Carnival & Fair Buzz

When it comes to fair and carnival websites, one of the most important goals should be simple: make it easy for customers to buy tickets. Yet surprisingly, many fair websites still force visitors to dig through menus, search multiple pages, or hunt for tiny links just to find online ticketing information. In today's mobile-first world, where customers expect instant access and quick transactions, every extra click can mean a lost sale.

As both a web designer specializing in the carnival and fair industry and the owner of an online ticketing company, I've seen firsthand how website layout and ticket visibility directly impact online sales. A clearly placed “Buy Tickets” button, strong calls to action, and strategically promoted advance-sale offers can dramatically improve customer experience,  and significantly increase online revenue.

Many of the clients we sell tickets for through our sister company, Innovative Ticketing, also use my web design company, Matt's Web Design, to build and maintain their websites. However, we often encounter situations where a fair works with a different web designer while contracting with us for online ticket sales. In those cases, we strongly emphasize the importance of having a clearly visible “Buy Tickets” button placed in the website header and displayed on every page, both on desktop and mobile devices. Customers should never have to search through multiple menus or pages just to find where to purchase tickets.

Your website's homepage should also be used strategically to promote advance sale specials, discounts, or limited-time offers. Featuring these promotions prominently helps capture attention and encourages early purchases. The homepage hero slider is an excellent place to highlight potential savings and should always include a clear call-to-action button that directs visitors straight to the online ticketing portal or the ticketing landing page on the fair's website.

In addition to the homepage, online ticketing information should be incorporated throughout the site wherever it is relevant. For example, if you sell carnival ride tickets or wristbands online, include ticketing details and a “Buy Tickets” button on the carnival midway page. If your website has a pricing or promotions page, online ticketing should be featured at the top, not buried further down the page.

In today's environment, many customers are browsing on their phones, often while multitasking or distracted. Because of this, simplified navigation and clear calls to action are more important than ever. One of the most important pages on your website should stand out immediately, without requiring visitors to search for it.
When ticket purchasing is easy and highly visible, the results are noticeable. In many cases, optimizing ticket placement and calls to action can increase online ticket sales by as much as 80 percent.

Matt Cook is the publisher of Amusement Warehouse Magazine / CarnivalWarehouse.com and also the owner of Innovative Ticketing, an e-ticketing company that services the Carnival and Fair industry. Matt can be reached at matt.cook@innovativeticketing.com