Sometimes it’s hard to look at your website’s home page with a fresh set of eyes, especially if you’ve been looking at it for years. However, it has to be done. The home page is the most important page of your site, and it has the biggest influence on whether your visitors stick around and buy or say good bye. It is vital that you see it the way they do.
So, what should you do to improve your home page? Start with following the steps below, and you’ll be on your way to increased sales and higher visitor retention before you know it.
- Take a hard and honest look at your home page. Actually step back from the computer, close your eyes, and open them with a fresh point of view. Does the page clearly show products or services you sell? Does it have a clear call to action to get your visitors deeper into your site? Is the call to action above the fold? If not, make this your first fix.
- Is your home page clearly presenting your business as trustworthy? Are you making it clear that your products are for sale online? If not, you’re losing sales right now!
- Does your home page feature any animation that doesn’t directly connect with selling your product or service? If so, get rid of it. It’s a distraction to your visitors and it’s costing you money.
- Are your images fuzzy, or hard to see? Optimize your images so they are sharp and clear, but keep the file size small enough that they load quickly. No one wants to look at poor quality photos, and no one is willing to sit and wait for your home page to load.
- Is your contact info big and bold at the top of your home page? Can your visitors immediately see your toll free number to call you on impulse and buy? If not, you’re losing more sales…
Your home page’s effectiveness is limited only by your creativity and marketing skills. Regardless of your ecommerce skill level, applying the above basics will definitely move you in the right direction.
After implementing the above guidelines into your home page, come back and leave a comment to share your results. We’re sure you’ll be pleased!
I agree with the phone number – you will get more sales and it also improves the trust factor. I put an 800# on a site’s main banner and saw a 20% increase in conversions…
If you aren’t a well known brand, some trust emblems like scan alert also can help. I would try them out, however. If you have a strong design, they may not help much.
Get a 30 day trial and track it closely.
I like “Does your home page feature any animation that doesn’t directly connect with selling your product or service? If so, get rid of it. It’s a distraction to your visitors and it’s costing you money.”
A lot of sites have ads and cluttering animation which distracts from the site. While this may be bringing revenue, what it probably loses in sales may not be worth it.