When Gary and I choose the events we
want to visit, it’s normally as a result of the event’s website. I believe a
lot of potential event visitors do the same thing. It is an easy and fast way
to see what an event is all about, and when it is going to take place. So, it
amazes me when a festival either doesn’t have a website or has one that is so
vague that it is useless as an information tool.
As I
have mentioned in previous blogs, being too cute or over exaggerating, can be
just as bad. The old KISS principle
– “Keep
it simple, stupid” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KISS_principle
) should be applied here. Having a simple but factual festival website, in my
opinion, is best! The following is my list of “What festival websites should
include”:
€
Accurate
description of your event
€
Event
dates
€
Event
times
€
Event
location
€
Event
costs (all of them)
€
Parking
information, including costs if any
€
Directions
to the event including a map for out of town visitors
€
Disabled
information
€
Event
program and guide, including activities, activity locations and activity times
(A site map is always helpful)
€
Contact
list, who and how (I always like to see a way of e-mail contacting)
€ Sponsors list
You or your web designer may have other
ideas, and that’s okay, but these basics should always be included.
Other
good things to include, but not as important as the above are:
€
Event
history
€
Volunteer
acknowledgement
€ Special links (local
restaurants, hotels, attractions and businesses)
Also, make your site printer friendly. I
like to print out festival information and take it with me. I get more out of
the festival that way.
Finally, it is important that your
website is accessible to mobile phones. Search engines, especially Google are
penalizing (not showing your website high
on search page) websites who are not accessible. This doesn’t mean that you
have to have an APP, but just that when your website is reduced to mobile size
it is readable.
Your website is your voice! Make sure that your web
designer understands this and adheres to your instructions!
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