Top 7 Essential Elements of Website Homepage

Your homepage is your virtual front door. This means that the content you choose to feature on your homepage, as well as its layout, will affect the way a user interacts with the entire website. After all, a carefully designed homepage attracts the most of your website’s traffic, affects your conversion rates, and speaks volumes about you and/or your business. 

Depending on the website’s intended purpose, there are different homepage designs. A one-page design, for example, is often used for clean and simple websites that don’t have as many pages. But even if you have a more complex website, that contains a lot of different pages, your homepage is essential when it comes to the structure and organization of the entire website. 

For that reason, it is imperative to learn how to improve the performance of your homepage, how to organize it properly, which elements to include (steer clear of the information overload and remember that your homepage is just an intro), and capitalize on your online presence – as simple as that! 

So, let’s see what elements are a must when it comes to creating a kickass homepage.

1. Logo, on-brand images and a unique colour scheme

Proper branding is everything, and what better way to make your brand recognizable than with a cleverly designed, well-placed and easy-to-spot logo. Your logo should be the first thing a site visitor sees, so it is best to place it in the top left corner of your homepage, as we first tend to look there when we open a web page. Go ahead, test it for yourself! 🙂

Also, since a logo serves as a homepage shortcut (no matter where you are, you can always return to the homepage as soon as you press the logo button), it’s crucial to place it somewhere visible.

Be sure to pay special attention to the images on your homepage (especially your hero image). A hero image is the most prominent image on your homepage that features your most important content. Use only relevant, high-quality visuals that emphasize what your brand stands for and what its core values are. When it comes to the hero image display options, if your company offers services, it’s best to use a dynamic hero image or a slider. In this way, your visitors can access key services as soon as they visit your homepage. In case you just want to inform the site visitors about your offer, a static hero image with a cleverly written copy and CTA should do the trick. 

And don’t forget – the colour palette you decide to use greatly influences the design and the “vibe” of the entire homepage. Not only do colours tell a story of your personal style, but they also influence user experience and behavior, encourage trust, as well as affect the way how people feel about your brand.Colour psychology is a real thing, so pick an appropriate colour palette based on the effect it can have on people. A neat trick would be to choose at least one colour that pops to make certain elements of your homepage stand out at first glance.

2. A clear and concise headline for your homepage

A headline is possibly the most important piece of content on your homepage. It tells the website visitors what you or your business are all about, and it does that in just a couple of words.

For this reason, it’s crucial to keep the headline (also known as a hero text) simple and straightforward. That way, an average visitor will need just a few seconds to figure out what your brand has to offer. Be creative if you can, since the creativity will increase the chances of your headline getting through to as many people as possible.

Easy-to-find CTAs on homepage

Compelling visitors to delve deeper into the website and, ultimately, increasing website conversions is what you aim to achieve with your homepage. To make that possible, ensure your homepage has a few strategically placed call-to-action buttons that will redirect visitors to the pages that you want them to visit and engage with.

Not only are your CTAs great for page redirects, but they can also be used for getting the user to interact more with the website itself through newsletter applications, contact forms, or, ultimately, visiting a product page and making a purchase. Besides, CTAs are often used to visually separate large chunks of text, especially if you have a one-page site.

Keep your CTAs visually attractive and eye-catching by using contrasting colours that fit the overall style of your homepage but still stand out enough to be easily noticeable. Ensure the CTA is optimized to be clickable, and keep the CTA copy simple, concise, and action-oriented.

4. Intuitive navigation on homepage

Another key element that can bring more conversions your way is an organised and intuitive navigation menu. A well-designed navigation bar enables the site visitors to find and get around your website effortlessly and, in turn, leads to an increase in conversions.

Firstly, place the navigation menu at the top of your homepage and ensure it’s clearly visible, highly readable, and with a clear and logical structure. Also, consider placing a search box in the top right corner of your homepage, so the desired page is literally a click away.

5. Information about you, your team or your products

No matter if you’re a “one-(wo)man-show” or have a team, it’s a nice touch to be able to put a face to the name and give your visitors interesting “about me/us” details. If you want to ensure that any relevant information is seen right away, it’s best to put it on your homepage, so as not to be overlooked.

Highlight the essential benefits our your services and products, and perhaps, you could also focus on explaining what the key advantages of your products or services are and how they a potential customer can benefit from using them.

If you happen to have an eCommerce business and want to use your website as a place to sell your products or services online, don’t forget to include a brief description so everybody knows what your offer is about.

6. Social proof

Social proof (aka reviews and testimonials) is a major trust indicator. Reading about other people’s experiences and recommendations builds up trust and, consequently, gives your business credibility. In fact, 97% of shoppers say that positive online reviews affect their purchasing decisions.  

Your homepage should include a couple of your best and most favourable reviews for the visitors to see that others are more than happy to recommend you. Be careful not to overdo it, though – you don’t want to get carried away and overpraise yourself.

Also, don’t forget to include any prizes or awards your company received, as well as any PR articles that shed more light on the products and services you are offering. If applicable, consider including some examples of previous projects you’re particularly proud of – it’s another trust indicator that shows your customers that they can rely on you to get the job done. 

7. Contact information and social media profiles

Contact information is an essential part of every homepage, no matter what the purpose of your website is. If you have a company website, consider including your company’s address and phone number besides your email. If it’s a personal website, a contact form should do the trick.

Also, is it really relevant if it’s not on social media? No, not really. To show the world you, your brand or your company are a “real deal”, make sure to include links to your social media profiles on your homepage. 

Conclusion

Even though a large number of homepages are designed in a similar fashion, the reason behind it is simple – such design is known to produce the best results and bring the highest return on investment.

However, it’s important to ensure that all the elements are properly incorporated and compatible with your own design and personal style. Only then will your homepage be a truly amazing one!