The Magic of Microsites: Engaging Stories in Small Packages

by Sarah-Leah Thompson

Insights / Website Design / The Magic of Microsites: Engaging Stories in Small Packages

At Digital Ink we’ve recently had an influx in requests from our partners to design and develop microsites.

What is a microsite and why are they so popular?

As Gina summarized when discussing when to use a microsite:

A microsite is a website that exists independent of your primary site, created with a specific goal in mind. They typically have fewer pages than a full website and are focused on a product, service, or other information that doesn’t fit with your main brand or site content.

The microsites we’ve created for our partners have all served unique goals, from promoting an upcoming book or event to documenting a binge-worthy “whodunnit” mini-series. What these microsites have in common is they function as stand-alone projects, have limited content when compared to a full-scale website, and tell a compelling story.

Here’s a roundup of the latest microsites we’ve launched and the features that help these small sites pack a big punch:

Cracking the Case on a Murder Mystery Mini-Series

When Jewish Insider began writing the retrospective whodunnit titled, “Who Killed Kesher’s Rabbi?” it became clear that this edge-of-your-seat read deserved a dedicated spotlight.

While the mini-series is hosted on the main Jewish Insider site, it stands out from their standard news stories.

Here’s what makes this microsite unique:

• A distinct landing page that leads users through five distinct pages
• Unique branding that leans into an old-timey feeling for the story’s 1984 setting
• A wide variety of content and media, including a photo gallery, testimonials, audio clip interviews, and an interactive map

Uncover the full mystery here.

Celebrating a Meaningful Milestone

This year marks the 75th birthday of the State of Israel, and our partners at the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington created numerous opportunities for their community to celebrate in style.

There were so many festivities that the occasion warranted its own microsite as a resource to organize the various events and ways to engage in the milestone.

Here’s what makes this microsite unique:

• Dynamic news and highlights to keep returning visitors up to date
• Social media feed integration including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube
• Filterable list of upcoming events and the opportunity to submit your own

Explore Israel’s birthday party here.

Promoting a New Publication

In anticipation of the release of “Fearless: Leadership Lessons at the Crossroads,” a book by OneCause’s CEO, Steve Johns, we had the opportunity to tell the book’s story through a promotional microsite.

This microsite began with a simple, temporary landing page to get the word out as soon as possible. From there, the microsite evolved to have pages highlighting the book’s lessons, reviews, and author.

Here’s what makes this microsite unique:

• Stunning design that builds brand recognition
• Focus on promoting a new product
• Subtle interactivity to engage users

Learn more about “Fearless” here.

Let’s Chat

As we’ve seen with all these projects, a microsite presents the opportunity to tell an engaging story with compelling interactivity in a small package.

Do you have an interesting project that would benefit from a microsite? Reach out to us!

We’re ready to help make your vision a reality.