Last Updated on May 24, 2023 by Paula
If you are thinking about redesigning your website or wondering why you’re not getting more leads from your website, then a great place to start is with your homepage. Your homepage is like your business’s front door, and this is where you will get the majority of your website traffic. However, it’s not just important to have a homepage, but one that is optimized well. Your homepage serves as a landing page for your readers. It needs to have many different elements to educate your visitors about your business, get conversions, and attract people to the other parts of your website. If you’re looking to optimize your homepage to get the best results, here is what to include in your homepage.
Logo
Your logo is a key identifier for a business. This is the first thing your visitors will see. Put your logo on the top left of your website. Heat map testing tools show that the top left is a hot spot on the page, so resist the urge to put it elsewhere on the page. Ensure that your logo is readable but not so large that it looks like a billboard on your website. You want it to stand out but not distract readers from the rest of your page.
A Straightforward Navigation Menu
You want to include this part in the header or near the top of your home page. If you have a lot of different content on your website, you may even want a search box to help people find exactly what they’re looking for. You want to make sure that your navigation menu or bar is easy to find and makes sense. It should flow nicely and let your readers know where to find important information about your business, such as contact, portfolio, blog, etc. It’s best to keep the main navigation to 4 to 6 links. If you have more than this create sub-menus to add the links to. For example, you have one service link with a submenu that includes links to your different service offerings.
Hero Section
Right below the navigation bar is the hero section. This is usually a large image or even a video background or you can try one of these trendy looks. Whichever look you decide it will give your visitors a glimpse of what they can expect from the rest of your website. While it should look visually appealing to encourage people to look at it, you don’t want it to lack information. A good hero section will also include the next two items on our list.
A Crystal Clear Headline
Does your website pass the blink test? The blink test is an excellent way to see if your business can tell a new visitor in an instant what your business is about. No matter what type of device your audience is viewing your website, all of them will see the headline first. This means that if you can’t convey what your business is about in about three seconds, you will lose them. Keep your headline simple and easy to read. Think short and sweet, and include a subheading if you need to give more information.
Call to Action
The goal of a homepage is to encourage your visitors to dive deep into your website. This means you need to have a clear call to action present on your homepage. Make sure to include this above the fold of your website and make the next step evident to your readers. Do you want them to sign up for your newsletter? Join your Facebook group? Book a discovery call? Whatever that main goal for your business is, make it clear that this is what you want your visitors to do. Also, don’t be afraid to use the same CTA more than once on your homepage just change up your copy and include it further down the page!
Mission or Value Statement
Under your hero section is a great place to put your mission or value statement. Who are you, who do you serve, and what solution do you offer to their problem. This doesn’t need to be your full mission statement if yours is quite long but a condensed one that clearly tells people what you do and gets them excited about working with you. Then include a CTA for visitors to head to the about page to learn more.
Supporting Imagery
People are visual learners. They like to see what they’re reading about, and photos can add credibility to your website. The imagery you choose to add to your website should support the text that it goes with and help you convey your point without distracting your reader. For example, if you offer a carpet cleaning business, an image of someone cleaning a carpet would be a great supporting image rather than just a photo of a clean carpet. The images you choose should not only be on-brand for your business, but show the reader rather than leave them guessing.
Social Proof
Social proof is a powerful tool that can let business owners and your audience know that you are an expert in your field. Social proof shows new customers what it would be like to work with you and provides useful insight into how your product or service works. Reviews and testimonials are a great way to provide social proof for your business. Success stories can also be valuable, depending on what kind of business you’re running.
Your homepage is the first impression your potential customers and leads will see, so it’s important to spend the time making it look nice. There are so many components that make up a good homepage, which is why this guide is so helpful! With these simple changes, your homepage can introduce your business, entice your visitors, and encourage them to explore your website with ease!
Need a web designer?
It’s time you have a beautiful and functional website that truly feels like you and is aligned with your mission! My motto is let your website do the selling for you!
Want to know how we can work together? Click the button below.
Need a web designer?
It’s time you have a beautiful and functional website that truly feels like you and is aligned with your mission! My motto is let your website do the selling for you!
Want to know how we can work together? Click the button below.
