Should events have their own websites? Absolutely. There’s no doubt about the branding opportunities that come with dedicated websites. Branded event websites make the jobs of event promoters easier. Asking attendees to RSVP or sending them constant event-related updates also becomes easier.
Fundraising:
Event websites can improve a company’s fundraising efforts. Dedicated event websites make it easier for sponsors or brand partners to understand the themes, purpose, etc., behind the event. They can find all event-related information on these sites.
Data Sharing and Collection:
Modern-day event attendees provide and demand lots of data at events. They want to know event registration details, specifics about the schedule, event fees, venue maps, etc., before confirming their attendance. A dedicated event website can resolve this issue by giving attendees centralized access to all event-related information. Attendees who use dedicated event websites are also easier to track. Event websites can be used to survey them, give ratings to specific in-event experiences, and more.
Encourage Remote Participation:
Lastly, and most importantly, event websites with live streaming features allow remote attendees to experience events closely. Regardless of their location, branded event websites create comprehensive digital experiences for remote attendees.
Ideally, you want your event website to be time and resource-saving both for the event planners and the attendees. Thankfully, creating fully-functional, bug-free event websites is very easy and cost-effective. Even without professional web developers, event managers can create customized event websites that address the specific needs of their attendees.
How to Create Event Websites for Free?
There are many website-building tools designed specifically for event managers. Any event manager can access and use these tools to create functional and aesthetic websites in very simple steps.
- Sign up for one or multiple free website-building tools. Wix, Weebly, WordPress, and Strikingly are good free website builders for beginners to choose from. Check out these website builders. Pick one that is suited for the types of event websites you want to create.
- Beginners can use pre-customized templates on these website-building platforms. Designing the layouts of the event websites on these platforms is very easy as well. These tools feature “drag and drop” mechanisms. Add design elements, brand logos, and content with ease.
- Publish your website and go “live.” Start driving traffic to your new event website. Share the URL of the newly created event website on your social media channels. Encourage attendees to share the URL as well.
Here are some other helpful event website-building and optimizing tools:
- Eventalways: Create free websites for your events on Eventalways. Build an event profile on this platform. You’ll automatically receive a dedicated event landing page. Use this landing page as your upcoming event’s main website homepage. Apart from adding content and customizing the site’s layout, there’s nothing much for creators to do. The free event registration website makes it easy for creators to add event info, logo, images, and other visual elements to the page.
- Optimizely: Use Optimizely’s A/B testing tools to track the performances of the web pages on your event website. Get accurate feedback about your event website’s success with Optimizely’s multivariate testing tools. Track the conversion rates of all the landing pages on your event website.
- Sumo-Me: Sumo-Me is a comprehensive set of traffic generating tools for event managers. Use it to perform content analytics, build “heatmaps” for webpages (track activity of users), and create simple sharing tools.
When event websites look and feel professional, they attract attendees. Mobile-optimized event websites, in particular, help target attendees understand the perks they can expect by attending the events.
Must-Have Features on Your Event Website
Here’s a list of important design elements and pieces of content every top event website needs to have.
Detailed Event Information
The number one responsibility of an event website is to answer any questions attendees may have before confirming their attendance. All event websites must feature the following pieces of event-related information –
- The event name and relevant brand logos at the top of the website.
- Date, time, venue location, live-stream link, and other basic details regarding how to access the events.
- Compelling, high-definition images that give users visual cues about what experiences they can expect at the event.
- A simple ticket-buying section. The best event websites don’t allow users to leave the site without purchasing tickets. Integrating easy ticket buying options on your event website will increase the overall attendance rates.
Informative Homepages
Creating dedicated web pages featuring information about the event’s agenda, venue information, speakers, etc., is important. But, these web pages may go unviewed if your event website’s homepage isn’t simple, informative, and easy to navigate. Make sure your event website’s homepage has the following features –
Mobile Responsiveness:
All web pages on your event website need to be mobile-responsive. Most target audiences will use their cell phones to check out your event website. If your website is unresponsive, their experiences on the platform will be negative. Plus, Google’s latest algorithmic update penalizes websites that aren’t mobile-responsive.
SEO-Friendly Keywords:
All homepages must have simple descriptions explaining the events’ key features. Don’t make these descriptions too complex. But don’t forget to add relevant keywords to these descriptions either. Many people discover local events via Google. Make it easier for them to discover your event website by integrating relevant keywords on your homepage’s content. Also, optimize all images, videos, and other content on the event website with tags or descriptions full of keywords.
Social Proof:
Gather quotes from your event’s speakers, testimonials from previous attendees, and other social “proofs” and add them to the website. Attendees are likelier to buy tickets once they notice names of prominent guests, top brands, etc., listed on the website. Testimonials from satisfied attendees from previous events may compel them to explore the other pages on the event website.
How to Promote Your Event Website?
Guest blogging, email marketing, and sharing the website on social media platforms – these are all proven event website promotion techniques. However, the best way to make event websites more popular is by listing them on prominent event directories.
If you’re having trouble gaining exposure for your event website, check out the Event Always’ events listing platform. Find details about the best corporate events, brand conferences, exhibitions, concerts, etc., on our even-listing website. List your event and event website alongside some of the most popular events and brands in the world.
Good event website design is a critical part of building a strong online. Use these guidelines to create the best SEO-optimized websites for your future events.