Having an effective homepage can do wonders for your website. When people think of a homepage, they think of the first page they land on when they click on a website. They see it as more of a landing page that they have to navigate through to get to the content that they want to see. A homepage doesn’t have to just be the page that visitors land on though. It can also be a potentially effective page that helps drive conversions and more quality traffic.
What is the Homepage?
A homepage is one of the, if not the most important page on your website. This is because your homepage is commonly the most visited page on your website largely due to it being the first page people land on.
Think of your website as a house and your pages as your doors. In this case, your homepage would be the front door of your website. Most of your visitors go through that front door to get into your website, which is why you should make it an effective homepage.
The design of your homepage should be an important part of your website design process. A homepage has the potential of making or breaking a user’s engagement with your website. You shouldn’t design your homepage as just a page that people land on when they click on a link to your website. It should be a page that utilizes many different elements to help drive conversions and traffic to your website.
Include These 10 Elements On Your Homepage
There are different elements that you should include on your homepage if you are trying to increase user engagement and drive conversions. You should not just include 2 or 3 elements on your homepage. Instead, you should include as many of them as you can. When deciding on what elements to include in your homepage, make sure to include the following 10.
Logo
Your homepage should include your brand logo somewhere on it. Many visitors first visit your website through your homepage, which is the perfect place for you to place your logo. Your logo is a key part of your branding strategy to help people recall your business whenever they see it.
Optimized for a Mobile Experience
Most people today browse through the web using their mobile devices. This means that they are expecting most if not all websites to be mobile-friendly. If they land on your homepage, and they see that it isn’t mobile-friendly, then they will likely click right on out of your website. Be sure that your website is optimized for mobile devices if it isn’t already.
Statement or Headline
Your homepage is a great place for you to let visitors know who you are and what you are selling. This is where it would be of value to them if you provide a headline or statement that explains just that. If your brand is about cooking different Italian recipes, make sure to let your readers know that. You don’t want to make your visitors confused or frustrated because they don’t know what your business is all about.
Images
Images on your homepage help to further show what your business is about and reinforce what you do. Many people tend to be more drawn and interested in pictures rather than just words on a page. This is where they might be more receptive to your message through the use of well-placed images.
Calls-to-Action
Be sure to include calls to action on your homepage to make it as effective at driving conversions as possible. The goal of a homepage is to help encourage visitors to delve deeper into your website, which is where call-to-action comes into play. Make sure the call-to-action stands out from the other colors and elements on your homepage. Some examples of calls-to-action on a homepage include email sign-ups and “book a meeting.”
Good Colors and Fonts
When people land on a homepage, they will likely be drawn to the colors and fonts present on the page. If they don’t find your colors appealing, and your fonts make content harder to read, then they may bounce out of your website. To prevent this, make sure to only use fonts that are easy to read and colors that pop for certain calls-to-action.
Navigation Links and Menus
Visitors will want to navigate through your website if the content on the homepage piques their interest. So, what would happen if your homepage doesn’t offer any guidance in navigation through your website? That can lead to visitors leaving your website simply because they don’t know where to go once they realize they want to go further into your website.
Navigation is an important element to include in your homepage. Navigation links and menus can help guide visitors further along their journey whether they want to learn more, browse products, and even purchase a product.
Contact Info
A visitor to your website may be interested in your product, but then they run into a problem. They visit your website to see if there is any contact information, only to find that there is none! Not having contact information for your business is a fast way for you to lose conversions. Make sure to include any email addresses and numbers that people can reach out to if they have any questions about you and what you are offering.
Resources and Content
Many people simply aren’t ready to make a purchase when they first visit a website. They would like to know more about what they might potentially be purchasing. This is where they can benefit from being educated more on your business and your products. Include a resource library that is filled with great content that many people will find great value in. With the right information, they might be more encouraged to make a purchase on your website.
Problems That You Solve
Another element you can include on your homepage is a list of problems that you and your products solve. When a visitor lands on your homepage, they might be thinking to themselves, “I wonder if this website has what I need?” If they see a list of problems that one of your products resolves, and their problem is on there, they might be more inclined to purchase that product.
Conclusion
A homepage is an integral part of your website. It is the first impression that people have of your website so you don’t want to leave them with a bad taste in their mouths. Include different elements on your homepage to keep them engaged and stay on your website longer.
If you are looking to create an effective website for your business, click here to contact us and we will be happy to help you!