Microsites are a great way to keep a visitor focused on one specific topic, theme or product.

The key to creating a good microsite is ensuring all the essential elements are included while providing the visitor with an eye catching experience.

With the right elements, this type of site is a highly effective marketing technique for products, causes, events and more.

Purpose Of A Microsite

One common mistake in microsite design is trying to cram too much into the site. Microsites have an extremely narrow focus and are often only a few pages. The purpose is to draw attention to one thing without any distractions. Think of it as a single product page out of an entire ecommerce site.

Takeaway: Keep the focus as narrow as possible. Professional designers are highly recommended as they understand the purpose of microsites and know how to create stunning without any clutter.

Using Interactive Content

The stand out element of a great microsite is interactive content. These sites aren’t like a normal website. They’re designed specifically to engage the user and encourage them to interact with the elements on the screen. For instance, a microsite for an album release might have a CD cover the user clicks to open. They might then be able to play samples of the songs on a CD background.

When creating a microsite, think more in terms of an app versus a normal site. Include elements for the user to click, slide, press or move around. The more users can interact, the longer they’ll stay on the site and absorb the information. There’s no end to how interactive a microsite can be. The more creative it is, the more likely the site is to be shared. The idea is to make the site come alive and feel almost tangible versus a simple page on a screen.

Many microsites use advanced JavaScript and CSS3 for a more interactive experiences. This enables things like simple page to page transitions to in-depth experiences that make a user feel like they’re part of the site, every microsite needs interactive elements.

Takeaway: Add at least one interactive feature per page. All interactive elements should seem natural and work well with the site’s purpose. To ensure optimal interactivity without slowing down the site or making it appear cluttered, hire a professional developer for smooth interactions visitors will love.

Adding Social Elements

The object of a microsite is to market something. Social media buttons are crucial. This allows visitors to quickly share the microsite with their friends and family. Make the buttons stand out, but design them so they fit with the microsite’s theme. This makes the entire site look more uniform.

Takeaway: Add social share buttons to the microsite. For a custom design, hire an expert developer for buttons that truly stand out.

Engaging Design

Microsites by nature are visually stimulating. They use design elements that draw in a user quickly and keep them on the site to further explore. For a good microsite, it’s important to focus on four main design elements – images, videos, fonts and navigation. All of these should remain consistent throughout the site for a more professional look.

Images, specifically large background or large center images, grab a visitor’s attention immediately. Pictures of products and events are often used. With video, it’s about making content more engaging while saving space. Since the site is small, a video explains far more in less space than a long article. Plus, it’s quick and easy for visitors to digest.

To make the site easy to read and navigate, use large fonts that stand out on the screen. Keep navigation simple and straight forward with buttons, large links, scrolling guides or clickable images (helps with interactivity).

Takeaway: Design is important with microsites. Use eye catching images, entertaining videos, large fonts and simple navigation to make the site beautiful and easy to use.

Conclusion

When a microsite contains all of these elements, it’s more professional looking and more likely to be shared. These sites are great extensions to main websites to market anything a business does or sells. Overall, keep them simple, visually stimulating and uniform throughout.

Need a microsite that immediately attracts attention and increases sales? Contact Stuartmedia today for the microsite expertise your business needs.

Image: Felipe Skroski