Want a Better Homepage? Here’s What You Need.

by Jessica Wentworth, Graphic Designer

Insights / Website Design / Want a Better Homepage? Here’s What You Need.

The homepage of your website is the face of your brand, so it’s important to make a good first impression.

A well-designed homepage is the key to capturing the attention of your audience and converting them into loyal customers or community members.

An effective homepage is more than just looking pretty (although aesthetics don’t hurt). It’s important to take a strategic approach when designing your homepage to be sure that you are communicating your message clearly, establishing trust in your audience, and maximizing conversions.

To accomplish this, here are 4 elements you shouldn’t skip when designing your homepage.

Clear Value Proposition

A value proposition is a short statement that quickly summarizes what your website is and who it is for. We recommend displaying it prominently at the top of your homepage so that it is one of the first things your audience sees.

By including a value proposition, your visitors immediately understand your offer and what they can expect from your website without having to dig through each page. This makes them more likely to engage with your content and take desired actions, such as making a purchase or contacting you.

Here’s a great example of using a clear value proposition on the homepage of Slack.com:

Engaging and Relevant Imagery

Another important component of your homepage is to include high-quality, captivating imagery. Being intentional when choosing your imagery can help communicate your message and evoke an emotional response from your audience, making them more likely to convert.

Moreover, incorporating captivating imagery can enhance the overall user experience. Images serve as visual cues to help guide users through your website, keeping them engaged and on your site for longer.

Take a look at Apple’s website. You’ll notice they consistently use high-quality images of their products focusing on details that excite their audience:

Compelling Social Proof

Social proof is anything that speaks to the credibility of your brand. This can be in the form of testimonials, case studies, awards and certifications, client logos, and more.

Social proof is a powerful element that shouldn’t be underestimated. Incorporating social proof on your website is a quick and easy way to establish a sense of trust, helping your visitors to make a decision about purchasing your products or services.

Shopify does a great job demonstrating social proof by incorporating compelling statistics and logos of prominent brands who use their services.

Clear Call-To-Action (CTA)

A call-to-action directs your audience towards an action that you want them to take. This action will be dependent on your goals, but it is often something like making a donation, contacting you, or purchasing a product. Put simply, a website that lacks a clear CTA will also lack conversions, making it less effective.

When implementing a CTA on your homepage, you’ll want to place it somewhere prominent and get creative with the design to make sure that it stands out. The text should be concise and action-driven, with language such as “Get Started” or “Learn More.”

Trello is a great example of this, with a straightforward CTA placed front and center on the homepage.

By incorporating these key elements into your homepage, you set the stage for an effective website that makes a great first impression on your visitors. If you need any additional guidance when it comes to your website design, feel free to reach out to us and we’ll point you in the right direction.