Facebook has partnered with Eventbrite to launch a new event discovery and ticket buying facility in the UK.
The link-up - piloted in the US last July - enables fans to buy tickets directly within Facebook without having to leave the site.
"Our focus with ticketing on Facebook is to give people an easier way to attend the events that interest them and make selling tickets easier for our partners, like Eventbrite," said Yoav Zeevi, Facebook Events Ticketing product manager. "We've gotten great feedback from our partners that posting on Facebook helps them drive sales and attendance.”
Marino Fresch, Eventbrite marketing director UK & Ireland, added: "Buying tickets on Facebook, without ever leaving the app, is a much more intuitive, faster way to get into your favourite event. And this is just the beginning. The ability to buy tickets for interesting events, wherever you may be online, is changing the future of ticket sales. It will benefit our event organisers, who are able to sell more tickets and in turn grow their revenues by reaching their fans at this crucial intersection."
World music and arts festival WOMAD has already begun using the facility, which follows Eventbrite's partnership with concert discovery app Bandsintown. People can also buy and receive tickets directly within the Bandsintown app. Event organisers can sell tickets or set up free registration directly on Facebook, at no extra cost.
WOMAD Festival director Chris Smith said: “We are always looking to improve our service to customers and to make it easier for them to find our festival and to get tickets, particularly on mobile. That’s why we have been working with Eventbrite for several years now.
"Eventbrite’s latest, deep integration with Facebook takes things to the next level, though. It brings our box office to our fans on Facebook, rather than the other way around. We want attending WOMAD to be easy and what could be easier than getting your ticket on Facebook with three taps?”
