5 Ways To Improve Your Homepage

Your homepage is the face of your business online. It’s often the first thing people see when they visit your website, and as they say, first impressions count! If your homepage isn’t doing its job, you could be missing out on valuable leads, sales, or clients.

In this article, I’ll walk you through five practical ways to improve your homepage to not only look good but also drive results. These tips are simple enough for small business owners to implement, but they can make a big difference to your online performance.

1. Craft a Clear and Compelling Value Proposition

What is a Value Proposition, and Why Does It Matter?

A value proposition is essentially a promise to your customers. It’s a clear, concise statement that tells visitors what you offer and why it’s valuable to them. The goal is to answer a visitor's most pressing question: "Why should I choose you?"

Your value proposition should be one of the first things people notice when they land on your homepage. If they have to hunt around for what you do or why it’s useful, they’ll quickly lose interest and move on to a competitor.

Tips for Crafting a Strong Value Proposition

• Be specific: Don’t be vague with words like “the best service” or “high quality.” Tell them exactly what problem you solve or benefit you provide.
• Know your audience: Speak directly to your target market. For example, if you’re a local electrician, your value proposition could highlight your quick response times and expertise in home electrical repairs.
• Keep it simple: Your headline should be clear and easy to understand in a glance. Use subheadings or a short paragraph to explain further if needed.

Example: "Reliable Home Electrical Repairs, Fast. Call now for same-day service."

2. Optimise for Mobile Users

Why Mobile Optimisation Is Essential

Did you know that more than half of all web traffic now comes from mobile devices? If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re likely turning away a huge chunk of potential customers. A website that’s hard to navigate or slow to load on mobile can frustrate visitors and hurt your rankings in Google search results.

How to Make Your Homepage Mobile-Friendly

• Responsive design: Your website should automatically adjust to fit any screen size, whether it’s a phone, tablet, or desktop.
• Easy navigation: Make sure your menus are simple and buttons are large enough to tap easily.
• Fast loading speed: Mobile users are often on the go and won’t wait around for a slow website. Compress images and minimise unnecessary elements to speed up load times.

You can use tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to see how your homepage performs on mobile and get suggestions for improvement.

3. Improve Page Load Speed

The Impact of Page Speed on Performance

We’ve all been there – waiting for a website to load, and then giving up because it takes too long. Your visitors feel the same way. A slow-loading homepage not only frustrates users but also affects your SEO ranking. Google considers page speed as a factor in how it ranks websites, so a slow site could be hurting your visibility.

How to Boost Your Page Speed

• Optimise images: Large images can slow down your site. Compress your images without losing quality using tools like TinyPNG or JPEG-Optimizer.
• Minimise HTTP requests: Each element on your page (images, scripts, stylesheets) requires an HTTP request. The more requests, the longer your page takes to load. Streamline these by removing unnecessary elements or combining files where possible.
• Leverage browser caching: Caching allows browsers to store copies of your site’s files, so they don’t have to be reloaded every time a user visits. This speeds up loading for returning visitors.

Use Google PageSpeed Insights to check your homepage’s speed and get recommendations for speeding it up.

4. Make Your Call-To-Action (CTA) Stand Out

What Is a CTA, and Why Is It Important?

A Call-To-Action (CTA) is a button or link that encourages visitors to take the next step, whether that’s making a purchase, booking a service, or signing up for a newsletter. The goal of your homepage is to guide visitors towards taking an action, and a strong CTA is crucial for that.

Best Practices for High-Converting CTAs

• Keep it visible: Your CTA should be easy to spot. Place it above the fold (in the part of the screen visible without scrolling) and make sure it contrasts with the background.
• Use actionable language: Use strong, clear verbs like “Get Started,” “Buy Now,” or “Request a Quote.” Avoid generic terms like “Submit” or “Learn More.”
• Test different options: Don’t be afraid to experiment. Try different colours, sizes, or wording for your CTA and use A/B testing to see which version works best.

For example, instead of “Contact Us,” try something more direct like “Book a Free Consultation.”

5. Incorporate Trust Signals

Building Trust Through Your Homepage

People are more likely to do business with companies they trust, and your homepage is the perfect place to build that trust. By including trust signals – elements that show you’re reputable and reliable – you can help visitors feel more confident in choosing you over the competition.

Types of Trust Signals to Use

• Customer testimonials: Real feedback from satisfied customers can be incredibly persuasive.
• Reviews and ratings: If you’ve got a good rating on Google, Facebook, or other platforms, show it off.
• Security badges: If you handle sensitive information (like online payments), display security certifications to reassure customers their data is safe.
• Partnerships and certifications: If you’re partnered with reputable brands or have industry certifications, these can add credibility to your business.

By including these trust signals, you make it easier for visitors to feel comfortable doing business with you, leading to higher engagement and conversion rates.

Conclusion

Improving your homepage doesn’t have to be a huge, overwhelming task. By focusing on a few key areas – like crafting a clear value proposition, optimising for mobile, speeding up your site, enhancing your CTA, and adding trust signals – you can see real improvements in both user experience and online performance.

Remember, your homepage is your business’s online storefront. Make it count! If you’re not sure where to start or want some expert advice, feel free to reach out to MJH Digital for a website audit or jump on a call to discuss how we can help boost your homepage’s performance.