Learn How To Layout Your Website Homepage Step by Step for Results

Welcome to our eBook on crafting an effective homepage for your small business or nonprofit organization. I'm Kelly Thomas, the proud owner of Designed by Kelly, and I'm thrilled to share insights that stem from our years of experience in website design and digital marketing.

In today's digital world, your website's homepage is more than just a landing page. It's the heart of your online presence and often the first point of interaction with potential clients or supporters. Recognizing its critical role, we've curated a comprehensive guide to help you create a homepage that not only looks good but works effectively to meet your organizational goals.

This guide is structured to walk you through each vital component of your homepage, from the very top with the Header, to the very bottom with the Footer. Each section has been carefully designed to offer you:

Practical Tips: Straightforward, actionable advice that you can apply immediately.

Best Practices: Industry standards and innovative approaches that lead to success.

Common Pitfalls: Typical mistakes that many organizations make and how to avoid them.

Impactful Statistics: Data-driven insights to underscore the importance of each element.

Video Assistance: Watch clips from our masterclass on each subject

Our goal is to provide you with a resource that not only guides you through the basics of homepage design but also enriches your understanding of how each element functions to attract, engage, and convert visitors. Whether you’re looking to refine your current homepage or starting from scratch, this eBook will provide the tools you need to succeed.

We believe that a well-designed website can significantly amplify your voice and your mission. With this guide, we hope to help you lay a strong foundation for your online presence, enhancing both your reach and impact.

Thank you for choosing Designed by Kelly as your partner in this journey. Let's create something beautiful and effective together!

Warm regards,

Kelly Thomas

Kelly Thomas

Owner, Designed by Kelly www.designedbykelly.org kelly@designedbykelly.org

A study by Ironpaper found that websites with a clear and visually appealing layout had a 94% higher chance of generating leads.

I believe a good website is a combination of creativity and strategy.

THE WEBSITE HEADER

A report by WebFX showed that users are 80% more likely to engage with a website that has a welldesigned header.

Importance

The header is vital for user engagement and sets the initial tone for the visitor experience. According to a study by Nielsen Norman Group, users often decide whether to stay on a page within the first 10-20 seconds of visiting a site, and the clarity of the header plays a significant role in this decision.

Key Elements:

Logo Placement: Visible and clear branding increases user recognition and comfort.

Navigation Clarity: Easy-to-use navigation reduces bounce rates and enhances user satisfaction.

Conversion Opportunities: Call-to-action (CTA) placement in headers can improve conversion rates by up to 20%.

Tips:

Keep your design clean and organized. Avoid busy backgrounds, loud colors, or hard-toread fonts.

Use clear, straightforward titles for your navigation. Skip the jargon or overly clever labels. Prioritize your top 5-6 pages in the main navigation bar. You can tuck away less essential pages in dropdown menus.

Consider making your header sticky—this means it stays in view at the top of the screen as visitors scroll, making it easy to navigate at any time. Remember, your header is your first opportunity to communicate who you are and what your site offers. Make it count!

THE WEBSITE HERO SECTION

The hero section is the most viewed part of a website. Studies have shown that visitors typically spend 80% of their time looking at the hero section of a website, so it is crucial to make a strong first impression.

Importance:

The hero section is crucial for capturing attention. A Microsoft study found that the average human attention span is only 8 seconds, shorter than that of a goldfish, highlighting the need for immediate engagement in this section.

Key Elements:

Visuals: Websites that utilize a video in their hero section can increase conversion rates by up to 86%.

Main Message: Clear and direct messaging can help reduce bounce rates by effectively communicating the core value proposition within the first few seconds.

Tips:

Communicate Your Main Message: Clearly tell your visitors who you are, what you do, and how you can help them. This is your chance to succinctly convey your purpose and the problem you solve.

Engage Visitors: Provide a clear call-to-action (CTA) button that tells visitors what to do next— whether it’s learning more, signing up, or making a purchase.

Support Your Message Visually: Use a background image or video that complements your main message, enhancing the text rather than overwhelming it.

According to a survey by VWO, optimizing the services/products section of your website can result in an average conversion rate increase of 6.5%

Importance:

Clearly presented services and products can significantly influence purchasing decisions. According to a HubSpot report, 47% of website visitors check out a company’s products/services page before looking at any other sections of the site.

Key Elements:

Structured Layout: Well-organized layouts can increase user engagement and make information more accessible.

Descriptions: Detailed descriptions enhance the user experience and can increase conversion rates by up to 30% when effectively communicated.

Tips:

Highlight Your Offerings: Use this space to clearly display your services or products. Whether you're promoting blog posts, church services, or a product lineup, this section should give a straightforward snapshot of what you provide.

Build Trust and Credibility: By communicating your expertise through this section, you help build trust with your audience. Show them you understand their problems and have the solutions they need.

Encourage Action: Each item listed should not only describe what you offer but also invite further engagement. Include a simple call to action (CTA) like 'Learn More' or 'Sign Up Now' with each service or product.

THE WEBSITE MAIN SECTION & ABOUT US

An About Us page is the second-highest rated element, 31% of users rule an About Us page the most important element .

Importance:

This section is essential for establishing credibility. According to Forbes, 85% of consumers use the internet to search for local businesses, and they consider authenticity as a key factor in deciding whom to trust.

Key Elements:

Your Story: Sharing your unique journey can increase transparency and foster a stronger connection with your audience.

Values and Ethics: Demonstrating commitment to values can influence customer behavior, with 52% of consumers saying they make purchasing decisions partially based on values.

Tips:

Build Credibility and Trust: Use this section to share your story and the values that drive your brand. This isn’t just about what you do, but why you do it, which helps forge a deeper connection with your visitors.

Communicate What Sets You Apart: Clearly articulate what makes your brand unique. Why should a visitor choose you over your competitors? Highlight your unique value proposition and continue to address how you solve problems for your users.

Simple, Engaging Content: Include a brief introduction to you and your team, and consider adding testimonials or reviews to strengthen credibility. If it's relevant, you can also include inspiring quotes or even a map to your physical locations.

THE WEBSITE FOOTER

Footers are essential to a website’s performance.

Importance:

Though often overlooked, the footer holds significant potential for engagement. According to a Kissmetrics study, optimizing your footer can lead to a 50% increase in conversion rates related to navigability and information accessibility.

Key Elements:

Sitemap: Including a sitemap in the footer can enhance SEO and user navigation.

Contact Info: Accessible contact information can reduce visitor frustration and increase conversion opportunities.

Tips:

Houses Secondary Information: The footer is a great place to include information that doesn’t fit in the main navigation, such as additional links, your company’s physical location, email address, and phone number.

Opportunity for Additional Conversions: Even at the bottom of the page, you can encourage visitors to take action. A call-to-action button here gives users a second chance to engage with your content or services.

Boosts SEO: Strategically using your footer can help improve your site’s SEO. Including keywords and important information can play a role in how search engines understand and rank your site.

THE MOBILE

FRIENDLY WEBSITE

52.08% of all traffic is mobile. Make sure your website is mobile friendly. If your user is frustrated they will leave. Make it easy for your user.

Importance:

In today’s world, a mobile-friendly website isn’t just nice to have; it’s essential.

Key Elements:

Responsive Layouts: Google reports that 61% of users are unlikely to return to a mobile site they had trouble accessing, and 40% visit a competitor’s site instead.

Touch Interactions: Enhancing touch interactions can significantly improve the user experience and satisfaction on mobile devices.

Tips:

Reach More People: More people are using their smartphones to browse the internet than ever before. If your website looks good and works well on mobile devices, you can reach a much larger audience.

Enhance User Experience: A mobile-friendly site provides a better experience for users on mobile devices. Easy navigation, quick loading times, and readable content without zooming or scrolling horizontally are all key to keeping your visitors happy and engaged.

Improve Search Engine Ranking: Search engines like Google prioritize mobile-friendly websites in their search results. If your site is optimized for mobile, it's more likely to appear higher in search rankings, making it easier for potential customers to find you.

Increase Engagement and Conversions: Websites that are easy to use on mobile are more likely to keep visitors engaged. This means they're more likely to read your content, follow your calls to action, and convert into customers.

Optimized SEO can dramatically increase your visibility. BrightEdge Research indicates that organic search drives 53.3% of all website traffic, underscoring the importance of effective SEO practices.

Importance:

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is all about making your website more visible and attractive to search engines like Google. When done right, SEO helps your site show up higher in search results, making it more likely that people will find and visit your site.

Key Elements:

Keyword Research: Integrating targeted keywords can boost your search engine rankings and attract more relevant traffic.

Content Quality: High-quality content is more likely to earn backlinks, which are crucial for SEO and can increase traffic by over 200%.

Tips:

Keywords: These are the words and phrases that people type into search engines when they're looking for information. Including the right keywords in your content helps search engines understand what your site is about and shows it to the right users.

Image Alt Text: This is a brief description of an image on your website, which isn't visible to users but is read by search engines. Alt text helps search engines understand the content of your images and how they relate to your text. It’s also important for accessibility, helping people who use screen readers understand what’s displayed.

Headings (H1, H2) and Paragraph Text: Your H1 is typically the main title of your page, and it should include your primary keyword. Subheadings (H2, H3, etc.) help organize the content and make it easier to read. Both headings and regular paragraph text should use keywords naturally to indicate the content's relevance to search queries.

Title Tags: These are the clickable headlines that appear in search results and are extremely important for SEO. A well-crafted title tag should be concise and include the main keywords for the page, ideally at the beginning.

Meta Descriptions: These provide a brief summary of your page’s content below the title tag in search results. While meta descriptions don’t directly influence rankings, a compelling meta description can improve the likelihood that someone will click on your result.

Integrating SEO into Your Homepage

A study by the Nielsen Norman Group found that users may leave a website within 10-20 seconds if they cannot find what they are looking for or if the site is difficult to use. KEEP IT SIMPLE!

GOOGLE BUSINESS PROFILE

Google Business Profiles are a powerful tool for local SEO and business visibility. According to Google, businesses that use Google My Business listings to their full potential receive 7x more visits than those that don't.

Importance:

A well-maintained Google Business Profile not only enhances visibility but also drives engagement. According to Google, businesses that verify their information with Google My Business are twice as likely to be considered reputable by consumers.

Key Elements:

Regular Updates: Regularly updating your profile can increase your local search ranking and improve customer trust.

Customer Interaction: Engaging with customers through your Google Business Profile can lead to a 70% increase in the likelihood of them visiting your business.

Tips:

Enhanced Visibility: A Google Business Profile makes it easier for customers to find information about your business directly in Google search results and on Google Maps. This includes your business hours, contact information, and directions to your location.

It's Free: One of the best parts about Google Business Profile is that it’s completely free. This makes it a cost-effective way to improve your online presence and reach more potential customers without stretching your marketing budget.

Boosts Your Credibility: Having a well-maintained Google Business Profile gives your business a sense of legitimacy and trustworthiness. Reviews, updates, and photos can all help build a positive image for your business.

Drive Traffic to Your Website: By linking your Google Business Profile to your website, you can directly guide potential customers to more detailed information about your products and services. This not only increases your website traffic but also enhances the chances of converting visitors into customers.

Connecting Your Google Business Profile to Your Website:

Seamless User Experience: When your Google Business Profile is linked to your website, it creates a seamless experience for users. They can easily jump from your profile to your website to learn more about what you offer, check out your products, or get in touch.

Better Search Engine Ranking: Linking your website to your Google Business Profile can also help improve your search engine rankings, making your business more visible in search results.

Remember, setting up and linking your Google Business Profile with your website isn’t just a smart digital strategy—it’s a crucial step in expanding your online footprint and enhancing your business’s discoverability and credibility.

We have over five years of experience working with small businesses, nonprofits, startups and entrepreneurs, we take pride in our five-star rating and the trust of hundreds of satisfied clients. We have the expertise to bring your vision to life.