What Makes a Great Homepage? Essential Elements for Success

8 Seconds to Make an Impression

That's roughly how long you have before visitors decide whether to stay or bounce.

Your homepage carries enormous weight. It's often the first (and sometimes only) page visitors see.

Above the Fold: The Critical Zone

"Above the fold" is what visitors see without scrolling. This space must accomplish:

1. Clear Value Proposition

Answer immediately: "What does this business do for me?"

Bad: "Innovative solutions for modern businesses" Good: "Website design that brings Australian businesses more customers"

2. Primary Call to Action

One clear action you want them to take.

Don't dilute with multiple competing CTAs. Pick your priority:

• Get a quote
• Book a call
• View packages
• Sign up

3. Trust Indicators

Quick credibility signals:

• Client logos
• Review rating
• Years in business
• Certifications

Below the Fold: Building the Case

As visitors scroll, support your value proposition with:

4. Service/Product Overview

What do you offer? Keep it scannable:

• Short descriptions
• Visual cards or icons
• Links to detail pages

5. Social Proof

Let customers speak for you:

• Testimonials with photos
• Case study summaries
• Review widgets
• Before/after results

6. How It Works

Reduce uncertainty with process clarity:

1. You contact us
2. We discuss your needs
3. We build your site
4. You succeed

Simple steps make action easier.

7. Secondary CTAs

For visitors not ready to commit:

• Learn more links
• Portfolio/case studies
• FAQ section
• Blog content

8. Contact/Footer

Never make them hunt for:

• Phone number
• Email address
• Physical location (if applicable)
• Business hours
• Social links

What to Avoid

Too much text: Homepages are for scanning, not reading Auto-playing video with sound: Immediately annoying Sliders/carousels: Low engagement, hurts performance Stock photos of handshakes: Generic and forgettable Missing contact info: Kills trust Multiple competing CTAs: Creates paralysis

Mobile Homepage Considerations

On mobile, "above the fold" is much smaller. Prioritize accordingly:

• Value proposition visible immediately
• CTA accessible without scrolling
• Touch-friendly elements
• Fast loading (especially on mobile networks)

Measuring Homepage Success

Key metrics to track:

• Bounce rate: Are people leaving immediately?
• Time on page: Are they engaging?
• Scroll depth: How far do they go?
• CTA clicks: Are they taking action?

Examples of Strong Homepages

What works across successful homepages:

• Immediate clarity on what's offered
• Professional but authentic photography
• Clear visual hierarchy
• Fast loading
• Mobile-optimized
• Genuine social proof

Your Homepage Audit

Ask yourself:

1. Can a stranger tell what we do in 5 seconds?
2. Is there one clear action to take?
3. Why should they trust us?
4. Does it load fast on mobile?
5. Would I take action if I were them?

See how we design homepages that convert.