subject: Web Design Considerations For Creating Homepages [print this page] Whilst there are usually a number of different pages that make up a website, there is none more important than the homepage. After all, this is the page that most people will land on and the one that most people will check out even if landing on the site through another avenue. When it comes to the web design for the homepage, there are a number of considerations that should be taken into account to ensure that you get it right.
Enabling Access
Did you know that most visitors will go to the homepage, even if they land on a different page within the site? This is why it is so important that the navigation of your web design is as user friendly as possible, such as including a home icon in the top left hand corner.
Display All Options
If a website relies on the visitor clicking a number of times in order to reveal the full extent of the site, then the design is said to be fundamentally flawed. When creating the homepage, make sure that you consider all sections of the site.
First Impressions Count
The past has shown that people tend to make their minds up quite quickly and often based on the most trivial reasons. The web design of your homepage should take this into account and strive to make the best first impression possible.
State Your Purpose
Have you ever come across a website during your hours of perusal that you simply do not understand? The result is that you often leave in favour of a clearer site. Your homepage should obviously state the overall purpose of the site and not leave visitors wondering.
Limit Content
You must limit the amount of content included in your homepage web design, otherwise you will find the page expanding until it is neither practical nor attractive. Stick to major headings and link titles to ensure that you dont lose the visitors interest.
There are a number of other considerations that we could offer you for putting together a homepage, but each of them will fit into one of the above categories as a smaller point. At the end of the day, you must ask yourself whether the web design actually looks like a homepage, as this will ensure that visitors are more likely to stick with your site. Are all elements in the usual places, as this is often how visitors recognise a homepage?
