Your website’s homepage is basically your online storefront. It’s often the first page visitors to your website find themselves on. That said, there are certain elements it should include to present your business in the best possible light.

Here are seven elements your website’s homepage should include:

1. Navigation
Most modern website designs include a navigation menu at the top and bottom of the homepage. This way, visitors can find the information they are looking for quickly and easily. The pages of your website should be appropriately labeled in this menu.

If you own a restaurant, most likely, your website’s visitors are coming to see what kind of food you serve. By putting a link to your menu in the top navigation bar, you allow them to find the information they are seeking, namely the menu.

2. Hero
The hero area of your website’s homepage is often where visitors’ eyes go first. It should include an attractive, relevant image along with a headline that briefly explains who you are and what you do.

Even if you don’t sell an actual product, the hero image provides you the opportunity to show off the people and places associated with your business. A photo you could use may be one of your location or your staff.

3. Call to Action
The hero area of your website’s homepage should also include a primary call to action. This is an action visitors can take to engage with your business. The easiest way to do this is by including a button linked to a form that allows visitors to your website to contact you if they desire more information about your product or service.

If you offer estimates for your services, this is especially helpful. For example, an interior decorator who provides free estimates may have a button that says “free estimate” linked to a contact form where visitors can request an estimate in this area. Even if they don’t request an estimate, visitors can request information without clicking through multiple pages.

4. Offers
If you have special offers, you want to draw attention to them. One way to do this is by including them on your website’s homepage. They can be in their own section or included as a pop-up that appears when someone arrives on your homepage.

This offer doesn’t necessarily need to be a product or service, it can also be content you create, like an email newsletter. The offer, in this case, could be a field on your homepage where a visitor could enter their email address to subscribe to your newsletter.

5. Services
If you offer multiple services, list them out and link to these pages on your website from your homepage. You’ll also want to include a paragraph or so briefly explaining the service. That way, visitors can immediately decide if a service is right for them and read more about it if so.

Each service should have its own section on your website’s homepage. These sections should also include images related to the service. These can be stock photos or those you’ve taken yourself. All that matters is that they represent your service as accurately as possible.

6. Features
On your homepage, list out not only what you do but why it matters and how it sets you apart from your competitors. You should have at least three features. Examples of features include how long you’ve been in business, any certifications you may have, and other attributes.

Along with the feature, include a brief description of it. If one of your features is that you’ve been in business for 20 years, write a sentence or two about how you got started. It will entice your visitors to want to learn more about your business while displaying your expertise.

7. Reviews
Most consumers today read reviews of products and services they intend to purchase online. That is why you should include at least three reviews on the homepage of your website from satisfied customers.

If you have a social media presence, you can take reviews from your profiles and put them on your website’s homepage. Visitors to your website will see these reviews. Then, they can make an informed decision without having to sift through social media for them.

Ready to Design Your Website’s Homepage?
Whether you’re building a new website or updating an existing one, your homepage is an important part of its overall design. If you need help designing your new homepage, contact Links Web Design for a free consultation today!

Links Web Design is a web design agency in Bangor, ME, and Fruitland Park, FL.​​