TL;DR
- Start with a strong top section: an image, words that name your top services, and a short blurb about your business.
- Use short sections, one per main service, each leading to its own page.
- Make booking and contacting you easy for visitors who want to act and leave.
- On a new site, we build the homepage last, because it flows into your other pages.
“Above the Fold” Comes First
“Above the fold” is the part of the page visitors see before they scroll. As Beth tells clients, “Above the fold is the most important place for both humans and robots.” Robots here means search engine bots like Google’s.
The top section, often called the hero, usually has:
- A strong image
- Words that name your top services or marketing call out text
- A short blurb about your business
Design for Three Types of Visitors
- The browser wants short reads and current offers.
- The in-and-out visitor came to do one thing, like book an appointment, and leave. In Beth’s words, “Navigation is key.”
- The inquisitive visitor wants depth, like blog posts and detailed service pages.
Homepage Sections That Work
Most homepages need several sections, each with a heading that names a key service, a short overview, and a link to the full page. See How Should I Organize My Website for Several Services or Audiences?
Don’t cut your homepage in half to make it look cleaner. Removing sections removes words Google uses to understand what you do.
Why We Build a New Homepage Last
Your homepage summarizes everything else. As Beth explains, “The homepage typically flows into the other pages,” so we write it once those pages are fully created.
What Webmaster For Hire Recommends
- Make booking and contact easy to find from your menu.
- Balance people and search engines. Short, clear sections serve both.
- Keep every section short, and let the full pages carry the detail.
:: Common Questions ::
Should My Newsletter Signup Go at the Top?
It can. Putting it near the top catches visitors who never scroll to the bottom.
Does My Homepage Help With SEO?
Yes. See Does a Webmaster Handle SEO, or Do I Need an SEO Agency?
Want a Homepage That Brings In Business?
Request a consultation, or see our Website Design Services.
