Are Web surfers immediately influenced by the look and feel of a homepage? Yes, they are swayed and making subconscious decisions. Web browsers have little time and a lot of cyberspace to travel.
It can take browsers under a minute to become disinterested in your site based on the aesthetic and functionality of your homepage. Even if you’re ranking well on the SERPs for a particular keyword, users will quickly use the back button to spend their time (and money) on a more appealing site.
The following article is devised to provide suggestions for Web design, particularly regarding your home page. Consider the following insights.
Make an introduction
Create a tagline summarizing the products or services of your company. Rather than serendipitously finding your site, most browsers will have landed there as a result of a keyword. You want to make it obvious that they have arrived at the right place in regards to their particular need.
The tagline can reiterate your company ‘slogan’ as long as it is precise and powerful enough to entice the browser to stay on the site.
Echo your tagline in the title tag, which shows up in the search engine results pages. Again, people may be confronted with your site as a result of a keyword search, but they will not click on the link to your site unless they know you have what they want.
Do you want it to be about you?
Congratulations, you own a business and host a Web site! I’m being sarcastic because many homepages serve as a trophy to the company. Avoid being one of those site owners who use the homepage to provide information and accolades about their company.
Information about your business is important in regards to attracting affiliates, entities of the press, etc., but it should not take precedence over what you are selling or providing on your site. Provide those who are interested with an ‘about us’ link from the homepage. That is where you want to shower your company with compliments.
Organize
Customers want to be able to quickly make sense of how to navigate through your site. Work with a Web designer so your homepage easily describes what you offer. For instance, if your site proffers t-shirts, then having separate divisions for women, men, and kid’s t-shirts would be warranted.
The objective is to make the navigation as intuitive and easy as possible for the browser. Remember, browsers understand your competitors are only a backspace away. If moving around your site is frustrating, they will leave. Your homepage sets the tone for the rest of the site.
Include a search engine
This insight is especially useful for larger sites offering a variety of products and services. Include a conspicuous search box on your homepage so browsers can quickly locate their desired items. Be efficient in constructing your search engine because browsers will also become frustrated with your search box if it does not elicit relevant results.
Give a little taste
Have your homepage host the most popular attractions and featured content. As aforementioned, the homepage is about linking the customer with your goods and services. Tantalize the browsers palates by giving them tidbits of what lies in further detail within the site.