The Ultimate Homepage Checklist

When it comes to your website, your homepage is everything. It’s the first introduction to your site, and the only opportunity you have to impress your visitors immediately. A weak homepage might bore or steer people away, while a strong homepage can inspire people to take action. So, if you’re looking to make a great first impression, you’ll need an epic homepage. Here are a few key ingredients of a successful homepage.

Enticing Visuals

We’re all visual communicators at heart. A good homepage should have a fair amount of images or videos. Nobody like to see an overwhelming amount of text taking over the entire homepage. Don’t just write about your business and process, show them. Use images and videos to convey your story! Another way to enhance your homepage and leave a good impression is by adding an eye-catching banner at the start of your site. It doesn’t have to be over-the-top, a simple and appealing image can go a long way!

Add a Logo

I strongly recommend having a visible logo somewhere on your homepage. A logo is such an important part of your overall brand identity, which is why it should be present on your site. By having a logo, you’re reinforcing your brand and also projecting an image into people’s mind. Logos are how people remember you. Ultimately, having a branded-site makes you more recognizable and builds awareness around your brand.

Need a high-quality logo for your website? You can order a customized one here.

Navigation Bar at Top

Every website should have a navigation bar at the top of their site. With a navigation menu, you can easily display your main pages in one organized space. This way website visitors don’t have to jump through hoops just to find what their looking for. Your primary navigation menu should always include the following: About page, Contact Page, Services/Products page.

Solution-Driven Headline

The worst websites are the ones that aren’t clear about what they do. Your homepage should have a benefit driven statement, such as a brand statement. This is a concise statement that defines what you do, how you differ from all other similar solutions, and what solutions you deliver. As I mentioned in an earlier post, your website is not about you. It’s about the people you serve. So if you really want to be persuasive, I suggest speaking directly to your audience by stating how you’ll help them achieve their goals or solve their problems. Some examples:

Headline formula #1: Say what it is:

AirBnB: “Book unique places to stay and things to do.”

Headline formula #2: Say what you get:

ConvertKit: “Connect with your audience. Make a living doing work you love.”

Headline formula #3: Say what you’re able to do (with it):

Next Big Sound: “Grow through the power of Pandora.”

Call-to-Action

A call-to-action (or CTA) is a button or hyperlink that encourages and drives your visitors to a specific destination. Every website has a purpose, and the goal of a CTA is to help your website visitors reach that purpose swiftly. If your goal is to have everyone who visits your site make a store purchase, then your CTA would guide them to your online store. If your goal is to acquire more client inquiries, then you’ll need a CTA pointing them to your contact page. Once your visitors land on your homepage, where do you want them the go?

Social Media Links

Adding social media links to your homepage will make you appear more credible. People who’ve never heard of you want to make sure you’re legit. And if they’re considering doing business with you, they’ll likely stalk your social media channels (I know, I do). Plus, having your social media links on your homepage is a great way to increase engagement, grow your following, and interact with prospective clients.

Pro-tip: Add your Instagram feed to your homepage.