Five Must Haves for your Home Page

Does your home page make you swell with pride, clearly tell your story and inspire potential clients? If the answer is no, don’t fret. We’ve all gotta start somewhere!

If you’re reading this, chances are your website’s home page is in need of a spruce up.

Your home page should be there to make you look fabulous and bring in money. It’s probably your most visited page so damn right it needs to be the best it can be.

In fact, it takes about 2-3 seconds for your site visitor to make an impression of you. Yikes, that really isn’t long, is it? But before you break out in a cold sweat, I have just the thing for you.

Over time and the experience of countless website designs, I’ve become pretty clued up about the must-haves for your site.

You want a site that gives you instant credibility and helps you get exactly what you want from your site visitors, even whilst you’re asleep?

Step this way…

1. A Mission statement

First things first is the most important sentence (or two) on your site.

No pressure, right?

Your mission statement should be the first thing your site visitor spots. It should tell them who you are, what you do and for who. Essentially, it tells them whether it is worth hanging around on your site or if they should hop back over to their latest Netflix binge.

Let’s take a look at my home page…

If you’re struggling to come up with an idea, use this framework…

I/we do [what you do] to help [your clients] achieve [what they get].

Some ego-centric part of me might wish this was the Eleanor Stones show. The reality is, in the words of McFly, it’s all about you, baby.

Why? Because your audience is exactly the same. They care about number one and are on your website looking for a solution to their problem.

Once you’ve got the perfect mission statement, whack it somewhere your visitors will see it when they land on your page. And away you go, the first task towards a better home page is ticked off!

2. Opt In

Most of our site visitors won’t be ready to splash the cash. It’s not a lost cause though. By getting their emails on our list, we are able to market to them until they are ready to open their wallet.

I’m often asked about opt ins and sales funnels. They sound a lot scarier than they actually are.

In essence, your website and email list are like gold. This is where you can convert the most visitors/readers into paying clients.

Hook em in good with an irresistible freebie in exchange for their email address. Pop your sign up link in your home page. Then add your freebie in an automated email when they put their email address on your list.

Stuck for ideas for a freebie? It could be a PDF checklist for a healthy food shop, email series of wedding photos prep or a video tutorial of the best yoga moves. The list goes on.

3. Powerful Images

They say an image speaks a thousand words. And with a growing trend for minimal copy on webpages, this is more important than ever.

Make sure they are saying the right words!

The beauty of using images is that they can convey emotions and feelings in a way I can only dream of.

One example. I have a client who creates beautiful bespoke pieces for the home. Their images should reflect their skills and expertise but an image shot wonky on a phone in a dingy evening might not be saying this.

On the other hand, a bright and crisp picture of their products in all its beauty screams high quality. Bonus points if the image shows the item being used - it helps their site visitors imagine it in their own home!

So, pick your images carefully. Choose ones that will speak to your audience and let them do some of the talking for you.

4. Testimonials and all the good stuff

Blow your own trumpet throughout your website, by all means - you are fabulous after all. But don’t be disheartened when no one believes in your magic. It’ll take a little more for them to part with their hard earned cash.

Are you legit?

Of course you are! But without the good stuff to back it up, your potential new clients might be questioning your amazing credentials.

Don’t give them the space to doubt you!

Put their thoughts to bed with some juicy testimonials, awards, Facebook comment screenshots and press features. This is called social proof and gives your site visitors the trust they need to have in order to buy from you.

Tip: Images build trust too! One of your beautiful smiling face looking into the camera says “hello, I’m real and you can put your trust in me”. Avoid the selfies to really make your business look legit.

Top tip: Having a page dedicated to this is great and all, but my best tip is to sprinkle your social proof across your home page - and the rest of your website for that matter.

5. A call to action

Okay, so you’ve successfully navigated capturing their attention after they’ve landed on your page. Congrats 🥂! They’ve scrolled down your home page, looked over all your gorgeous content and… *drumroll please* …nothing.

The last thing we want is for our visitors to be stumbling around wondering where to go next.

So we take their hand in ours and guide them in the direction we want them to using a Call to Action (CTA). These are a short phrase, usually on a big bold button which says exactly where to go next and continue their journey. Simple yet oh so effective!

Stuck for ideas?

- Sign Up
- Book a Call
- Join the group
- Fly me to the moon 🎵

Okay, that last one might not help you out but the first three will give your audience a direction, moving them through your website and to exactly where you want them.

Trust me, this one website addition will have a HUGE impact on sales A.K.A. 💰 in your pocket.

So there you have it.

Everything you need to get your home page looking ship shape.

If you’re still feeling overwhelmed, I’ve got you. Get in touch today to see how we can work together and get clients falling at your feet…

P.S.

Heck yes, that’s a CTA!

Top tip: add them in e v e r y w h e r e!