You may think that you know exactly how to build your website. You know the key points you want to hit, what speakers you want to promote, and how big you want the register now button to be.
However, it’s important in the design process to remember one simple thing: websites are for the users, not for the designers. What you think needs to be on the main page and what your prospective registrants need on the main page may differ. As you start to design, put yourself in the user’s shoes and build with their experience in mind.