Why you need an event website for your next event.

Having an event website (and I’d highly recommend a companion event app) is important whether you are throwing an event for 50 people or 500 people. Your attendees will thank you for having all of the event information in one place - and trust me you will field fewer questions on your end.

Why an Event Website

A well-designed event website can serve as the central location for all event-related information. Here are my recommendations for what should be included:

1. Information: FAQs, schedules, speaker bios, special event information, lodging,? parking & transportation information and general venue details. Hint: If someone asks you a question, chances are someone else probably has the same question, so add it to the FAQ page.
2. Registration Portal: Make it easy for attendees to register.
3. Mobile Responsiveness: if it’s not responsive and easy to navigate, attendees won’t use it.
4. Event Branding: Make sure your event website’s branding matches the branding attendees will see when they arrive at your event.

The website we created for our National Sales Meeting, www.aiaunite.com, is an example of some of the best practices I mentioned above. Our graphic designer did a great job keeping the design simple and mobile-friendly. We used Wix for this particular site, however there are lots of inexpensive options for creating an event site.

Integrating Event Apps

Pairing your event website with an event app like Whova will make your job a lot easier. Here's how:

1. Unified Updates: Sync information between your website and app so you only have to make updates in one spot.
2. Real-time Communication: Send live updates to attendees throughout the event.
3. Personalized Schedules: Attendees can create their own itineraries.
4. Engagement Boosters: Run contests and interactive activities to keep attendees involved.
5. Networking Opportunities: Facilitate connections between attendees.

Your event's online presence is often the first impression you make on potential attendees, so make it count!