Tips to Optimise Your Homepage
June 14, 2016
Your homepage is the first impression that viewers get when they land on your website. It’s possibly the most important page on your site. You only have one chance to get it right, grab their attention and keep them on your site.
Most of your website traffic goes to your Homepage. It’s important to convert as much of that traffic into leads as possible.
If you optimise it well, those leads are more likely to be converted into customers. Your homepage needs to attract viewers and traffic to your site, educate potential clients and invite them to interact with your site and make contact with your company.
Featured Content Every Website Homepage Must Have
- Page Header (Headline)
You literally have three seconds to tell visitors what the website has to offer. Keep your page headers clear and concise. Avoid trying too hard or trying to be clever (but keep your brand personality across all featured content on your site). - Sub Header (Sub-Headline)
A brief description of your service, your product, what you do or what you offer. Speak to your target audience about a typical ‘Problem’ they might be facing and the ‘Solution’ you have to offer (Don’t make it all about yourself). - Call-to-Action (CTA)
Your homepage is like a ‘shop-front window’ that is used to attract visitors to featured content on your site. It’s function is to compel visitors to dig deeper and move them down the funnel. It’s important to include at least two CTA buttons above the fold that direct traffic to different information featured on your site. - Supporting Image
People are visual. Images work hard to grab the viewer’s attention. We suggest images that capture the viewer’s emotion. Video content is also a great way to interact with your visitors. Explainer videos are useful because they get your message across quickly. Avoid using cheesy, contrived stock images. - Testimonials
Client testimonials are a powerful tool that promote your brand and portray the trust factor. Make sure to include a few of your best quotes but keep them short and sweet. Use a diverse mix of quotes that cover all your bases. Include the client’s name (or photo), to add more credibility. - Content Navigation
Make it as easy as possible for visitors to find what they are looking for. Good website design understands intuitive user experience (UX design), and flow of content. Include a search bar to help viewers find what they are looking for. Optimise your website content to make it accessible not only to Google but to your visitors too. - Additional Call-to-Actions
Secondary CTA’s should offer viewers additional opportunities to find out more. Your primary CTA might not be what they are interested in but your additional CTA’s below the fold give them more buttons to click on as they scroll down the site. - Key Benefits and Features
List your key features and benefits in bullet point. People tend to skim read, so use key words and key phrases that they might be searching for. Help viewers to get a clear understanding of your product or services. Bite sized information is crucial to make it easy to read and to the point. - Blog
Your blog is a powerful tool for educating your visitor about all aspects of your industry. Be credible with the latest industry news and updates. Make it a place where they can learn more about what you have to offer. This helps to establish your credibility as a thought leader in your industry. Be authoritative and give them a reason to return to your site. - Success Indicators
Another credibility indicator in addition to client testimonials are your awards and accreditation. These inspire the trust factor and give a positive first impression for visitors to your site.