7 Best Practices For Homepage Design
There is a lot of talk about homepage designs that convert. Most of the advice though is based on assumptions and personal preferences. However, there are elements of a page that can actually be tested. Let’s have a look at the most crucial ones.
Call To Action
Good call-to-action design is about more than just color and shape.
According to a study by Content Verve, the most appealing CTAs are those that use action verbs like “start,” “discover,” and “learn.”
The psychology behind this is simple: action words let your visitors know exactly what will happen when they click the button.
You can take your optimization further and identify how do people respond when you move the position of the CTA’s up and down within the page.
Hero Image
A hero image is a large image at the top of your homepage that tells visitors what your business is about. It should be memorable, engaging, and inspiring to encourage them to scroll down and learn more about your business.
Users remember a good introduction more than a bad one, and you only have one chance to make a great first impression. This is your opportunity to create a great experience for your users and encourage them to stay on your site.
Social Proof
Social proof is a powerful form of persuasion that can make your website more effective. It is a psychological phenomenon where people assume the actions of others in an attempt to reflect correct behavior for a given situation.
Customer testimonials, trust badges, customer logos, social network channels, and award badges can all generate credibility and create the necessary trust to the customer in order to convert.
Headline
The headline of your homepage should be short and straightforward, but also convey what your business has to offer with a compelling piece of text, as it is one of the most important elements within your website.
For example, Dropbox’s headline is simple yet powerful: “Everything you need for work, all in one place.”
Benefits
This is where you present users with your value proposition – what makes you stand out from your competition and why someone should buy from you rather than your competitors.
List any features that help set you apart from the crowd, such as unique products, in-house manufacturing, or local sourcing. Without a value proposition clearly stated, your website visitors can get bored with your website and never convert.
Offers
It is important to create a section where you explain any special offers you might have going on like free shipping or a discount for new customers. In the increasingly competitive marketplace, users are used to website offers – a gift with every purchase or a loyalty scheme can make a great difference.
Responsive Design
Homepage design isn’t limited to just the desktop. In fact, a great homepage design translates across all devices, including mobile.
Responsiveness is meant to be used across multiple devices and screen sizes. The end goal is that your site should look good no matter what size screen it’s being used on (mobile, tablet, or desktop).