3 Reasons Why You Need a Microsite
Posted September 1st, 2008 by ybo
Launching a microsite can boost your company’s web presence and so much more.
Your website is chockfull of information—and that’s usually a good thing. But sometimes it’s easy for key details to get lost in the maze of links, navigation bars and images. The next time you need to call attention to a new product or service, consider launching a microsite.
A microsite—sometimes called a minisite or weblet—is a separate web page meant to function as a supplement to your company’s main website. It typically has its own URL, look and function, and focuses on content that’s related to—but separate from—what’s found on your primary site.
To decide if your subject matter is appropriate for a microsite, consider your goals. If you’re looking to do any of the following, a microsite may be right for you.
Promote a New Product or Service
If you’re unveiling a brand-new offering, a microsite can help increase your sales. Because a microsite doesn’t necessarily have to look like the parent site, you can switch up the design and use media—like videos and recorded messaging—that you wouldn’t use on your company website, allowing you to mold the microsite to fit the project. Plus, a microsite will increase the number of hits your main website receives when the product name is entered into a search engine, boosting traffic there, too.
Target a Special Audience
Sometimes it makes sense to separate information from the host site, especially if it’s only meant for certain eyes. For example, if you have a wholesale or members-only section on your website, you’ll prevent confusion by sending those consumers to an entirely different site. This also guarantees that competitors or other consumers aren’t granted access to special pricing available to a select few. A simple way to do this is by requiring a password to members-only content.
Reach Mobile Phone Users
Anyone with an Internet-ready mobile phone can access your website, but not all websites are cell phone-friendly. On a mobile device, your site’s type may be too small or the buttons hard to click, which will deter PDA phone users from visiting. By creating a microsite specifically aimed at smartphone users, you can increase type and button sizes and limit the text so it’s easily navigable. You can also strip the site of incompatible media, like Flash, to make sure consumers can view the entire page.
Check out www.fiskateers.com for an example of a microsite featuring crafting ambassadors for Fiskars Brands, Inc., or www.studentambassadors.org for People to People’s student ambassador microsite.
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