carry no fee.
When do I get paid?
Ticket money goes to your own Stripe account, with no payout fee from One Ticket. Until your first paid event has gone cleanly, it is paid out two days after each event; after that, it is paid out as it sells.
Can I run a free event?
Yes. A free ticket costs nobody anything, and you don’t need Stripe connected to run a free event.
Do people need an account to book?
No. They book on their phone or computer without an account, and their tickets arrive by email with a QR code to show at the door.