EAGLE SOLUTIONS
In short: An event website needs one clear job on the first screen (what, when, where, how much, and a ticket button), plus an editable programme, ticket sales, a map and sponsor listings. I build these in 2-4 weeks, but recommend starting at least 3-4 months before the event.
An event website is different from a company site: it lives for a short time, it has a single goal, and most visitors open it on a phone, on the move. These few elements have to be done very well, and everything else can be left out.
1. What an event website needs on the first screen
What, when, where, how much, and a big "Buy tickets" button. If these four things are not clear without scrolling, the visitor moves on. A countdown timer is nice, but only if it does not push the essentials further down. Structured event data (schema.org Event markup) also helps Google show your dates directly in search results.
2. A programme and line-up that can be updated
The programme changes several times in the weeks before the event. I build the site so that the organiser can edit the days, venues and performers themselves, even from a phone, without a developer. Each performer gets their own card with a photo and a short description. People search for them, and they bring traffic.
3. Ticket sales
There are two routes: an external ticketing platform (which handles payment and admission, and you pay a commission) or your own WooCommerce-based sales, where all the revenue stays with you but you also need to solve QR-code admission and invoicing. For smaller events the external system is simpler; above several thousand tickets your own solution is more economical. This is something we always discuss in the quote.
4. Map, directions, parking, accommodation
A large share of visitors are not local. An embedded map with route planning, parking information, public transport, and a list of nearby accommodation. The last one can also be sponsored content in partnership with local guesthouses.
5. News and social media
In the months before the event, news items (a new performer, ticket prices, programme changes) keep interest alive, and they give you something to link to on social media. A news section and share buttons on the site are standard, while Facebook and Instagram embeds should only load on click so they do not slow the page down.
6. Sponsors and partners
You promise sponsors a visible spot, so give it to them: logo, link, short description in a dedicated block in the footer and on the sponsors page. This page can grow year after year, and it serves as proof when you look for sponsors the following year.
7. Mobile-first, fast, bilingual
80-90 percent of a festival site's traffic comes from phones, often on a weak signal. Small images, fast loading, big buttons. For events in Transylvania, Hungarian and Romanian are standard, and English too if you have international performers.
When should you start?
At least 3-4 months before the event, so that the site is already working when ticket sales open. An event website takes me 2-4 weeks to build, and the following year it only needs updating. Details on the event websites page, and for festival-specific experience see the festival website development page.
