Use the Event SharePoint site template

The Event site template is a communication site designed to serve as a home page for major upcoming events. Provide attendees with event information on attending speakers, a schedule of available sessions, registration, updates, and answers to frequently asked questions.

In this article, we share the elements that are on the Event SharePoint site template and discuss how you can customize the site to make it your own. 

Preview of the Event site template.

Site features

  • A customizable site that comes with pre-populated with images, web parts, and content that's meant to inspire site editors when making customizations to fit the needs of your event.

  • Pre-populated pages and web parts that showcase event information, attending speakers, and frequently asked questions. 

  • Use a preset form to add sessions to the event calendar for attendees to refer to when planning their schedule, or edit the list settings to add your own fields. 

Notes: 

  • Some functionality is introduced gradually to organizations that have opted into the Targeted release program. This means that you may not yet see this feature, or it may look different than what is described in the help articles.

  • When you apply a template to an existing site, your content will not automatically merge with the new template. Instead, existing content will be stored as a duplicate page in Site contents

First, follow instructions on how to add a site template to a new or existing SharePoint site.

Note: You must have site creation permissions to add this template to your site. 

Explore pre-populated site content, web parts, and pages and decide what site customizations you'll need to align with your organization's brand, voice, and overall business objective. 

Pre-populated site pages:

  • Home page - Provides a landing place for visitors to find event details, news, organizers involved, and helpful links.

  • Event info - Provides an overview of the event with information on registration options and an event schedule.

  • Schedule - Provides a focus on sessions happening during the event. 

  • Speakers - Highlights information on attending speakers, their accomplishments, what sessions they will be presenting, and other relevant information.  

  • FAQ - Provide visitors a list of answers to frequently asked questions relating to topics like registration, transportation, lodging, speaking opportunities, and volunteering.

Once you've added the Employee onboarding team site template, it's time to customize it and make it your own. 

Note: To edit a SharePoint site, you must be a site owner or site member.

  1. Build anticipation for upcoming events - Use the Countdown timer web part to display a countdown to an event.

  2. Show live updates - Use the Twitter web part to display live updates from selected accounts.

  3. Feature a video for visitors - Use the File viewer web part to display a video file.

  4. Connect people with each other - Use the Yammer Conversations web part to connect people with each other.

  5. Provide helpful information using images and text - Use the Text and Image web parts to provide engaging information and pictures. 

  6. Provide links as a button - Use the Button web part to help important links stand out on your site and fit within your page's design. 

  7. Highlight news for your organization - Use the News web part to show important information regarding the event. 

  8. Spotlight people of interest - Use the People web part to display profiles with access to contact information. 

  9. Help attendees navigate to helpful resources - Use the Quick Links web part to help important resources stand out.

Preview of the Event site template highlighting available web parts.

Customize your site's look, site navigation, web parts, and content to fit the needs of your viewers and of the organization. When making customizations, first ensure the site is in edit mode by selecting Edit in the top right of the site. As you work, you can Save as draft, or Republish changes to make edits visible to viewers.

1.   Use the Countdown time web part to display a countdown to an event.

Preview of the Countdown web part.

  1. Select the Countdown web part and choose Edit web part Screenshot of Edit pencil icon.

  2. Enter the date and time of your event and choose your options.

  3. Add a call to action link and a background image to be displayed with the timer.

Learn more about adding a countdown timer by visiting the Countdown timer web part.   

2. Use the Twitter web part to display live updates.

Preview of the Twitter web part.

  1. Select the Twitter web part and choose Edit web part  Screenshot of Edit pencil icon.

  2. Enter a Twitter username starting with @, or a link starting with https:// to a user account, tweet, or collection.

  3. Select the maximum number of tweets to display.

Learn more about the Twitter web part.

3.   Use the File viewer web part to feature a video.

Preview of the File viewer web part.D

  1. Replace the Image web part with the File viewer web part

  2. Select the File viewer web part and choose Edit web part Screenshot of Edit pencil icon.

  3. Select Add file.

  4. Choose a file from your site, your computer, or a link.  

Learn more about using the File viewer web part.

4. Use the Yammer Conversations web part to connect people with each other.

Notes: 

  • The Yammer Conversations web part will only appear if your organization has a license for Yammer.

  • The Yammer Conversations web part uses the original domain name (example, contoso.onmicrosoft.com) and cannot be used when the SharePoint site uses a vanity domain name.

Preview of the Yammer web part.

  1. Select the Yammer web part and choose Edit web part Screenshot of Edit pencil icon.

  2. Select a Conversation source and Number of conversations to display.

Learn more about the Yammer Conversations web part.

5.   Use the Text and Image web parts to provide engaging information and pictures.

Preview of the Text and image web part.

  1. Select the Text web part.

  2. Edit and format your text within the web part. 

  3. Select the Image web part and choose Edit web part Screenshot of Edit pencil icon.

  4. Select Change and select an image source. 

  5. Once you've chosen your image, select Insert.

Learn more about editing the Text and Image web part.

6.   Use the Button web part to help important links stand out on your site. 

Preview of the Button web part.

  1. Select the Button web part and choose Edit web part Screenshot of Edit pencil icon.

  2. Make changes to the button label, link, and alignment.

Learn more about using the Button web part.

7.   Use the News web part to show important information regarding the event.

Preview of the News web part.

  1. Select the News web part and choose Edit web part Screenshot of Edit pencil icon.

  2. Choose the News Source, Layout, and Filter settings that suit the organization’s needs.

  3. Under Organize, arrange posts under Select news to organize to suit your organization's needs.

Learn more about editing, filtering, and audience targeting using the News web part.

8.   Use the People web part to display profiles with access to contact information

Preview of the People web part.

  1. Select the People web part and choose Edit web part Screenshot of Edit pencil icon.

  2. Enter a person's name or emailto find them in the organization's directory. 

  3. Select the person's name to add them. 

Learn more about adding people profiles with the People web part.

9.   Use the Quick Links web part to help important resources stand out

Preview of the Quick links web part.

  1. Select the Quick Links web part and choose Edit web part Screenshot of Edit pencil icon.

  2. Edit the link, title, icon, and description if needed.

  3. To add a link, select + Add links.

See different layouts and learn more about editing the Quick Links web part.

Customize the following pages within the site: 

Preview of the included Speakers page.

  • Event Info - Provides an overview of the event with information on registration options and an event schedule. Customize this page by editing Text and Quick Links web parts.

  • Schedule - Provides a focus on sessions happening during the event. Add events to the calendar by filling out the preset event form or edit the list to add your own fields. Refer to the article on list settings for more information. 

  • Speakers - Highlights information on attending speakers, their accomplishments, what sessions they will be presenting, and other relevant information. Customize this page by editing Text and Quick Links web parts.

  • FAQ - Provide visitors a list of answers to frequently asked questions relating to topics like registration, transportation, lodging, speaking opportunities, and volunteering. Customize this page by editing Text and Quick Links web parts.

Customize the look and site navigation

Before you share your site with others, put the finishing touches on your site by ensuring users can find the site, navigate through links and pages easily, and quickly access content on the site.

Share your site with others after you've customized your site, reviewed it, and published the final draft.

  1. Select Settings and thenSite Permissions.

    Preview of accessing site permissions through settings

  2. Select Add members and then select Add members to group.

    Preview of the add members pane

3. Select Add members then enter the name(s) of all users you want to grant full access to team site content, shared resources like the team Outlook calendar and editing rights to the site.

4. Select Save when finished adding members and setting permissions.

Preview of adding members to a SharePoint site

Learn more about managing team site settings, site information and permissions.

After you create and launch your site, the next important phase is maintaining site content. Ensure you have a plan to keep content and web parts up to date. 

Site maintenance best practices:

  • Plan for site maintenance - Establish a schedule to review the site content as often as needed to ensure content is still accurate and relevant.

  • Regularly post news - Distribute the latest announcements, information, and status across the organization.  Learn how to add a News post on a team site or communication site, and show others who will be posting announcements how they can use SharePoint news.

  • Check links and web parts - Keep links and web parts updated to ensure you are leveraging the full value of your site.

  • Use analytics to improve engagement - View site usage by using the built-in usage data report to get information on popular content, site visits, and more.

  • Periodically review your site settings - Once you've created a site in SharePoint, you can make changes to the settings, site information, and permissions for the site.

More customization resources

Learn more about planningbuilding, and maintaining SharePoint sites.

See more SharePoint site templates.

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