Your business should be booming... But are these easily fixable mistakes holding you back from success?
Home pages are akin to the cover of a book or a movie poster. They are the first glimpse that we get of something. And even if the movie is amazing and the book captivating, we're usually turned off if the "preview" doesn't dazzle. Take a look below to ensure that your website's home page isn't making any of these errors... And watch your business thrive!
A Text-Heavy Page
If your eyes are met with too much text, then it tends to feel overwhelming, rather than inviting. Viewers don't want to have to spend more than a few seconds reading to get the information they need, so it's necessary to separate your web page content into short, digestible segments. Open Forum suggests:
- Short paragraphs
- Bullet and numbered lists
- Lots of white space
- Images and other graphics
- Sections with subheadings
Static Content
if your website's content never changes, then your readers won't check back. This means you'll get one-time visitors, which reduces sales and decreases leads. Add a blog link to your home page to give your audience access to dynamic, fluid content.
No SEO
We live in a world where SEO is an integral part of internet marketing and web design. Make sure that your content is sprinkled with relevant keywords and name all of your images. This will make your homepage stand out more strongly in search results.
Automatic Video/Music Loads
Interactive content is great. People love videos, clips, or soundbites. But make sure that it doesn't play automatically when people click on your home page. There is nothing more jarring - or offputting - than unexpected and uninvited sound, and it will drive many potential followers away. By giving readers the option to click and listen, they'll be much more apt to appreciate and absorb your interactive content.
Armed with these tools, you can make your website stand out from its competitors and drive stronger sales! Your home page can be a great tool for your business, standing out as the "movie poster" or "book cover" for your company. And when approached in the right way, your website will only serve to help your business thrive.
This post is brought to you by the minds at Open Forum and Wheel Media, an online marketing company.
Image Credit: [Flickr/Horia Varlan]
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