Understanding and implementing effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies is paramount for event organizers aiming to increase their online visibility and attract more attendees. With the right approach it can dramatically boost your event website’s traffic and subsequent registrations. But if you ignore your SEO, you’re potentially missing out on a ton of additional ROI.

So to help you avoid that lost revenue, we hosted a webinar with ASP’s resident SEO expert Jon Monk and our very own Megan Martin where they delved into the nuances of SEO for event websites, offering invaluable insights and practical advice.

We’ve put together some of the top takeaways from their discussion as a helpful resource for you and your event team as you build your next event and event website.

1. Understanding the Basics of SEO [02:26]

SEO is the art of making your website more appealing to search engines by aligning your content with what your target audience is searching for. Jon Monk demystifies SEO, explaining it as "just making a few tweaks on your site" to ensure search engines recognize and deliver your content to relevant searches. The cornerstone of SEO, he suggests, is understanding and aligning with the audience's search intent.

2. Optimizing Speaker Pages for SEO [03:16]

A common pitfall for event websites is the replication of speaker bios across multiple platforms, which dilutes the quality and uniqueness of the content. Monk highlights the importance of creating original, high-quality bios for each event. He suggests utilizing AI tools to generate fresh content for speaker pages, emphasizing that "unique quality content is one that applies to every single page you want to appear within search on your website."

3. The Impact of Session Descriptions and Tagging [05:29]

Delving into the intricacies of session descriptions, Monk explains how detailed, well-written synopses can significantly enhance a website's SEO. The strategic use of tagging and categorizing sessions not only aids in organizing content but also in amplifying its visibility across the website. This approach, he notes, leverages the aggregate value of individual session descriptions for a stronger SEO impact.

4. Leveraging Backlinks for Enhanced SEO [10:59]

Addressing a question about the role of backlinks in SEO, Monk and Martin discuss the dual benefit of backlinks: driving direct traffic and enhancing site authority. They advocate for acquiring backlinks from relevant, authoritative sources, stressing the difference between valuable backlinks that boost SEO and less impactful ones.

5. The Importance of Historical Content [23:30]

In a digital age where content is king, the decision to remove or keep historical event information can significantly impact a website's SEO equity. Monk argues for the retention of past event content to maintain and build SEO momentum over time. He suggests creating archive pages to make past event information accessible, thus preserving the SEO value accrued over the years.

In Conclusion:

This conversation between Jon Monk and Megan Martin provides a treasure trove of SEO strategies tailored for event organizers. We learned that by focusing on the creation of original content, optimizing speaker and session pages, strategically using backlinks, and preserving historical event information, event organizers can significantly improve their website's SEO performance.

For more in-depth exploration of each topic you can check out the full recording here.

If you would like to learn more about building incredibly impactful event websites, learn more about ASP’s services here.

If you want to learn more about speaker and content management, schedule a free demo with the Sessionboard team here.

About ASP Events

ASP creates websites that promote brands, grow audiences and generate revenue for events of all sizes.

We work with organisers who host exhibitions (consumer and B2B), trade shows, conference and awards across the world supporting them through the entire process from design to sites going live and beyond through our award-winning support team.

ABOUT SESSIONBOARD

Sessionboard is a next generation speaker & content management platform that simplifies the complex workflows and disjointed communications that exist around speaker and content management. From call for papers, abstract evaluation, awards, applications, agenda building, speaker onboarding and communication, Sessionboard helps event organizers work smarter, move faster, and improve their ROI.

The results? A faster-growing event, more productive staff, seamless collaboration with speakers and more time back to do what you do best—building epic experiences.

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Ready to see for yourself what sets Sessionboard above the rest when it comes to Speaker & Content Management? Schedule a free demo with us today!

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