How Your Website Homepage Can Capture Attention in 3 Seconds (Or Not!)

Your homepage is your store window. When you find yourself wondering, “How do I keep people on my website long enough to convert?” Ask yourself…

…does my homepage–the page most people land on when they click on your website URL–grab their attention?

Let’s imagine you have a brick-and-mortar shop in a nice mall to showcase your offers.

You will literally have 3 seconds to attract the right people into the store as they pass by. This is where your store window comes in.?

Your store window (and its window display) would be the first thing people see when strolling by. Its design, product placement, and write-up (if any) would be geared toward inviting the right people in. The products on display would make it very clear what the shop sells, thus dissuading people not interested in buying those products. It would have its own vibe and color scheme.?

I know of a shop with a bright pink display for cutesy hair accessories for females. Keeping the whole color has no gender debate aside, the display screams girly stuff found here. It definitely grabs your attention as you are passing by because it stands out from the other (mostly) beige displays of other shops. I have also seen many clothing stores display the prices of the items displayed in the window. And if there’s a sale or a special offer going on…the window display highlights it. Encouraging people to go in and check the store out.

This is the role your homepage plays for your website.

Just like a window display, your website homepage has 3 seconds to grab the right people’s attention and keep them there.

So how do you make sure your homepage is as inviting as a physical store’s window display??

1. Start By Focusing On The Hero Section

This is the most valuable piece of real estate you have on your website. It’s the first thing people see when they land on your homepage. Consider it similar to the focal point or the central point of a window display. Something big enough to grab your viewer’s attention even if they are distracted. Like our clients’ hero sections

As seen in the examples, your hero section should clearly indicate what you offer, for whom, and how. It should also give a hint of what makes you unique.

Pro tip: Make sure it’s readable in 3 seconds (or less!)

2. Write And Design Your Homepage To Generate Interest, Compelling Your Audience To Read More.

You can do this by having just enough information on your homepage that makes your audience curious to know more. A store window doesn’t show us everything that’s in the store. It only gives us a tasteful glimpse of what we can expect. Similarly, your homepage should give your audience a glimpse of what they can expect from you and your website.??

You can do that by:

• Using the same color palette (of your brand colors) throughout the homepage to create cohesiveness.
• Investing in good quality images that capture the values and feel of your brand.
• Keeping your copy short and sweet.?
• Using words that welcome and guide your visitors across your website.
• Not having too many words or design elements scrunched up together.

Pro tip: When you’re drafting your homepage copy, don’t make the following mistakes.

3. Have Sections That Showcase Your Brand Personality And Value To The Fullest.

Kinda like the super pink store I talked about earlier. You can showcase your brand personality and value in many different ways. The best way is to have testimonials and social proof sections that add to your value. You can also have an entire benefits section that talks about what you/your offer brings to the table. To showcase your brand personality and attract the right people to your brand, you can have brand colors, textures, and visuals that resonate with your ideal audience.?

4. Make Your Homepage Easy To Navigate?

Would you visit a store with a cluttered window display or grimy glass that makes it difficult to see what’s even in it? No, right? Then why would people visit a website whose home page is no better?

Homepage clutter can look like:

• Too much information in one tiny space
• No division of sections
• A wall of text longer than Mt. Everest
• Too many design elements thrown together
• Clashing colors that make your eyes hurt
• Copy that does not resonate with your ideal audience

This clutter is guaranteed to make people close your website as soon as they open it.?

Instead, make it easy for people to see what’s actually displayed on your homepage. Make it aesthetically pleasing. You can do that by:

• Having your menu clearly defined and at the top of the home page
• Making your words easy to read on any screen
• Making your important text stand out from the rest of the copy
• Having different sections for different information
• Having whitespace around important elements

Create Bold And Clear Calls To Action?

Your calls to action should lead your audience where you want them to go. You can do that by making your CTA buttons easily visible.

• Use action words for your button copy. Like ‘get started,’ ‘give me the details,’ ‘I want in!’.
• Make the button stand out from the rest of the page with contrasting colors.?
• Don’t hide your call to action in a paragraph of copy.
• Make sure your calls to action appear often.

Pro tip: Precede your CTA buttons with strong copy that encourages your audience to take action. Like this

If you liked our insights into the homepage of your website, you’ll love our blog post on writing the perfect about page for your coaching business.?

Need help building your website? Amazing OBM is a team of master marketers standing by to provide done-for-you copywriting, branding, and web-designing services. Contact us for a free consultation so we can chat about what your business needs.

??? Tune in to the Latest Episode on the Podcast ???

Episode 12 is officially live! Tune in here to listen!

In this episode, Lori Young interviews Krista Resnick about setting better boundaries and practicing sustainable self-care. Krista shares her personal journey of learning to set boundaries and explains the concept of having a strong back, soft front, and wild heart. She emphasizes the importance of slowing down and breathing, setting boundaries with others, and prioritizing rest. Krista also discusses the discomfort that can arise when setting boundaries and offers strategies for dealing with pushback.

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