Learn from the Event Pros: 6 Examples of Hot Event Websites
Image courtesy of Pixabay
It takes a lot of work to run a hit event, with a vast amount of organization and planning to be done, so the last thing you want to be doing in the run-up to an event is stressing about promotional concerns and the distribution of accurate information.
That’s why it’s so useful to have a strong event website to filter out a lot of the questions, drum up additional interest, and give visitors a taste of what they can expect from your event before moving onto the registration component.
Your website or event registration page can’t handle any of the practicalities of hosting the event, of course, as you’ll need event management software for that— but by combining a comprehensive event solution with a slick website, you’ll give yourself maximum time to focus on enjoying the ride.
Let’s check out 6 event websites that do a fantastic job, think about what exactly makes them so good, and discover some tactics you can use for your own website.
SONNY’S SMOKIN’ SHOWDOWN
This website for Sonny’s Smokin’ Showdown Invitational, a barbeque-eating competition, and general get-together, has a standout aesthetic. It’s mostly monochromatic, but with red highlights that really pop as a result.
What you should learn from the Smokin’ Showdown site is that an authentic vibe and plenty of smart spacing can make your event feel vastly more significant. The contrast is handled very smoothly, maintaining an old-fashioned style while ensuring that all the important elements are clearly distinguishable.
You can also draw from the clever copy. It doesn’t just boldly claim to the greatest BBQ competition— it immediately assumes that you’ll be attending the event (“I’M GOING AS A:”), which goes some way towards convincing you. It’s an old trick, but a powerful one.
GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL
Glastonbury Festival is one of the biggest music festivals in the world and known for its unique setting and culture, so it makes total sense that the event website oozes colorful personality from every pore. Outdoor events may be tricky to handle, but this design feels effortless.
The vibrant header art is an assault on the senses in the best way, and the navigation options are clearly differentiated using variable button and font sizing as well as bright contrasting colors. There’s a lot going on in the background, but the layout is very simple and easy to follow.
Then, down the page, contrast is used to great effect again with the pink news text and the multicolored note about the next festival. The key takeaway is that you don’t need to stick to blank one-note backgrounds to have a solid UX— you just need to balance all the elements carefully to make sure the right things stand out.
AUGMENTED WORLD EXPO
This event website for the Augmented World Expo is probably my favorite here because the art style is remarkably effective. The color scheme is simple, throwing back to anaglyph 3d glasses, and the futuristic gloss is gorgeous.
The idea to have the characters cast shadows reflecting their virtual selves was a masterstroke. Then, when you scroll down the page, you find that pretty much all the basic information you need is there without needing to head to individual pages.
From this, I’d say that a top-notch banner image can be worth its weight in gold, and if you have something anywhere near that good, clear some space for it. You don’t need to cram everything above the fold. If people are interested, they’ll scroll down.
E3
The Electronic Entertainment Expo, also known as E3, is the biggest event in the video game industry calendar, and it attracts huge crowds every year as it introduces all the latest releases and developments.
I really like the use of depth on their website. The navigation bar and registration CTA clearly stand out above the background, which itself contains a great deal of depth in the form of notched and extruding hexagons.
It’s a small touch, but the inclusion of iconography really paints a story about the event. There’s a weapon, a controller, a directional pad, a sword, a pair of headphones, a 3d box, and a trophy. If you had to guess what E3 involves, you could do fairly well just working off the visuals.
LONDON TECH WEEK
With 55,000+ attendees from 90+ countries, as they proudly state, London Tech Week is London’s biggest collection of tech experts, and its event website is very tastefully done.
All the important information is presented right away, and the angling of various elements helps make the order of priority clear. The date, introduction, and actions are level, while the logo background, header art, and colorful stat notes are tilted.
This goes to show that contrast isn’t restricted just to color or size. Something as simple as rotation can create two distinct element sets. You can also see this down the page with the sponsorship section— the main text is level, but the background of the example grid is tilted.
Plus, it’s a technology-based event for event technology so it HAS to be a simple, user-friendly journey.
WIMBLEDON
As the oldest and most culturally-significant tennis tournament in the world, Wimbledon always does big business, yet its website always strives for an appropriate level of… let’s say decorum. It’s a famous event, so it has no need to be bold. It’s a rare example of an event that doesn’t need to generate hype.
Its current incarnation uses a neat one-page approach, with the navigation bar at the bottom causing elements to pop up and alter the central contents. This means that an enormous amount of information is available without having to scroll down the page or load another.
Since Wimbledon sells itself, there’s little need for promotion, and the designers could focus on historical reverence and high-quality copy. In this way, it manages to stand out through not actually trying to stand out. Sometimes it’s best to stick to your guns (or racquets in this case).
BUILDING YOUR OWN EVENT WEBSITE
As we’ve seen, an event website doesn’t need to be incredibly complex. You mainly need to give users an idea of what kind of event you’re offering, provide all the information they expect, and make it easy for them to take action (register interest, buy merchandise, order a ticket, etc.).
You also don’t need flashy animations, or glossy videos, or costly design. Some of the top event websites are built on WordPress - and when using Boomset’s integration platform, a great event registration platform like Bizzabo, Eventbrite, or Universe. You can create something perfectly fit for purpose using the exact same site building options you would use for free or at low cost to create a personal site. It’s much more about the message and the story, rather than just a glossy package. And if you need a glossy package — don’t feel the need to spend the earth on a big custom design. As always, focus on the event experience more than website vanity.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
Lining up a big event and looking to get the most out of it? While you secure the event management package you need to cover the practical concerns, find the time to set up an event website, taking inspiration from these sites and any others you like.
If you get it right, it’ll get people hyped to attend, boost sales, and save you time and effort— and you don’t even have to spend that much on it. I’d say that’s a good deal!
Guest Author Bio: Kayleigh Alexandra is a content writer for Micro Startups — a site dedicated to spreading the word about startups and small businesses of all shapes and sizes. Visit the blog for the latest marketing insights from top experts and inspiring entrepreneurial stories. Follow us on Twitter @getmicrostarted.
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