Use Links for a Better Event Experience

Links are one of the most convenient features of the internet. The ability to go from website to website and land exactly at the information you are looking for is like opening a book and getting the page you need every time.

If you can anticipate the information that your event participants need and point them directly to it, when they need it, you will get more registrations and make registering and attending your event more enjoyable and beneficial.

Before we get to a list of links that you may want to use, keep in mind that you can over do it. Try to keep your registration form uncluttered by only adding links that will help during the actual registration process. The rest of the links should go in the confirmation email or on the event website where they can be accessed after the registration has been submitted.

To get you started with some ideas, here is a list of fourteen links that you may want to consider using on websites, online forms and in confirmation emails.

Maps
Not everyone will know how to get to the venue, Google maps http://maps.google.com  and Yahoo maps http://maps.yahoo.com are easy and very convenient to use.

Transportation
If you anticipate that event participants will be using public transit, provide a link with transit options, schedules, fares, etc. Also considering providing links to taxis, limousine companies, etc.

Airport
If you expect people form out of town a link to the airport can be handy.

Accommodations
Maybe you have arranged a special rate for event participants at a local hotel or just know of one that is convenient to the event location.

Sponsors
Give your sponsors some additional exposure and have links on your website and in your confirmation email.

Venue
Provide a link to the venue’s website if it is a museum, gallery or other place of interest. Venue websites often have directions on how to get there, where to park etc.

Schedule of events
If there is too much information to include as text in a confirmation email, post a schedule of events on your website and provide a link in the confirmation email so people can easily check back and make their plans.

Session details
This is a good one to have on your registration form. List the times, date, speakers and other details on your website with a link from the registration form. This way you can provide a lot of detail without adding clutter to the form.

Restaurants
At some events people will need to get their own lunch, dinner, etc. Suggesting a couple of local restaurants in the area can be helpful.

Local Attractions
If you have out of town event participants provide a few links to local attractions so they have something to do after the event.

Related Events
If you or another organization that you work with have other events coming up try to cross promote each other.

Speakers
If there are speakers at your events provide links to their websites so event participants can get some background information.

Related Products
If you know of a product your event participants may be interested in you could promote it on behalf of a local store or online retailer. Maybe you can negotiate a special price for your event participants.

Newsletter
If you or the organization hosting the event have a newsletter now is a good time to get people interested in it. You should already have a link to the newsletter sign up form on your website, but you could add one in the confirmation email too.

One more tip. If you are sending links in an email, it can be a good idea to use the full URL such as www.eply.com/links.html rather than a word made into a link as people who view their email in plain text won’t see them.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or comments about this article.


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