You’ve launched your website. You’re feeling super exited about it…you share it with everyone you know…and then….crickets. There are various reasons this could be happening, but the very first thing you need to make sure is looking, working, and reading just right? Your homepage. Let’s dive into how to improve your website’s homepage.
Think of your website’s homepage as the curb appeal of a house that’s for sale that’s having an open house. If you drive up and the yard is a wreck, the paint is peeling, the windows are broken, and the place is dark AF…are you really going inside? (Unless you really love a fixer-upper, my guess is no. You’re getting out of dodge and asking your realtor what the hell they were thinking).
Before we dive into tips on how to make your homepage a hit, let’s first take a step back and understand what your website is (or should be) doing for you.
Many biz owners make the mistake of thinking about their website just as a place online where someone can look up your business, find out its location, and see what it does and maybe buy or book a service.
To that I say….No, no, no, no, no.
It’s SO. MUCH. MORE.
Your website is essential for your marketing, for attracting new clients (and deterring not-so-dreamy ones), for boosting sales, for building community, for establishing you as an expert in your field, for establishing your brand, and for getting you discovered in the first place.
And the homepage? Well more often then not it’s the very first thing people see. It’s there to give people a taste of who you are, what you’re about, and what you have to offer. But the biggest thing it should do is tell people if you are FOR THEM.
You want to make it inviting, and welcoming, and crystal clear on brand. You want to make it easy for people to navigate to every other page of your website, both from an easy to find and use menu, but also your inviting and clear CTAs (calls to action).
Speaking of CTAs – switch up your verbiage. Don’t just use the same old “learn more.” (Learn more is fine, but use others) throw in some fun invites such as:
Need some more examples? Check out this helpful post by Semrush. But also – make sure that whatever verbiage you use contextually MAKES SENSE. Sure it can sound fun to say “Let’s get after it” — but if people have no clue what “after it” means…they’re not going to click that button.
So. What SHOULD your homepage have?
Depending on the client and the site – there is a lot more that can and should be included – but the list above will establish a strong first impression and messaging to help users know whether they want to see more of your website, keep it in mind for later, or if it’s time to say “next.
A few last little details to think about:
Written by Carrie Bondioli, CEO of Bloem Creations, Web Designer & CopyWriter
Bloem Creations is a web design studio and copywriting service based in Eugene, OR and specializes in serving creative small businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
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