All about Microsite, Mutual action plan, and Digital Sales Room you need to know.

Haresh
April 12, 2024

August 6, 1991.  

What’s so remarkable about this day?  

Do you know?  

On this day, the first website was born. That website focused on the World Wide Web Project, explaining the problems it can solve and the process of creating webpages with text links.

Since then, text websites are still a strong communication aspect that remains amid various interactive visual content forms like videos, online conferencing, etc.  

People love websites with good content. At different times, these websites take on different forms or representations, with the core aspect unchanged. Some of them that have become so popular in recent years in business and marketing are microsites, mutual action plans, and digital sales rooms.

What are all these terms? If websites were already there, then what's the purpose behind this new form of website lookalike? We’ll find answers to all these questions in this article.  

What is a microsite?

Technically, a microsite is a mini website that is distinct and detached from the main parent website and operates independently for a specific, targeted objective.  

It's the same as a website, but with a single page or a few pages under a different domain than the parent website already has. They serve specific purposes, primarily targeting a defined audience segment. Widely, it is used for various marketing activities like promoting a particular product, brand, event, etc.  

In general, for most of the companies, the main parent website is a comprehensive one where you’ll find all the information under different categories. If there is a need to get the spotlight from the audience on information for any immediate purpose, there are high chances that the website can’t give you enough space and focus to achieve that. That’s where the microsites come into play.  

Whether you are doing your branding activities or promoting an immediate event, microsites are surely an asset to attract focused attention from the audience for the target goals. Microsites typically serve temporary objectives, such as a month-long campaign. However, it still caters to the long-term purposes of companies with a wider range of products and services.  

Microsites vs Websites

While microsites are still websites on their own, there are certain things that differentiate microsites from the ‘websites’ that we are using every day. The key difference between a microsite and a website is, basically, its size and specificity. It incorporates unique features while maintaining consistency with the main website, designed with distinct purposes and targeting.

Though it’s a mini-site created under a parent website, it operates independently. Following are the differences between different use cases, where you can clearly define the distinct ways in which a microsite operates compared to a website.  

Microsite vs Website

How to create a microsite?

  1. In the first step, you must identify and define why you should need a microsite, as well as the purpose and expected outcome of this microsite. It may be necessary for a product launch, an event, or a brand awareness campaign. Define your purpose with clarity.  
  1. Create a rough prototype version using wireframes, drawing inspiration from the end-user experience for the desired target goal.  
  1. Determine the type and quality of information needed for the site and allocate appropriate resources like design, writing, video shooting, etc.  
  1. With state-of-the-art CMS platforms out there, you can easily create your microsite with the necessary designs and content. Choose any CMS that works well for your flow.  
  1. Establish a distinct domain that closely aligns with your campaign concept.
  1. Integrate analytics tools to track your audience behavior inside the microsite.  
  1. Distribution: You can distribute via the channels where you’ve already gotten some traction, like social media, email, the parent website’s blog section, etc. If needed, optimize your SEO efforts with the appropriate keywords that align with your campaign goal.  
  1. Publish and have regular monitoring to ensure a smooth performance for your audience.  

Some of the best microsite examples

Worldwide, many brands have utilized microsites with top-notch creativity to spread awareness about an initiative, a social cause, or simply to spread their brand awareness. We’ve listed out some of the best microsites created out there, where you can easily grasp what a microsite can do for you and get some inspiration.  

  1. Ryan Stuart's adventure into Canada’s "wet and wild" lands
Ryan Stuart's adventure
  1. To find your creative personality, by Adobe  
creative personality by Adobe
  1. Waterwise’s water efficiency awareness campaign  
Waterwise’s water efficiency campaign
  1. IKEA’s research on ways to be happier at home
IKEA’s ways to be happier at home
  1. Lucidworks: The data that lies beneath  
Lucidworks

When should I use microsites?

As previously mentioned, the creation of microsites serves a specific purpose, such as delivering a key message or attracting the attention of your target audience. Based on your objectives, you can create microsites in the following scenarios:  

  • To stand out by delivering an interactive or gamified experience around a topic  
  • To deliver focused information to your customers in a more personalized way.  
  • A new feature or product promotion activity  
  • Share more information about the niche topics you cover.  
  • Announcement about a new initiative or activity for a societal cause by the company  
  • Event promotions  
  • Educational campaigns and other awareness initiatives.
  • To support localized marketing campaign activities  
  • To reach a specific niche audience    

Mutual action plans and digital sales rooms

Coming to another part, a new part: mutual action plans and digital sales rooms.

So, what are these things? Another version of microsites? Nope!  

On a technical aspect, and considering the asset’s basic structure, these are more like what microsites have already been. However, their purpose and functionality for the user are completely different. Let’s see how it differs.  

A mutual action plan is a document more like a to-do list, not private but a collaborative one between different members, primarily used in sales. It’s a document of action steps primarily used in B2B sales to keep the buyer team and sellers on the same page to complete a set of actions to close the deal.  

B2B deals consist of a list of steps, and the purchase journey with the seller requires more time and steps. Therefore, to provide visibility for both sellers and buyers on what actions need to be taken by whom and when, a mutual action plan has been created.  

Mutual action plan in spreadsheets
Mutual action plan in a spreadsheet

In the initial stages, the team members utilized an Excel sheet to implement this mutual action plan. However, as the complexity escalated, the team members realized the need for a more interactive and collaborative mutual action plan, leading to the creation of a separate webpage featuring a list of action items to distribute among them.

A digital sales room (DSR) is an extended version of this mutual action plan, with more collaborative features that facilitate collaboration between the buyer and the seller throughout the sales cycle.  

Mutual action plan in a Digital Sales Room
Modern mutual action plan in a DSR
Digital sales room
Digital sales room

A mutual action plan only helps to set a flow of action items and has visibility over the ongoing process while opening at any time. However, in modern sales, a digital sales room extends beyond these limitations. Sellers can upload their sales collaterals to the content repository, track how buyers are interacting with their shared collaterals, and instantly collaborate with them in real-time. On the buyer’s side, they don’t need to completely depend on and wait for the sellers' arrival to clarify their queries. They can do all their self-serve research activities inside the room and have real-time communication with sellers through chat and instant comments.  

Microsite vs. Mutual action plan vs. Digital sales room

You can find more in-depth details on the differences between a mutual action plan and a digital sales room here.

Digital sales room for free

If you are sharing microsites with your buyers or for customer interactions in your sales, then this is the right time to rethink. You can instantly explore a live digital sales room with Buyerstage (no sign up needed) and play around to know how it functions. Or you can sign up for free today to start delivering an exceptional buying experience for your buyers and accelerate your sales cycle faster than ever.

FAQs

What are microsites used for?  

Generally, microsites concentrate on specific topics, campaigns, or product promotions, while websites cater to a broader audience. If you are thriving to attract attention from a specific audience segment around a topic, you can go for microsites.  

What is a microsite vs. a website?  

Websites and microsites have significant distinctions and use cases. Websites are generally the main source of information because they contain many pages in broad categories. Microsites serve specific purposes and typically consist of one or a few pages, each focusing on a vertical topic.

Is a microsite good for SEO?  

Inshort, yes. If you’ve successfully launched and the distribution takes off, you can instantly attract a higher level of traffic to your main website than usual SEO, which takes time to perform. But it should align with your overall strategy.

Haresh
April 12, 2024
5 min read

August 6, 1991.  

What’s so remarkable about this day?  

Do you know?  

On this day, the first website was born. That website focused on the World Wide Web Project, explaining the problems it can solve and the process of creating webpages with text links.

Since then, text websites are still a strong communication aspect that remains amid various interactive visual content forms like videos, online conferencing, etc.  

People love websites with good content. At different times, these websites take on different forms or representations, with the core aspect unchanged. Some of them that have become so popular in recent years in business and marketing are microsites, mutual action plans, and digital sales rooms.

What are all these terms? If websites were already there, then what's the purpose behind this new form of website lookalike? We’ll find answers to all these questions in this article.  

What is a microsite?

Technically, a microsite is a mini website that is distinct and detached from the main parent website and operates independently for a specific, targeted objective.  

It's the same as a website, but with a single page or a few pages under a different domain than the parent website already has. They serve specific purposes, primarily targeting a defined audience segment. Widely, it is used for various marketing activities like promoting a particular product, brand, event, etc.  

In general, for most of the companies, the main parent website is a comprehensive one where you’ll find all the information under different categories. If there is a need to get the spotlight from the audience on information for any immediate purpose, there are high chances that the website can’t give you enough space and focus to achieve that. That’s where the microsites come into play.  

Whether you are doing your branding activities or promoting an immediate event, microsites are surely an asset to attract focused attention from the audience for the target goals. Microsites typically serve temporary objectives, such as a month-long campaign. However, it still caters to the long-term purposes of companies with a wider range of products and services.  

Microsites vs Websites

While microsites are still websites on their own, there are certain things that differentiate microsites from the ‘websites’ that we are using every day. The key difference between a microsite and a website is, basically, its size and specificity. It incorporates unique features while maintaining consistency with the main website, designed with distinct purposes and targeting.

Though it’s a mini-site created under a parent website, it operates independently. Following are the differences between different use cases, where you can clearly define the distinct ways in which a microsite operates compared to a website.  

Microsite vs Website

How to create a microsite?

  1. In the first step, you must identify and define why you should need a microsite, as well as the purpose and expected outcome of this microsite. It may be necessary for a product launch, an event, or a brand awareness campaign. Define your purpose with clarity.  
  1. Create a rough prototype version using wireframes, drawing inspiration from the end-user experience for the desired target goal.  
  1. Determine the type and quality of information needed for the site and allocate appropriate resources like design, writing, video shooting, etc.  
  1. With state-of-the-art CMS platforms out there, you can easily create your microsite with the necessary designs and content. Choose any CMS that works well for your flow.  
  1. Establish a distinct domain that closely aligns with your campaign concept.
  1. Integrate analytics tools to track your audience behavior inside the microsite.  
  1. Distribution: You can distribute via the channels where you’ve already gotten some traction, like social media, email, the parent website’s blog section, etc. If needed, optimize your SEO efforts with the appropriate keywords that align with your campaign goal.  
  1. Publish and have regular monitoring to ensure a smooth performance for your audience.  

Some of the best microsite examples

Worldwide, many brands have utilized microsites with top-notch creativity to spread awareness about an initiative, a social cause, or simply to spread their brand awareness. We’ve listed out some of the best microsites created out there, where you can easily grasp what a microsite can do for you and get some inspiration.  

  1. Ryan Stuart's adventure into Canada’s "wet and wild" lands
Ryan Stuart's adventure
  1. To find your creative personality, by Adobe  
creative personality by Adobe
  1. Waterwise’s water efficiency awareness campaign  
Waterwise’s water efficiency campaign
  1. IKEA’s research on ways to be happier at home
IKEA’s ways to be happier at home
  1. Lucidworks: The data that lies beneath  
Lucidworks

When should I use microsites?

As previously mentioned, the creation of microsites serves a specific purpose, such as delivering a key message or attracting the attention of your target audience. Based on your objectives, you can create microsites in the following scenarios:  

  • To stand out by delivering an interactive or gamified experience around a topic  
  • To deliver focused information to your customers in a more personalized way.  
  • A new feature or product promotion activity  
  • Share more information about the niche topics you cover.  
  • Announcement about a new initiative or activity for a societal cause by the company  
  • Event promotions  
  • Educational campaigns and other awareness initiatives.
  • To support localized marketing campaign activities  
  • To reach a specific niche audience    

Mutual action plans and digital sales rooms

Coming to another part, a new part: mutual action plans and digital sales rooms.

So, what are these things? Another version of microsites? Nope!  

On a technical aspect, and considering the asset’s basic structure, these are more like what microsites have already been. However, their purpose and functionality for the user are completely different. Let’s see how it differs.  

A mutual action plan is a document more like a to-do list, not private but a collaborative one between different members, primarily used in sales. It’s a document of action steps primarily used in B2B sales to keep the buyer team and sellers on the same page to complete a set of actions to close the deal.  

B2B deals consist of a list of steps, and the purchase journey with the seller requires more time and steps. Therefore, to provide visibility for both sellers and buyers on what actions need to be taken by whom and when, a mutual action plan has been created.  

Mutual action plan in spreadsheets
Mutual action plan in a spreadsheet

In the initial stages, the team members utilized an Excel sheet to implement this mutual action plan. However, as the complexity escalated, the team members realized the need for a more interactive and collaborative mutual action plan, leading to the creation of a separate webpage featuring a list of action items to distribute among them.

A digital sales room (DSR) is an extended version of this mutual action plan, with more collaborative features that facilitate collaboration between the buyer and the seller throughout the sales cycle.  

Mutual action plan in a Digital Sales Room
Modern mutual action plan in a DSR
Digital sales room
Digital sales room

A mutual action plan only helps to set a flow of action items and has visibility over the ongoing process while opening at any time. However, in modern sales, a digital sales room extends beyond these limitations. Sellers can upload their sales collaterals to the content repository, track how buyers are interacting with their shared collaterals, and instantly collaborate with them in real-time. On the buyer’s side, they don’t need to completely depend on and wait for the sellers' arrival to clarify their queries. They can do all their self-serve research activities inside the room and have real-time communication with sellers through chat and instant comments.  

Microsite vs. Mutual action plan vs. Digital sales room

You can find more in-depth details on the differences between a mutual action plan and a digital sales room here.

Digital sales room for free

If you are sharing microsites with your buyers or for customer interactions in your sales, then this is the right time to rethink. You can instantly explore a live digital sales room with Buyerstage (no sign up needed) and play around to know how it functions. Or you can sign up for free today to start delivering an exceptional buying experience for your buyers and accelerate your sales cycle faster than ever.

FAQs

What are microsites used for?  

Generally, microsites concentrate on specific topics, campaigns, or product promotions, while websites cater to a broader audience. If you are thriving to attract attention from a specific audience segment around a topic, you can go for microsites.  

What is a microsite vs. a website?  

Websites and microsites have significant distinctions and use cases. Websites are generally the main source of information because they contain many pages in broad categories. Microsites serve specific purposes and typically consist of one or a few pages, each focusing on a vertical topic.

Is a microsite good for SEO?  

Inshort, yes. If you’ve successfully launched and the distribution takes off, you can instantly attract a higher level of traffic to your main website than usual SEO, which takes time to perform. But it should align with your overall strategy.

Haresh
April 12, 2024
5 min read
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