You’ve set up the Facebook event page, you’re regularly tweeting and you’re posting about your event on Instagram. You might think you’ve covered all your bases. But you’re missing an important piece: an event website.
It might seem difficult and unnecessary, but websites are still key for promoting an event and drawing in attendees. Taking the time to create one can be daunting, but plenty of host sites are making it easier than ever to create a site quickly and in a straightforward, clean manner.
So, what should go on your website? We’ve compiled a list of four tips to make your event website the best it can be.
Related: White-Label Event Websites 101
1. Details, details, details
The most important part of your website should be the details of the event. Don’t make it difficult and hide them under multiple menu options. If it’s not the homepage, the link to it should be clearly marked on the front page. Include the title, date, time, venue and a short description of what attendees can expect from the event. If there are links to tickets or an RSVP website, that should be there, too. And don’t forget to put your contact info on there should potential attendees have any questions!
2. Capture attendees on the home page immediately
It might seem cool to have strobe lights or a five-second intro when people first open the site, but let’s be honest: it’s probably unnecessary and potentially frustrating. People want to learn more about what your event is, and they won’t care for any (literal) flashy details. Instead, choose a photo—or a logo, if your client has one—relevant to the event to have as the first image viewers will see.
Related: A Killer Event Should Have a Killer Website
3. Make it aesthetically pleasing
Comic Sans font? Leaning toward childish. Neon pink text on a dark green background? Not so attractive. It can be difficult to find a good color combination that doesn’t make your site look like an average or painful-to-read page. Stick with colors that play well together and clean fonts that are easy on the eyes. Black on a pastel blue or peach-gradient background? It’s nice and clear. And if you’re looking for a font that is easy on the eyes but not your typical Arial font, consider fonts like Georgia or the classic Times New Roman. And always double-check that your site follows best practices for web accessibility.
4. Include all social media links
While you should absolutely share your website on your social media, it’s important to link your website to your social media as well—especially if you’re sharing content like behind-the-scenes video and little details to followers. Certain sites will also allow you to easily (read: make possible for those who aren’t HTML-savvy) embed your social media on the site itself, so consider doing so with your Twitter and Instagram feeds.