How do you come to know if a website is good or bad even before exploring it? Yes, it’s the homepage that gives you the idea about company or organization. A well designed and impeccably done homepage creates a trust about the organization. If you are going to use your website for Internet business, then your homepage can bring you new customers and allow you to retain the old ones. On the contrary, a shoddy homepage can turn off your potential customers and can make you lose money. Thus, it becomes imperative to have the best homepage possible.
Tips and Ideas to Design the Best Homepage
Keep it Simple
Why do all of us are simply addicted to Google search engine? Along with its ability to present any information within seconds, it is its simple homepage that attracts us. If you have a closer look at Google homepage you will find that there is almost nothing there, except a search text box and a few links. Yet you find everything you want within seconds! The beauty of a great homepage lies in its simplicity. The more simple and user-friendly you make your homepage, the more likely it will gather a positive response from your users. Most web designers go for fancy layout with lot of graphics and numerous functionalities on the homepage. As a result, the end user often gets lost in such confusing website design. These designers should take a cue from Google homepage which is the best homepage ever, and design simple yet functional homepages.
Include a Suitable Tagline
Not everyone visiting your website knows what you do. Most people come to your website as a result of their query after which the search engine directs them to your page. Hence, your homepage should have a suitable tagline which precisely explains what you do. Including a suitable tagline becomes a must if your website name suggests nothing about your work.
Well Distributed Content
Many websites have a large graphic occupying major portion of their homepage and the important information is all cluttered in minuscule font. Such website simply fails to gather a positive feedback from users. Hence, it is important to collect and distribute your content on the homepage. For instance you need not provide separate links for company history, its management, policies etc. you can simply put it all under one common tab ‘About Us’.
Emphasize High Priority Tasks
Remember, a website is a huge success if it delivers what exactly its users want. Thus, if you have a web page design that readily presents your users with the information that they are looking for, they will be more than happy to come back to your site. If you know that the users visit your site for performing certain tasks, it would make sense to highlight those tasks on your homepage.
Optimum Use of Links
Links are the main action items on your homepage. When your users visit your homepage, there eyes will be invariably looking for relevant links. Hence, it is important to include important keywords in your link names. Starting every link with a company name is an absolutely ridiculous idea. In short, help your user find what he is looking for!
Provide Easy Navigation
A homepage that allows you an easy access to the website content and provides swift navigation to browse through that content is indeed the best homepage to have. Providing a site map is a great way of making the task of exploring your website easier for your user. This way, he knows exactly where he is supposed to look the desired information.
Provide a Search Box
No matter what your website deals in, your visitors will always look out for a search box to enter their queries. Hence, allow a search box where your user can type at least a 25 character query and make sure it works!
Meaningful Use of Graphics
An image indeed is more effective form of expression than text. However, it is important to include only meaningful graphics or images on your homepage. If you unnecessarily include the photos of celebrities or fashion models, who do not have anything to do with your website, your visitors will find it difficult to connect with your website.
Thus, the key to designing a great homepage lies in knowing what your user exactly wants from your website. The rest is easy as you simply have to provide him the necessary controls to accomplish his job.