What was the last home page that really grabbed your attention? How did it draw you in? And how long did you end up staying on that site?
The home page of any website is where it all happens. It has a big job to do – it’s usually the first thing people see when they visit a site (unless they have followed a link through to a specific page elsewhere). Its importance cannot be underestimated.
Many newcomers to the world of creating websites think that the main purpose of a home page is to welcome people to the site. This is true, but its real purpose goes much deeper than that. You need more than a simple welcome to draw people into your site, to keep them there - and ideally to encourage them to buy or request something from you.
Adding interactive elements to your home page is a good way to do this. Surf the internet for a while and explore other websites to see how they do this. One of the most popular ways to get people involved is to offer them a free newsletter or report. Simply encourage visitors to fill in a box on your home page which tells them what they will receive once they enter their name and email address.
It also helps to draw the visitor in on a personal level. If your website is about house training puppies, for example, you could open with a short article about the kind of problems this brings with it. Always talk to your readers directly – you know you are probably talking to hundreds or thousands of people over a period of time, but make sure you talk to just one in your article. This will help people to believe your site is aimed purely at them.
It also helps to keep something back. For example you might have the perfect solution to house training puppies in double quick time… but don’t give it away on your home page. Hint at it, and then reveal where the answer can be found. This helps to ensure people stay on your website for a while longer and explore beyond what your home page has to offer.
In a sense then, your home page has to be packed with promise, benefits and a taste of what the rest of your site holds. If you can achieve this, you’ll not only draw people in, you’ll hang onto them as well.
Pro Wordpress Themes is a collection of high-quality, professional Wordpress themes designed by world-class graphic artists and made available to download free of charge. To download a free Wordpress theme please visit
Website Templates.
