When it comes to first impressions, you only get one chance – so make it count! In the web design world, you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression, so when it comes to your website’s design – make sure the homepage is the most important and effective page on your site.
For any online company, the homepage is a type of front door, welcoming guests into your brand and inviting them to have a little nosey around your company home. In turn, if they don’t like what they see – their initial reaction will be to hit the ‘back’ button, causing you to miss out on sales and future custom.
So, what makes a homepage great? Sure, looks are inevitably important, but functionality is key! Here are a few ways to make your homepage stand out, and make sure you get the results you want from that very important page. Enjoy!
Who, What, When, Why, How?
If you’re a well-known brand, you will probably be able to get away with not having to highlight who you are and what you do. However, in reality, most businesses will need to answer these main focus questions for their customer, reassuring them that they are in the right place for what they are looking for.
Tip: Display your logo, any slogans and imagery clearly and simplistically – making it easy to know whose website they are viewing and what your brand can do for them.
Keep it up-to-date!
The best homepages aren’t always static, so make sure you constantly update your homepage in order to suit the time of year or a newly-released product. Always keep brand representation visible though, i.e. company colours or particular design elements you are known for to create a strong sense of brand style and aesthetic.
With good design comes good usability
A well-designed page is important for building brand trust, communicating value and of course, navigating visitors to the next step. Key design elements of any effective and well-designed homepage may feature particular uses of font, colour, placement, layout and whitespace. A homepage should be easy to navigate and simple, without too many distracting objects diverting from the website’s main theme and purpose. Avoid ‘flashy’ objects that get in the way of easy-browsing, including banners, pop-ups, animations and overly-complicated and unnecessary elements.
Tip: make sure your website is mobile-optimized. Optimizing your website for various mobile browsing platforms is a must-have feature of today’s design world.
Get straight to the point!
A homepage should be narrowly focused to the right audience, and speak to them in their language. Avoid corporate or heavily complicated ‘fluff’. Keep it simple and easy-to-digest, making sure you do not eliminate anyone from your potential customer base.
As one of the leading specialists of graphic design in London, we understand the importance of well-thought out and modern design, promoting a clear and effective result for a variety of industry brands and sectors. For more information, or to speak to one of our friendly and creative team – please do not hesitate to contact us on 0208 900 1191 today!
