(part of our “your website needs” series)
When people arrive at your website, why would they stay?
In today’s online world, it’s important that your website stands out from the crowd.
People search for websites looking for something in particular and if yours doesn’t grab their attention they’ll quickly move onto a competitor’s.
headline message
We suggest that you have a headline message prominently showing on your website’s home page (or landing page) that shows a visitor that they have arrived at the right place.
easy to navigate
It’s also vital that they can easily navigate your website, so having a clear uncluttered menu at the top of the home page is important too. We recommend having up to seven different menu items to stop it getting too cluttered.
give the right first impression
For some people arriving at your website, it will be their first impression of you and your organisation, so it’s important that how it looks and functions matches the image and brand you’d like to portray.
make an offer
If you can make a compelling offer of information you have that your visitor needs, then they are more likely to stay. For example, a free information page download in exchange for your visitor’s email address.
keep it simple
When people arrive on a website with too much going on, they tend to leave. We suggest having an uncluttered clean looking home page or landing page, focusing on one or two key aspects and making it easy for the visitor to move deeper into your site.
best stuff first
If you show your best offering/service at the top of the page, then that will help with visitor’s decision whether to stay or not. If they have to scroll down to find what they want, they’re less likely to bother. Showing your USP (unique selling point) at the top is a great idea.
If you have any questions about this, or any other aspects of online solutions (website, social media, directories etc., please do get in touch).