The multi-award winning Ents24 website has been voted as the UK’s most
popular online facility in the entertainment category of the contest for 2007 Website of
Year Award. The website analysis will show just why it is one of the most popular entertainment
sites in Europe.
Ents24.com caters to a wide audience regarding events in the entertainment
arena including music concerts, live music, theatre, movies, clubs, comedies, and more. It
provides a central online place for getting the latest news of what’s hot and what is on in
the entertainment field. No longer does the consumer have to make endless enquiries about
tickets or stand in long lines to get a booking; tickets for numerous events can be bought
at the Ents24 website.
Since anyone can notify people about new or upcoming events at Ents24.com
the website stays current, making it possible to browse or search according to several methods
available at the website to find reviews and guides on what there is to do.
The Ents24 website does well in terms of CRM and Internet Marketing by
allowing for email alert subscriptions and RSS feed subscriptions to ensure that users get
useful and important information notifications. The RSS feeds provide the benefit of return
visits while also ensuring more convenience for the users. Other amazing interactivity features
such as the regular live reviews make for a website design that is interesting and ensures user
retention.
Whether a person wants to find out about a specific band playing or when a
tour will be scheduled, the Ents24.com website has the information. The site also makes use of
the Internet Marketing power of timely and well written press releases to build branding, loyalty
and inform the public of important news.
The website analysis shows a site that succeeds in providing useful and current
content focussed on the interests of its users. Users will hardly realize the complexity of the
Ents24.com website as the website design is characterized by simplicity despite the amount of images
and videos present. Content is informative and accuracy improved by the feature that allows users
to send corrections where required.
Some of the features that ensure outstanding navigation at the Ents24
website are:
- Comprehensive, but easy to use search facilities.
- Advanced search options.
- Easy to use menu system.
- Links are obvious and all working.
- Privacy statement and terms and conditions statement are present.
- Sponsors are listed.
- Copyright notice is displayed at the bottom of the page.
- Help function is present.
- Home link is present.
- Menu items are large enough for easy reading.
- Menu items are repeated in another format on the home page for alternative browsing.
- More information about Ents24.com is available.
- Standard font sizes are used and text is easy readable.
- Enough contrast between the background and the text helps with readability.
- The theme is kept throughout the site.
A drawback on the website is the fact that few of the images contain Alt
tags, which just make it easy for users who have image display limitations. The website design
however, has clearly been done with functionality in mind and allows for expansion of the site
without having to make tremendous changes to the lay-out and website design. Although there are
numerous banners on the website, you never get the feeling of being overwhelmed.
Some of the features that ensure a high level of interactivity are:
- Free join function that allows for personalisation and several benefits such as the receiving
of RSS feeds, newsletters, entrance to competitions, adding events, booking tickets online, a calendar
for planning evenings out, being updated about tour schedules, and more.
- Get in touch option where the user can get assistance, find out what’s on in his or her area and more.
The website design has been done in such a way that advertisement videos are clearly
identified. Flash is present, but no immediate help with plugins and software required for optimal usage
of the site is present. Another area where there can be improvement is by also catering to users that need
to use the Browse Aloud software or need printable versions.
When it comes to Internet Marketing, the Ents24.com website is clearly a winner with a
tremendous amount of traffic generated. Simply the fact that anyone can add an event ensures that the community
will be involved and thus do viral Internet marketing for the site. The user knows when the site was last
updated and for an entertainment website that is an important feature.
Search engine optimisation (SEO) has not been left behind. Although there is no site map,
it does have Metatags with keywords and descriptions to ensure search engine indexing assistance. The Ents24.com
domain was registered in 1999 and is thus older than eight years at the time of website analysis (May 29, 2008).
This may also account for its high standing with search engines. The Ents24 website is listed in the Yahoo Directory
and at DMOZ - both important to ensure good ranking. The website boasts a staggering total of 1,025,686 incoming
links which also contribute to its high Google PageRank of 6. If you want to know what’s on in Europe and your
area entertainment wise, you should join in at the Ents24.com site today.
