Top 7 Tips for Website Homepage Design
Your website's homepage is like the front door to your business. It's the first thing visitors see, and as the saying goes,
"You never get a second chance to make a first impression."
Having a well-designed homepage can captivate your audience, guide them through your site, and convert them into loyal customers, which is the goal, right?!
But how do you create a high-converting homepage?
That's where my top 7 tips for website homepage design come in!
Whether you're a seasoned designer or just starting, these tips will help you create a homepage that looks great and performs even better. So, let's dive in and discover how to make your homepage shine!
ONE
Define Your Audience
Before you even think about colors, fonts, or images, you need to be crystal clear about the purpose of your homepage.
1. Ask yourself these questions:
What do you want your visitors to do?
Are you selling products, offering services, or simply sharing information?
2. Then, think about your audience:
Who are they?
What are their needs, preferences, and pain points?
So let’s say you run a fitness/lifestyle business:
Goal: Get visitors to sign up for a monthly newsletter
Offering: Free workout tips and healthy recipes, with potential upsell to personalized coaching services
Audience: Young professionals aged 25-40 interested in fitness but short on time
Needs: Quick, effective workouts and easy, healthy meal ideas
Pain Points: Lack of time, difficulty maintaining motivation, confusion about conflicting health advice
It might seem very self-explanatory, but when you simplify your information, it makes it so much easier to understand your target audience, which is crucial before you even start designing anything on your website. After all, it's all about creating a connection with your visitors right from the start!
TWO
Prioritize Above the Fold
Okay, so now that you understand WHO you’re designing for, let’s focus on the HOW.
The area of your homepage that is immediately visible without scrolling, known as "above the fold," is prime real estate!
Why?
Because it’s the first thing users see when they visit your website without even doing anything, so you want to make sure you have the important at-a-glance information shown here.
Think about when you visit a website - if the first thing you see on the homepage instantly tells you about the company/business, then it makes you feel validated you either found or not found what you’re looking for.
Okay, so what information do I put above the fold?
Use this space wisely to immediately introduce who you are and what you do.
Your logo
Value proposition statement
Image/video
Make Your Value Proposition Crystal Clear
What's the first thing visitors should understand when they land on your homepage?
If you said "what your business does and why they should care," give yourself a gold star! ⭐️
Your value proposition is like your elevator pitch, but for your website. It's that snappy statement that tells visitors what you're all about and how you excel in your industry.
DON’T MAKE YOUR WEBSITE VISITORS PLAY DETECTIVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU DO!
Spell it out for them, front and center. And no, I don't mean literally spelling it out in a boring, corporate-speak kind of way. Instead, craft a compelling, benefit-driven statement that speaks directly to your target audience.
For example, instead of saying:
❌ "We provide innovative software solutions,"
Try something like,
✅ "Streamline your workflow and boost productivity with our intuitive project management tool."
See the difference? The second one tells the visitor exactly what they're getting and why it matters to them.
Remember, you've got about 5 seconds to grab a visitor's attention before they bounce. Make those seconds count by clearly communicating your value right off the bat!
Your value proposition should be:
Clear and concise (no jargon, please!)
Benefit-focused (what's in it for them?)
Unique to your brand (why choose you over the competition?)
Check out the example below of a value proposition for a live audio engineering company.
Should I Include an Image or Video in my Hero Section?
Yes! Ensure that this section also contains a hero image or video that visually represents your brand.
A hero image is basically a large, visually engaging image placed at the top of a webpage, designed to capture attention and convey the main message or theme of your website.
Image of your team
Your product in action
Something symbolic of your services (mockups, etc.)
A well-chosen visual can make an immediate emotional connection with your audience.
Currently planning your squarespace website? Grab the free guide on how to plan and launch your website effortlessly with tips and tricks to guide you up to launch day!
THREE
Showcase Key Services or Products
Your homepage isn't just a pretty face – it needs to clearly showcase what you're offering. After all, that's why people are visiting your site in the first place, right?
Think of this section as your digital storefront window. You want to catch people's eyes and give them a taste of what you've got to offer.
But here's the catch: you can't display everything! You've got to be strategic about WHAT you feature.
Choose 3-5 key products or services to highlight. Any more than that and you risk overwhelming your visitors - which is a no go.
Use Visuals Wisely
A picture is worth a thousand words, especially on the web. Use high-quality images or videos to showcase your products or services in action. If you're a service-based business, consider using icons or illustrations to represent your offerings.
Pro Tip: Make sure your visuals are consistent with your brand aesthetic. A mismatched image can throw off your entire design vibe.
Keep Descriptions Short & Sweet
You don't need to write a novel here. Stick to brief, benefit-focused descriptions. Think bullet points or short paragraphs that highlight:
❓ What the product/service is
🔑 Key features or benefits
❤️ Why it's awesome (in customer-centric terms)
Remember, you can (and should!) always link to more detailed pages for those who want to dive deeper!
Remember, the goal here is to give visitors a clear, compelling snapshot of what you offer. It's like a movie trailer – you want to show the best parts to get people excited, without giving everything away!
By effectively showcasing your key products or services, you're not just informing visitors – you're enticing them to explore further and, ultimately, become customers. So make it count!
FOUR
Add Social Proof & Testimonials
Nothing builds trust faster than showing potential customers that others have already taken the plunge and loved it 😎
Keep It Real (Please!)
I can't stress this enough: authenticity is key!
Fake testimonials are like cheap cologne – they might seem like a good idea, but they'll end up leaving a bad impression. Use real feedback from real customers. If you don't have any yet, focus on getting some before adding this section.
Placement Matters
Don't hide your social proof in a dark corner of your homepage. Consider these prime locations:
Near your main CTA
In your hero section
Alongside product or service descriptions
In a dedicated testimonials section
By effectively incorporating social proof and testimonials into your homepage, you're not just tooting your own horn – you're letting your satisfied customers do it for you.
And that, my friend, is marketing gold!
FIVE
Craft Compelling Headlines & Subheadings
When it comes to your homepage design, the words you choose are just as important as the visuals. After all, you only have a few seconds to capture a visitor's attention and make a lasting impression. That's where your headlines and subheadings come into play.
Here's how to craft headlines and subheadings that pack a punch:
Focus on Benefits, Not Features - Don't just describe what you do - explain how it benefits the user. Turn features into advantages they can't resist.
Use Active, Compelling Language - Replace passive phrases with active, action-oriented wording. "Transform Your Productivity" is more engaging than "Productivity Transformation."
Keep It Short & Sweet - Long, wordy headlines get lost in the shuffle. Aim for 6-10 words max to deliver your message with maximum impact.
Use Attention-Grabbing Modifiers - Words like "Effortless," "Proven," or "Exclusive" can instantly pique interest and build intrigue.
Incorporate Relevant Keywords - While you don't want to stuff your headlines with SEO keywords (search engines hate keyword stuffing), strategically including them can improve discoverability (more on this below!)
SIX
Implement Clear Call-to-Action (CTA) Buttons
Alright, let's talk about one of the most important elements on your homepage: the Call-to-Action (CTA) button. This is where you convert casual visitors into engaged leads or customers.
First and foremost, your CTA needs to be action-oriented.
❌ Forget generic phrases like:
"Click Here"
"Submit"
The options above are not great for the accessibility standpoint of your website, because it does not tell screen readers what the button leads too.
✅ Instead, use commanding verbs that inspire immediate action:
"Get Started"
"Shop Now"
"Download"
"Join Today"
These types of CTAs make it abundantly clear what the user should do next.
But it's not enough to just use the right words - you also need to create a sense of urgency or scarcity.
Adding modifiers like "Limited Time Offer," "Spots Are Going Fast," or "While Supplies Last" can light that fire under your visitors to take action before they miss out.
Use High Contrast Buttons
And speaking of taking action, make sure your CTA buttons are unmistakably clickable. Use contrasting colors, unique shapes, or even animated effects to make them pop off the page. You want your visitors' eyes to be instantly drawn to these conversion-driving elements!
Personalize Your CTA’s
But here's the real key: personalize your CTAs based on user intent and behavior. Not every visitor is going to be ready to "Buy Now" - some may just be looking to "Learn More" or "Sign Up for Updates."
By providing tailored CTAs, you can guide each user down the path that's right for them.
For Example:
New visitors to your homepage might see a "Explore Our Services" button, while returning users could be presented with a "Renew Your Subscription" CTA.
This level of personalization can significantly boost your conversion rates, as you're giving each individual exactly what they need at that moment.
Placement Matters (again)
Of course, the placement of your CTAs is also crucial. You'll want to strategically position them in high-visibility areas, like:
Above the fold as main CTA (remember that’s the top section of your homepage)
Alongside key product or service descriptions
Within any hero sections or banners
At the end of content blocks or sections
In the footer of your homepage
But don't just set it and forget it. Continuously monitor the performance of your CTA buttons, tracking metrics like click-through rates and conversion percentages. The more you optimize, the better your CTAs will perform.
Remember, your CTA is the bridge between your visitors' needs and your offerings.
Make it an inviting, irresistible path for them to cross, and you'll be well on your way to turning casual browsers into loyal customers ✨
SEVEN
Incorporate SEO Best Practices
We've covered a lot of ground when it comes to crafting a visually stunning and user-friendly homepage. But let's not forget the importance of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) - after all, what good is a beautiful website if no one can find it?
Integrating SEO best practices into your homepage design is crucial for driving organic traffic and ensuring your site is easily discoverable by your target audience. It’s also not some big thing to be scared by, it’s actually super easy!
Here are some key SEO tips:
Optimize Page Titles & Meta Descriptions - These HTML elements are crucial for on-page SEO. Craft compelling, keyword-rich titles and descriptions to improve click-through rates from search results.
Strategically Use Keywords - Incorporate relevant keywords throughout your homepage content, but avoid keyword stuffing. Focus on natural, reader-friendly language.
Make it Mobile-Friendly - With mobile-first indexing, your homepage needs to deliver an exceptional experience on any device.
Leverage Alt Text and Image Optimization - Descriptive alt text and properly sized, compressed images can boost your visual SEO.
Incorporate Internal Linking - Link to other relevant pages on your site to improve crawlability and user navigation.
Your Homepage, Reimagined
Whew, we've covered a lot of ground when it comes to crafting a high-performing homepage for your website.
From keeping things simple and focused to leveraging the power of social proof and SEO best practices, you now have a toolbox full of strategies to help you create a digital front door that truly wows your visitors.
But remember, your homepage is not a static, set-in-stone creation. It's a living, breathing part of your online presence that needs to evolve alongside your business and your audience's needs.
So, take a deep breath, put on your design thinking cap, and get to work. Your new and improved homepage is just waiting to be unleashed on the digital world.
Who knows - it might just be the start of something truly amazing 😉
Currently planning your squarespace website? Grab the free guide on how to plan and launch your website effortlessly with tips and tricks to guide you up to launch day!