Whether you’re looking to create brand loyalists or drive sales, the first impression is the one that sticks. Your tonality, beliefs and creativity need to be amply clear, and in today’s digital-first world, your website’s home page can showcase this to the fullest.
The first page of a website is called the home page and is the fundamental point of interaction between your brand and those hoping to connect with it over the internet. Right from the load time to the logical flow of information and accessibility, your website’s home page needs to be just right if it is to be engaging. However, this is easier said than done. For instance, simply using an online webpage designer will amount to nothing if your web page content isn’t up to the mark. After all, good homepages have various elements working in harmony.
So, do you think your home page packs a punch? Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to gauge whether or not it is optimised to deliver excellent results.
What is the average load time of your home page?
With dwindling attention spans, having a page that loads swiftly is essential to making a good impression. In fact, pages with load times of up to 5 seconds have a bounce rate probability of 90%! This means that if your page doesn’t fully load within the first 3 seconds or so, all the effort you’ve put into making it look good goes down the drain as it is likely that the visitor has already left. Besides this, knowing the other benefits of a responsive website may also help you understand why you can’t ignore the technical aspect of the homepage.
Knowing your average load time is something you can access via your pages’ analytics and you can always invest in better server infrastructure to decrease load delays. As a thumb rule, the average load time for the first page of website should be no more than 4 seconds.
Does the colour scheme match the tonality?
Just as your words set the tone for your brand, so do the colours that you choose to use on your home page. Depending on your brand and its personality, you need to make sure that the colour scheme of your web home page design is complementary and ties in with the content on your website.
For instance, bright flashy colours at the beginning put the viewer in an excited frame of mind and it would be unwise to pair them with statistics and price charts. Additionally, if your brand’s image is understated, include muted colours in your web home page design as this will make for a cohesive browsing experience.
Does the content match the brand?
Content is a malleable element and before developing any, you must take the time to decide on the tonality you want your brand to adapt. If the content on your website has a laid-back tone and your brand doesn’t share that personality, you will end up confusing audiences. Carefully consider the language and style, while ensuring that any information found on your home page is directed towards providing value.
Does the home page link to every landing page on your website?
The basic function of your home page is to serve as a hub, linking to other pages. This is vital because users are more likely to leave if they have to delve deep to find what they are looking for. While this doesn’t mean that you overcrowd the first page of the website, ensure that there is a well-structured and logical network that users can follow without excessive interaction. A neat solution is to implement drop-downs and segment your information. This way, your page looks minimalistic while offering full-range navigation.
Is the first page of your website SEO-optimised?
The mark of a great home page lies in its ability to generate traffic. This is where search engine marketing comes into play. By creating content that is optimised for search engines, you can drive greater traffic to your website and keep visitors engaged for longer. Having an SEO-optimised home page will raise your ranking and over time, and eventually help you appear on the first page of popular search engines like Google.
Typically, this means ensuring the header tags and focus keywords of the page match. You can also go one step further to ensure that all the visuals on the page have the right attribution. Simple practices like this help search engine indexing and lead to better results.
Asking yourself these questions will give you a wholesome analysis of your home page as it covers the technical, design and content-related aspects. While they all work in unison, the content you publish plays a major role in search engine marketing as it generates traffic. Get in touch with us to create quality content for your website.
