5 things you need on your website’s homepage

A homepage is the focal point of your website, and often times, it’s the first impression that visitors get of you and your content. That’s why putting time and attention into creating a stellar home page is well worth the effort. Be sure to include these five key features while creating your homepage.

A clear value proposition

A website visitor shouldn’t have to look far to understand the purpose of your website. You should explain exactly what your viewers can expect of your site from the get-go—ideally, the visitor should be able to find a basic explanation about your website or business without having to scroll or click through to another page. If someone who is unfamiliar with your brand can’t tell its intended purpose within the first few seconds of landing on your page, it’s time to reevaluate your home page content.

An easy-to-understand navigation bar

A navigation bar is like the table of contents of your website: It should provide a broad overview of the content you can find on your site without being too cluttered or specific. Be sure to include an About page and Contact page in your navigation bar in addition to your most relevant topics or product offerings.

Social media links

Adding social media links to your website is ideal for a number of reasons. Not only does it give your visitor more insight into your company’s personality, but it also offers them a way to keep in touch. Hitting a like or follow button only takes users a second, and keeps your website or business top of mind when your followers browse their social media channels. It’s a great step towards forming a relationship with your visitor that lasts beyond the first impression.

User-friendly language

Make it adamantly clear what your website or business does by using plain language. Use short, concise wording to explain the purpose of the website and what users can expect from it. Avoid using long paragraphs that clutter the page—they’re likely to be skimmed over and could be off-putting for visitors. Save any sort of extensive information for other parts of your website to create a better user experience.

Calls to action

What exactly do you want your visitor to do once they hit your main landing page? Whether it’s to read a blog article, join a discussion, or search for a domain, you should make it easy for your visitor to take action. Doing so will not only improve your bounce rate, but also lead to more valuable interactions on your website.