Creating An Event Website with WordPress

Presentation at WordCamp Atlanta 2012

Transcript

1. Creating an Event Website with WordPress
2. Who I Am Marna Friedman Business Strategist Mpressive Solutions http://mpressivesolutions.com LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/marnafriedman Twitter: @marnafriedman Author of EVENTually Perfect
3. WordPress is used by 15.7% of all the websites, that is a content management system market share of 54.1%
4. Event Engagement
5. Engagement before, during & after • Start with the website • Use the necessary tools • Consider your audience • Share information Remember that social media is about engagement, not a megaphone.
6. Consider your audience • Event site launched • Squeeze page vs. landing page • No event location • No speakers or sessions
7. Theme Selection • Is design an issue? • What functionality do you need? • Use custom menus to release information in an organized, timely manner • Integrate social media for engagement
8. Make access to info easy to navigate
9. Important info above the fold DATE
10. Important info above the fold LINKS TO INFO
11. Important info above the fold Call to action
12. Plugin Selection Determine basic functionality needs • Calendar • Registration • Maps • Information gathering • Links to social media
13. EventBrite • Create registration widget • Create registration page • Create countdown widget • Offers links to social media • Create discount codes • Email blasts • Name badges • Check-in list
14. Maps Comprehensive Google Maps • Offers map to event location • Offers direction option • Auto generates unique ID for each map • Widget enabled
15. Information Gathering Gravity Forms • Minimal investment $39 • Unlimited forms • WordPress integration • Data export • Unlimited forms for speaker & sponsor submission, and more
16. Social Media Engagement • Links to social media • Twitter feed • Facebook feed • Scheduled posts etc. • QR Codes Ping.fm Hootsuite
17. Post event strategy • Build email list http://mailchimp.com/ • Gather presentations http://www.slideshare.net/ • Save “tweets” • Use Facebook page • Convert website to blog
18. Much like an invitation, your website is a first impression of your event - make it memorable!
19. Slides and plugin recap can be viewed at http://nwatlwp.com/creating-an- event-website-with-wordpress/