Building Effective Microsites

What is a microsite?

A microsite is a website that has been created for a specific purpose or campaign, and is usually found on its own domain or subdomain. Microsites are generally used to promote a new product, launch a new campaign, or provide information about a specific event.

Microsites vs. websites

Microsites differ from website in that they are usually much simpler in design and content, and are intended to serve a very specific purpose. For example, a company might create a microsite to promote a new product launch, which would include information about the product, as well as a way to purchase it.

Microsites vs. landing pages

Microsites and landing pages are often confused, but there is a difference between the two. A microsite is its own website, while a landing page is a standalone page that is part of an existing website.

A microsite will generally have its own domain name (e.g., newproduct.company.com), while a landing page will be on the main website domain (e.g., www.company.com/newproduct).

Microsites are usually more complex than landing pages and include several pages of content, while landing pages are typically just one page with a specific goal (such as getting visitors to sign up for a newsletter).

Why use a microsite?

There are many reasons why you might want to use a microsite. Here are a few use cases where microsites are frequently used by businesses:

Product launches: Microsites can be used to launch a new product or service. This is often done in conjunction with a marketing campaign to generate buzz and interest.
Promotions: Microsites can be used to promote a special event or sale. This might include a time-limited discount or a contest.
Brand awareness: Microsites can be used to build brand awareness for a new brand. This is often done by creating an interactive experience that allows visitors to learn about the brand in an engaging way.
Lead generation: Microsites can be used to generate leads for sales team. This might include a form where visitors can sign up for more information, or a quiz that helps identify potential customers.
Customer support: Microsites can be used to provide customer support. This might include a FAQ section, or a way to contact customer service.
Market research: Microsites can be used to conduct market research. This might include a survey or poll that visitors can take.

When should you use a microsite?

Microsites can be an effective way to promote a new product or service, build brand awareness for a new brand, or generate leads for sales team. However, microsites should not be used as a replacement for your main website. Instead, think of microsites as compliment to your main website.

Microsites and analytics

When creating a microsite, it’s important to set up analytics so that you can track your results. This will allow you to see how many people are visiting your site, and what they’re doing while they’re there. Google Analytics is a free tool that can be used to track microsites.

To set up Google Analytics for your microsite, you will need to create a new account and property for your microsite. You can do this by going to https://analytics.google.com/ and clicking “Sign up for free” in the top right corner.

Once you have an account, click on the “Admin” tab in the bottom left corner. In the “Account” column, click on “+ Create new account”.

Enter your microsite name and URL, and select the industry category that best describes your business. Then click on “Get Tracking ID” button.

You will then be presented with your tracking code, which you will need to add to your microsite. The easiest way to do this is to use a Google Analytics plugin for your content management system (CMS). If you’re using WordPress, we recommend the GA Google Analytics plugin.

Once you have added the tracking code to your site, you can start collecting data about your visitors. You can view this data by going to the “Reports” tab in Google Analytics.

Some of the things you might want to track include:

Number of visitors: This will give you an idea of how many people are coming to your site.
Bounce rate: This is the percentage of people who leave your site after viewing only one page. A high bounce rate indicates that people are not finding what they’re looking for on your site.
Average time on site: This will give you an idea of how long people are staying on your site.
Pages per visit: This will give you an idea of how many pages people are viewing on your site.
Conversions: This is the number of people who take a desired action on your site, such as signing up for a newsletter or filling out a form.

How do I build an effective microsite?

Building an effective microsite requires careful planning and execution. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Define your goals

The first step is to define your goals. What do you want to achieve with your microsite? Are you looking to generate leads, promote a new product, or build brand awareness? Once you know what your goals are, you can start planning how to achieve them.

Keep it simple

Your microsite should be easy to navigate and understand. Too much information can be overwhelming, so make sure to only include the most essential information.

Make it visually appealing

Since first impressions are important, you’ll want to make sure your microsite is visually appealing. Use high-quality images and graphics, and make sure the overall design is professional and easy on the eyes.

Use clear calls to action

Your microsite should have a clear call to action, or CTA. Your CTA could be something like “Sign up now!” or “Learn more about our products.” Make sure your CTA is visible and easy to find, so visitors know what you want them to do.

Promote your microsite

Once your microsite is live, you’ll need to promote it to make sure people can find it. You can promote your microsite through online ads, social media, email marketing, and other channels.

Creating a microsite can be a great way to achieve your business goals. By following these tips, you can create an effective microsite that will help you reach your target audience.

What are examples of microsites?

Here are a few examples of microsites:

A website for a new product launch
A website for a special sale or event
A website for a new brand
A customer support site
A market research site
A lead generation site

Should I be building a microsite, a landing page, or a website?

The answer to this question depends on your goals. If you’re looking to generate leads or promote a new product, then a microsite or landing page might be the best option. However, if you’re looking to build a comprehensive website for your business, then a website would be the better option.

When deciding whether to build a microsite, landing page, or website, it’s important to consider your goals and what type of site will best help you achieve them. If you’re not sure which option is right for you, contact us and we can help you make the best decision for your business.

What are some common mistakes people make when building a microsite?

There are a few common mistakes people make when building a microsites, which can lead to an ineffective site. Here are some of the most common mistakes:

Not defining their goals
Not keeping the site simple
Making the site too difficult to navigate
Using low-quality images or graphics
Not using calls to action
Not promoting the microsite

Building an effective microsite requires careful planning and execution. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can set your microsite up for success.

Are microsites effective?

Microsites can be an effective way to achieve your business goals. When done correctly, microsites can help you generate leads, promote a new product, or build brand awareness.

To learn more about how to build an effective microsite, contact us today. We’d be happy to answer any of your questions.

Creating a microsite can be a great way to achieve your business goals. By following the tips in this guide, you can create an effective microsite that will help you reach your target audience.

Are microsites good for SEO?

Yes, microsites can be good for SEO. Microsites can help you build links and create targeted content that is relevant to your audience. However, microsites should not be used as a replacement for your main website. Your main website should still be the focus of your SEO efforts.

Microsites allow you to track campaigns separately from your main website, so you gain a clearer picture of their effectiveness.

What do you put on a microsite?

The content you put on a microsite will depend on your goals. If you’re looking to generate leads, you might include a form for visitors to fill out. If you’re promoting a new product, you might include information about the product and images.

No matter what your goal is, make sure the content on your microsite is relevant to your target audience and easy to find.

How do I create microsites?

Creating a microsite is similar to creating a website, but on a smaller scale. To create a microsite, you’ll need to register a domain name and choose a web hosting service. Once you have your domain and hosting set up, you can start building your site.

When creating your microsite, be sure to keep your goals in mind and design your site accordingly. Your microsite should be simple and easy to navigate, with clear calls to action. Once your site is live, don’t forget to promote it so people can find it.

Do you need a microsite builder?

Typically, you can use anything from a basic website builder to a digital experience platform to create your microsite. Such tools are easy to use and allow you to create a professional-looking microsite without any coding experience.

What is a digital experience platform?

A digital experience platform (DXP) is a software platform that helps organizations create and manage digital experiences for their customers. A DXP connects a content management system (CMS), a customer relationship management (CRM) system, an eCommerce platform, and other tools that help organizations manage their digital properties.

Digital experience platforms are used by organizations of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises. They provide a way for organizations to centralize their digital operations and deliver consistent, personalized experiences to their customers across all channels.

How can a digital experience platform allow you to build microsites quickly and easily?

A digital experience platform can allow you to build microsites quickly and easily by providing a central place to manage all of your digital assets and by offering pre-built templates and tools that make it easy to create and publish microsites. Additionally, a DXP can help you personalize your microsites for each visitor and track the performance of your microsites so you can continue to optimize them over time.

Do I need a digital experience platform to build a microsite?

No, you don’t need a digital experience platform to build a microsite. However, using a DXP can make it easier to manage your digital assets, personalize your microsites, and track their performance. If you’re considering building a microsite, we recommend using a digital experience platform.

How can I learn more about building microsites?

If you’d like to learn more about building microsites, contact us today. We’d be happy to answer any of your questions or give you a demo of our platform.

How can I easily build personalized microsites at scale using my current martech stack?

Lumavate allows you to quickly and easily build personalized microsites at scale using your current martech stack. Lumavate’s platform provides a central place to manage all of your digital assets, offers pre-built templates and tools that make it easy to create and publish microsites, and helps you personalize your microsites for each visitor. Additionally, Lumavate’s platform provides built-in analytics so you can track the performance of your microsites and continue to optimize them over time.

To learn more about how Lumavate can help you build personalized microsites at scale, contact us today. We’d be happy to answer any of your questions or give you a demo of our platform.

A macro guide for microsites