At SearchEngineOptimisation.co.uk we know that whilst every page within a website is important, the homepage is one of the most important. Not only is the homepage the window to the rest of your website, but it is often the landing page for many users; providing a visitor with the first impression of the website and in many instances, the entire company. A homepage is also the page a user returns to if they are unsure of where to go next on the website or struggling with navigation. For all these reasons, it is important that your homepage provides enough information yet at the same time is not cluttered or over complicated, as these things can put a visitor off, and the best way to achieve this is to consult professional web designers.
It can be tempting for a company to try and cram everything they need to say on to the homepage to ensure they are getting the message across, however this is not necessary. Many SEO experts will offer the advice that a homepage should clearly show the offerings of the company itself, and whilst this is true, it can often be misinterpreted. Showing your existing and potential consumers what you have for them does not mean that you have to tell them every element. Keep the more detailed information for the subpages and maintain a focus on a summary of what the company has to offer. By all means demonstrate the diversity of the business, but there is no need to go into too much detail at this stage – this is what the subpages are there for.
As with all communication channels within a business, the main reason is to gain some form of return or response on the investment, which is what makes the homepage an ideal place to post the largest form of a call to action. This could be an invitation to purchase something, sign up to the website or complete another task such as filling out a form. Whilst it can be important to include these elements to any web page, it is vital to follow the same simplicity rule and not overdo it. Select one call to action and stick to it, rather than having multiple options that will just confuse the user. If you do need to include other calls to action then include a link to a separate page so you are not overwhelming the web visitor.
Pop-up advertisements are also a common occurrence yet most consumers do see these as a nuisance. Whilst there are no hard and fast rules to say that pop ups should not be used, always proceed with caution and consider carefully what you place on the homepage. The last thing a user wants on their first visit to your website is to be irritated and put off.
Consistency is probably the most important thing, and all SEO experts will tell you this. The homepage should flow from top to bottom and not look segmented. Often the desire to include too much information results in a fragmented vision that simply does not work.
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Posted by Richard.
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