How to Create Tickets for an Event (Step by Step)
Creating professional event tickets is easier than it sounds. You don't need a designer, a printer, or technical skills. With the right platform, you can go from blank page to shareable ticket page in under 10 minutes.
Here's the complete process.
What "creating a ticket" actually means today
Paper tickets still exist, but for most events — especially community events, markets, workshops, concerts, and fundraisers — digital tickets are the standard. Each attendee gets a unique QR code sent to their email. You scan it at the door.
The advantages are significant:
- No printing costs
- No lost tickets (it's in their email)
- Instant check-in with any smartphone
- Real-time attendance tracking
So when we say "create tickets," we mean: set up an event page with a ticket purchase flow that automatically generates QR code tickets and emails them to attendees.
Step 1: Choose your ticketing platform
The platform does the heavy lifting — generating unique ticket codes, processing payments, sending emails, and providing a scanner for check-in.
For most independent organizers, look for:
- No monthly fee
- Free events cost nothing
- Simple setup (under 15 minutes)
- QR code check-in included
Matter Tickets checks all of those boxes. It's free to create an account and you can have your first event live in minutes.
Step 2: Set up your event
Once you're signed in, create a new event. You'll typically fill in:
Event basics:
- Title — Be specific. "Birmingham Makers Market — June 2026" is better than "Makers Market."
- Description — Cover the what, when, where, and why. Bullet points work well. Mention what's included in the ticket.
- Date and time — Include start and end time so attendees can plan.
- Location — Full address so people can find it and add it to their calendar.
- Cover image — This is worth spending 5 minutes on. Events with images get dramatically more clicks and shares.
Step 3: Create your ticket types
This is where you define what people are buying.
Basic options:
- Single ticket type — General admission at one price. Simple and fine for most events.
- Multiple tiers — Early bird, general, VIP. Each tier has its own name, price, description, and quantity.
- Free tickets — Set price to $0. Great for RSVP tracking even when there's no charge.
Tips for ticket types:
- Give each tier a clear name and description. If VIP includes something, say what.
- Set realistic quantities. Even if you don't expect to sell out, a visible "X tickets remaining" counter motivates purchases.
- Consider an early bird tier at a lower price — it rewards people who plan ahead and gives you early sales momentum.
Step 4: Configure your settings
Before publishing, a few things to check:
- Refund policy — State clearly what happens if someone can't make it. A reasonable policy increases buyer confidence.
- Event visibility — Is this a public event anyone can find, or private (only accessible via link)?
Step 5: Publish and share
Hit publish. You now have a live event page with a unique URL.
Share it:
- Direct message to your known community
- Social media (the cover image will show up in link previews)
- Email list if you have one
- Relevant local groups and channels
Step 6: Check people in on the day
Your ticketing platform should give you a scanner — either a built-in tool or a way to scan QR codes from the camera app.
On Matter Tickets, you scan directly from the check-in page on any smartphone. Each scan confirms the ticket in real time and prevents reuse.
Day-of checklist:
- Test the scanner before doors open
- Brief whoever is checking people in
- Have a fallback (email confirmation lookup) for edge cases
- Know your total capacity so you can track remaining space
Common mistakes to avoid
Waiting too long to publish. Your event page can go live even if some details are still being finalized. Publishing early means more time for people to find it.
Skipping the cover image. It takes 5 minutes and meaningfully increases click-through when shared.
Underpricing early bird tickets. If you're going to offer a discount, make it meaningful — 20–30% off at least. A $1 discount isn't compelling.
Not testing the checkout flow. Go through the purchase yourself with a test ticket before you share the link publicly. Catch any friction before your real attendees do.
That's it
Creating event tickets comes down to:
- Choosing a platform that handles QR generation and payments
- Setting up your event page with good copy and an image
- Creating your ticket types with clear names and descriptions
- Publishing and sharing the link
The whole process, done at a reasonable pace, takes 15–20 minutes for your first event and much less after that.