Who says microsites are outdated? They’re still very much in use, and many businesses rely on them.
With our short attention spans, we need content that's quick and easy to understand. Microsites may seem old-school in this fast-paced world, but they’re still very effective.
Many of today’s successful companies use microsites for their marketing. They’re great for launching new products, creating buzz around events, or sharing focused content with specific groups.
In this article, we’ll explore how top B2B and B2C companies use microsites to reach niche audiences. We’ll also show some impressive examples and the design elements that make them work.
What is a Microsite?
A microsite is a small website or web page made to promote a specific product, service, campaign, or event for a company. It usually has a different domain or subdomain than the main company website. While it’s separate, it often links back to the main site.
Microsites are a great tool for keeping personalized messages going even after a sale. When visitors find content that speaks directly to their needs, they are more likely to stick around and become loyal customers.
Microsites are packed with information and designed to engage as many users as possible. Their content is usually fun and interactive, helping the brand connect with people.
They don’t include general company info like “About Us” or “The Team.” Instead, they focus on specific content related to the microsite’s purpose.
13 Successful Microsites Example
1. Brand30
Brand30 is a great example of a microsite. It focuses on promoting a LinkedIn Creator Course. The site’s goal is to turn visitors into course participants by showcasing the benefits of mastering LinkedIn in 30 days. It includes testimonials, course details, and a clear button to join the waitlist.
The site has a simple design and guides users through the key points using clear visuals and strong storytelling. It also uses social proof, like reviews and guarantees, to build trust and encourage sign-ups.
2. Intel Gaming Access
The Intel Gaming Access microsite shows Intel’s support for the gaming community. It features different games with eye-catching images and a big video on the homepage.
The site is designed for gamers. It includes game tips, product guides, and community events. It’s like a hangout spot where gamers can find helpful information and connect with others.
This microsite does a good job of keeping the content focused and engaging. It’s visually appealing and easy to navigate. The interactive elements, like videos or quizzes, make it more fun.
3. NASA at Home
The NASA at Home microsite is a fun and educational site for space lovers. It has virtual tours, DIY projects, podcasts, and videos. The goal is to help people of all ages learn about NASA from home.
The site is easy to use and has lots of cool content to explore. It’s great for both kids and adults who want to learn about space.
4. Chipotle's BEHIND THE FILM
The Behind the Film page shows how Chipotle made their short film, "A Future Begins." The film talks about sustainable farming and why it’s important to help young farmers.
The site uses videos, background stories, and testimonials to share this message. It’s a good example of how to tell a story through a website. The design is clean and easy to follow. It also shows Chipotle’s commitment to ethical farming.
5. Blue Heart (Patagonia)
The Blue Heart microsite was created by Patagonia with Farm League. It raises awareness about the damage caused by hydroelectric dams in the Balkan region.
This site is different from most other microsites. It doesn’t have big buttons asking you to visit the main Patagonia site. Instead, it focuses on telling a story. It uses a short film, articles, and an interactive map to share the message.
Patagonia’s approach is all about the cause, not selling products. This makes it a strong example of using a microsite for a good purpose.
6. HubSpot’s Website Grader
HubSpot’s Website Grader is a free tool that helps you see how good your website is. Just enter your website link and email address. The tool will then check your site using Google Lighthouse.
It gives your site a grade based on four things: how fast it is, how good the SEO is, how well it works on mobile, and its security. Each of these gets a separate score.
Website Grader also tells you what you can do to make your website better. It’s a simple way to find out what’s working well and what needs fixing.
7. Adobe CXM
The Adobe CXM microsite is made for businesses. Adobe created this site to show how their CXM (Customer Experience Management) tools work. It explains the benefits they bring to brands.
The site is interactive and has a clean design with just one button for action. It includes a lot of data and quotes from experts to make it reliable.
The writing is short and to the point. This helps keep visitors interested and reduces the chances they’ll leave the page quickly.
This microsite allows Adobe to share information about CXM in a more engaging way than their main website can.
8. I Love Financing Cars (Blinker)
The “I Love Financing Cars” microsite promotes Blinker, a mobile app that makes car financing easier. With this app, you can do everything from getting a car loan to signing papers and sending payments—all from your phone.
The site is simple and easy to use. It focuses on just one product, with clear messages and user-friendly pictures.
The navigation is straightforward, and the text is easy to understand. It makes car financing feel less complicated.
9. Water is a Human Right
The “Water is a Human Right” microsite is part of a campaign to raise awareness about the lack of clean water around the world. It highlights key facts about water access, sanitation, and hygiene. The site supports projects worldwide through the organization Viva con Agua.
The microsite uses powerful images and statistics to get the message across. It has a clear design and a strong call to action, making it easy to understand why this issue is urgent.
10. Calling the Shots
The "Calling the Shots" microsite is based on a survey by Debtwire for Travers Smith, a UK law firm. It looks at investments made by 150 private equity firms over one year.
The first page shows the main findings of the study using simple diagrams. This makes it easy to understand. The site talks about how private equity funding is changing in Europe with clear numbers and facts.
On the other pages, you can find more details with a mix of text, charts, and pictures. The site is mainly for people in the finance industry, but anyone can see how well it explains a complex topic.
The company shares the study’s results clearly. They also use the site to show they are experts in this field. There are social share buttons throughout, and the final page is a contact form for those who want more information. This is a good way to show they are open to connecting with others.
11. Spotify Canvas
The Spotify Canvas microsite shows off a new feature for artists and their teams. Canvas lets artists add looping visuals to their songs, making album artwork more interesting for fans. The site shows how artists like Flume, Harry Styles, and Billie Eilish are using it.
The homepage has a bold headline explaining why Canvas is great. It also has pictures showing five different examples of album art using this feature.
One of the coolest parts of the site is the interactive scrolling. You can move your mouse over each example to see the Canvas feature in action. You can drag your cursor left and right to check out different styles, like 3D and 2D graphics or video.
The site looks clean and uses Spotify's usual black theme, like its app. The creative team did a good job of keeping the design simple and fun to explore.
12. Life at Home by IKEA
The Life at Home microsite by IKEA shares research on how our homes and mental health are connected. It talks about how our lives changed in 2020 and 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The site explains how a comfy home and strong relationships can make us happier. It includes a map, videos, and questions for readers to think about.
IKEA does a good job of linking the idea of a happy home to their brand. This helps visitors see how their products can make home life better.
Overall, it’s a great site that makes you think about how your living space affects your well-being.
13. Chrome Music Lab
The Chrome Music Lab is a fun site with music experiments for everyone. It helps people learn about music in an easy and interactive way.
The site has a simple design and is easy to use on different devices. Each experiment focuses on teaching music in a fun way. You can try things like making beats or exploring sound waves.
What makes it special is how it uses web tools to make learning music hands-on and exciting. To make it better, they could let users save their progress or share their creations.
Microsites vs. Websites: What’s the Difference?
Microsites and websites may seem similar, but they have different purposes.
A company’s main website does many things. It explains what the company offers, shares its values, and sometimes sells products. It’s the place where people go to learn about the business and buy things. It’s built to turn visitors into customers.
Microsites, on the other hand, are smaller sites made for a specific purpose. They might promote a campaign, launch a product, or focus on a special event. They usually have a different web address than the main site.
Microsites are also much smaller. They can have just one page or a few pages, but they always have fewer pages than the main website. Their main goal is often to raise brand awareness or get people interested in something specific.
In short, while the main website is a big, all-purpose site, a microsite is a small, focused site made for a special reason.
Microsites vs. Landing Pages: What’s the Difference?
Microsites and landing pages may seem similar, but they have different purposes. For a detailed comparison, check out the key differences between microsites and landing pages.
A landing page is a single page on a website. It’s designed to share information about a product or offer and get visitors to take action, like signing up or buying something. The design is usually simple to keep people focused on the main message.
A microsite is a small website with a few pages. It is meant for visitors to explore and learn more about a brand or campaign. Microsites help build a connection between the brand and the audience. They make people more likely to become customers later on.
In short, landing pages are direct and to the point, while microsites encourage visitors to look around and engage with the content.
Conclusion
And there you have it—microsites might be small, but they pack a punch. Whether you’re launching a new product, spreading the word about a cause, or creating an engaging user experience, these little sites can make a big impact.
So, next time you’re planning a campaign, don’t count them out. Sometimes, it’s the small things that make the biggest difference.
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