If you’ve ever planned an event in Nigeria, you know that ticket sales can make or break your show. Between our love for last-minute purchases and the variety of payment methods guests prefer from USSD codes to direct transfers keeping up with payments can quickly become a headache. As an event planner, nothing is more frustrating than chasing daily updates from different places WhatsApp chats, Instagram DMs, online payment notifications, and even people promising to “send the money tomorrow.” But here’s the good news: with the right system, you can monitor all your ticket sales in real time without losing your mind.

Below, I’ll show you a step-by-step guide that will help you stay on top of sales like a pro and yes, it works for small parties, mega concerts, conferences, and everything in between.

1. Use a Trusted Nigerian Ticketing Platform (Shows.ng)

Stop juggling screenshots, receipts, and bank alerts. With Shows.ng, you can manage all your ticket sales in one place.

Benefits of Using Shows.ng:

Instant alerts when tickets are sold

Real-time dashboard so you know exactly how sales are going

Accepts all major Nigerian payment methods bank transfers, USSD, cards

Automatically keeps a record of every ticket sold

Pro Tip: With Shows.ng, you can even set different ticket categories (VIP, Regular, Early Bird) and watch which one sells out first.

2. Set a Daily Sales Check-In Time

Don’t wait until the day before your event to check your numbers. Create a habit of checking your sales dashboard at the same time daily maybe every evening by 7 PM.

This way:

You’ll spot slow days early

You can quickly boost promotion if needed

It becomes part of your event routine, not a stressful chore

3. Keep Track of Offline Sales Too

Not all Nigerians will buy tickets online some prefer POS payments or direct bank transfers. That’s okay, but you need to record them properly.

Use Google Sheets or Excel to log every offline payment:

Buyer’s name

Amount paid

Payment method

Ticket type

Tip: If you have a team, give one trusted member access so updates happen daily.

4. Delegate Sales Tracking

You don’t have to do it all yourself. Assign one reliable team member to monitor sales and send you updates every day. This frees you up to focus on other parts of your event like booking performers, managing vendors, or handling PR.

5. Categorize Sales by Channel

Knowing where your sales come from helps you put your energy where it works best. For example:

WhatsApp – Direct DMs and status posts

Instagram – Ads and stories

Shows.ng – Online ticket purchases

At the gate – On-the-day sales

WithShows.ng, you can track and compare these numbers easily, so you know which channel deserves more promo spend.

6. Use WhatsApp Labels for Easy Tracking

If WhatsApp is your main sales channel, use the label feature to tag buyers:

• “Paid – VIP”
• “Paid – Regular”
• “Pending Payment”

This way, no one gets lost in your chat list. For bigger events, you can pair this with a simple CRM tool, but for most planners, WhatsApp labels +Shows.ng is enough.

7. Set and Track a Sales Target

Always have a clear target in mind. Example:

“I need to sell 200 tickets at ₦2,500 each = ₦500,000 total.”

When you check your dashboard daily on Shows.ng, you’ll know exactly how far you are from that goal. This keeps you motivated and helps you plan promotional pushes if needed.

Tracking ticket sales in Nigeria doesn’t have to be stressful. With Shows.ng, you can see every sale in real time, handle payments smoothly, and spend less time chasing receipts. Combine that with simple habits like daily check-ins, organized spreadsheets for offline sales, and smart delegation, and you’ll be free to focus on what really matters hosting a successful, unforgettable event.

If you’re ready to make ticket tracking stress-free and professional, visit Shows.ng today and start selling like a pro.