7 Must-Haves To Include On Your Website’s Homepage
First impressions are HUGE, and your website's homepage is the first impression that visitors have of your brand. Not only is it incredibly important to make sure your homepage is designed beautifully, but we also have to make sure it effectively conveys your message and makes visitors want to learn more about what you offer.
I’ll let you in on a little secret… hardly anyone reads text-heavy websites anymore. This means it’s even more important to have great design and attention-grabbing headlines. I’m not saying you can’t telling your life story on your website, you just don’t need it all on your homepage. Think of your homepage as the jumping-off point for the rest of the info on your website, and as you are building it, think about what can I say that will entice my visitors to click through to learn more or read the full story.
With all that in mind, there are a few must-haves I always try to include when building a homepage.
A Clear Headline: Remember your homepage is your first impression, and visitors need to be able to figure out exactly what you do when they land on your site. A clear headline will grab the attention of your visitors and tell them exactly what you are all about. Your headline should be concise, engaging, and convey what your business or brand offers. It should be placed in a prominent position on the homepage, and its font size and color should be easily distinguishable from the rest of the text.
Navigation Menu: This one may be obvious, but a clear navigation menu is an essential element of your website, as it allows visitors to easily find what they're looking for. The menu should be easily accessible, intuitive, and include links to the most important pages of your website. I almost always recommend keeping the menu to around 5 main links. If you have too many menu links it my look crowded and visitors may feel overwhelmed when trying to navigate your site.
Call to Action: A call to action (CTA) is a button or link that encourages visitors to take action on your website. Think about “what is the number 1 thing that I want someone to do before they leave my website” and that is your CTA. A CTA could be anything from signing up for your newsletter to making a purchase. CTAs should be prominently displayed on your homepage, and the language used should be clear and persuasive.
About Us Section: An "About Us" section is an excellent opportunity to introduce your business to visitors. This section should include a really brief overview of your company, your mission statement, and your values. Resist the urge to put your whole story here, instead use it as a jumping-off point and include a ‘learn more’ button that links to your about page.
Testimonials: Including testimonials from satisfied customers is an excellent way to establish credibility and trust with potential customers. Testimonials can be displayed in a dedicated section on your homepage or incorporated into your product or service descriptions.
Latest News or Blog Posts: Keeping your website up-to-date with fresh content is essential for attracting and retaining visitors. Including a section on your homepage that highlights your latest news or blog posts is an easy way to showcase your expertise and provide value to your visitors.
Social Media or Contact Information: Finally, let visitors know how they can get in touch with you. You can include your social handles, business phone number, email address, and physical address (if applicable).
To wrap things up, your website's homepage is critical to the success of your business. By including a clear headline, a navigation menu, a call to action, an about us section, testimonials, the latest news or blog posts, and contact info, you can create an effective homepage that engages visitors and drives conversions.