5 Steps to Declutter your Homepage
Your website homepage is often the first impression that visitors have of your brand, and it's crucial that you make it count. You may feel like all your content is important which can lead to huge blocks of text and a cluttered homepage. Visitors decided within a few seconds if they want to continue reading your page or click to another site. A well-designed homepage can help establish trust with your audience, communicate your value, and guide visitors towards taking the desired action. In this blog post, we'll discuss some of the best practices for creating an effective website homepage.
Cut down on copy
Do not overwhelm visitors with too much information. You may think your website needs all your content, but your homepage will perform better with less copy. You should include your most important content and cut the rest.
Lead with a value (mission) statement
Near the top of your homepage, you should have a one-sentence mission statement or brand bio. Longwinded mission statements on your homepage are a thing of the past. Think clear and concise. In this one-sentence statement you should include what you do and how your product or service solves a problem or benefits your client.
Simplify navigation tabs
Visitors should be able to easily find what they're looking for. Use clear and concise menu labels. Your main navigation tabs should focus on your programs or services which will make your homepage more actionable. Other pages (such as FAQ, Job Opportunities, Resources) should be secondary as a submenu, linked in your footer, or linked less prominently elsewhere on your homepage.
PRO TIP: Keep your main navigation tabs to about six or fewer.
Include testimonials
Testimonials provide social proof that people have benefited from your product or services. It helps build trust and credibility. It is important that they are short. Most people will not take the time to read a long testimonial so delete extra words and cut down (with the author’s permission) the testimonial to one or two strong sentences.
Make your call to action simple
A call to action should be simple and clear. The more words or instructions you use, the more confusing it is to your client. Whether it's to sign up for your newsletter, request a demo, or make a purchase, your call to action should be simple and clear. Stick with simple calls to action like “Read More” or “Schedule Now.”
PRO TIP: Determine what you want your call to action to be on your website homepage. What is your end goal? Whatever you choose, make sure that the action looks like a noticeable button.
A well-designed homepage is critical to the success of your website. By following these best practices, you can create a homepage that establishes trust, communicates your value, and guides visitors towards taking the desired action.
