What starts with the creation of an online store or any other site? Working on the design of a new site, or changing the existing resource, the first thing you should think about is the main page. It is she is the calling card of any project, and it depends on it, what impression the user has of the resource. Of course, there are different sites, and the requirements for the main page is also different. But when working on any project is this part should be given maximum attention.
The home page of the site should meet the following requirements:
attract attention;
provide basic information about the project;
Encourage to buy or cooperate.
We've developed a few tips to help you create the perfect home page for any website.
The first impression is the most important
The first thing a person sees when entering the site is the main page. Already at this stage it is very important to attract the attention of the visitor, so he stayed on the site as long as possible. To achieve this goal, we need some knowledge not only about design, but also about psychology.
In today's world, most people are visual. What they see is very important to them. So you can influence their attention by developing an attractive and original homepage design. This can be done in several ways:
Colors
Chances are, you know as well as anyone that choosing colors is not as easy as it may seem. After all, it all depends on what the topic of the site is and who the target audience consists of. In some situations, bright colors and stark contrasts will be appropriate, like the Wellington Zoo website.
In other situations, bright colors should be abandoned in favor of calm and subdued colors. For example, on the site of Oxford University, the home page "all shades of rainbow" would only irritate visitors.
For example, yellow is considered a youth color, and is not bad for attracting attention. Red symbolizes urgency, and blue symbolizes a sense of safety and security. Green is associated with health and wealth. Orange is a great call to action. Pink is more romantic and "feminine," and black is associated with luxury. In addition, the same color can have different meanings in different cultures. So, when using a color in a design, be sure to think about its meaning and appropriateness.
Fonts
There are many different fonts and styles. Nowadays, it is no longer necessary to use Times New Roman alone everywhere. But remember that not all fonts reflect well on mobile screens. A great example of appropriate and creative use of fonts is the TopHat site.
Fonts should be chosen individually for each project. Fonts with smooth lines, no corners and light letters are better suited for "women's projects" and entertainment portals. For sites on a more "serious" topic should be selected fonts with angular and solid letters, clear borders. However, whatever font you have not chosen, do not forget about the main thing - the text should be readable.
Image
All images on the home page must be of high quality and original. We don't recommend using stock images. Let it be just one background photo, but of high quality and relevance. This will attract the attention of any visitor. Tom Cole Architecture's home page clearly demonstrates this rule.
White space
Do not overload the page with images and text. You shouldn't forget about a reasonable use of white space. This way you can focus attention on a particular product - this is a very effective method of attracting attention. Most world-famous brands (e.g. Apple) follow this rule on their sites.
Video
Sometimes adding a video to your home page is a great idea. It can be a welcome video or an advertisement for a certain product/service. But when you're designing your homepage, you shouldn't forget about some technical aspects as well. If the video will be too large, the page will take a long time to load, and few visitors will appreciate your efforts. Therefore, it is better to refuse to use large-sized videos.
Animation and visual effects
Visual effects look attractive and are well remembered. But don't get too carried away with them. Excessive use of visual effects can scare away visitors. Madwell's site is a great example of the appropriate use of parallax.
Buttons
Be creative and use fresh ideas when working on your home page button design. This is sure to please visitors and make the site more original and convenient. For example, original buttons are used on the Future of Car Sharing site. It makes the design unusual and attractive.
But for originality do not forget to make them clickable and understandable to the user.
Place information wisely
site design
Even if a visitor goes to the main page of the site, no one guarantees that he will revise it to the end. Therefore, the most important elements should be located at the top of the page (header).
Title
The header is the main element of any homepage. It can be the name of the brand / company, or something else. Either way, it has to be prominent and attractive. The Moto CMS website builder main page is a perfect example of title design.
About company
Provide users with short and informative information about the company's activities. If you need to highlight certain services or products, this is also best done on the home page.
Menu
Particular attention should be paid to the menu. Navigation on the site should be clear and logical. However, the menu should also not be overcrowded - it's not very convenient for users.
Search
If the site, the design of which you develop, saturated with content, then at the top of the home page should be a search bar. So users will be able to find the necessary information faster.
Inspire and motivate users
The home page should inspire the visitor to spend as much time as possible on the site and learn all the necessary information about the project. This can be achieved in several ways.
Add a call to action to the home page. To do this, you should figure out what a user of a particular site should do and why. It's best not to use generic phrases and statements. Instead, create an atmosphere of urgency by using time-related words (like what Photoshelter did). The call to action should be concise and attention-grabbing.
Emphasize the quality of products/services. Place on the home page information about the achievements and distinctions of the company. For example, on the Casting Life Films site, this works great. The company's achievements will provide users with a great motivation to buy or collaborate.
Emphasize the benefits of the company. This will make the home page not only attractive, but also interesting and effective.
Contact
Contacts is one of the most important sections of the home page. Be sure to make a special place for this section so that the contact information is prominent.
Reviews
The testimonials section is also extremely important. Make this part of the page easy for users to find.
Social media
The link to social networks is also very important. Nowadays, they should definitely be on the home page.
Blogs
Blogs are a popular and modern way to attract attention and promotion. If the site whose design you are working on has a blog, this should be emphasized on the home page.
Of course, you can't use all of these techniques for one page. Choose the ones that are most suitable for your particular project. Be imaginative, don't be afraid to experiment, and you'll succeed!
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