The Best Homepage Layout In Web Design (Supported by UX)

Summary

This video outlines key strategies for designing an optimal homepage layout for service-based businesses like bakeries, contractors, and law firms. It begins by highlighting common mistakes such as ineffective sliders, lack of content, and overcomplicated designs. Then, it explains what makes for a successful homepage: answering key questions about your business, guiding customers through a sales funnel, and maintaining design consistency. The ideal layout features clear navigation, important products or services, engaging testimonials, and a strong call to action, ensuring a positive user experience and increased conversions.

Takeaways

• 😕 Bad homepage layouts often include a 'PowerPoint layout' with full-screen sliders, which lack content and have poor user engagement.
• 🚫 Sliders have terrible click-through rates, making them an ineffective design choice for homepage content presentation.
• 📉 Avoid minimal content or teaser-like homepages that provide little information and fail to engage users effectively.
• ❓ A good homepage layout should answer three questions above the fold: Who are you, what do you do, and how can you help the user?
• 🛣️ Effective homepages should guide users through a customer journey, from introduction to conversion, ensuring clear content flow.
• 🧭 Consistency in layout is key—users expect certain elements like the logo on the top left, navigation at the top, and a footer at the bottom.
• 🚪 Introduce the most important products or services after the hero section, so users know right away if the site offers what they need.
• 👥 Include a section to humanize your brand by showcasing who you are, helping you stand out from competitors.
• 📢 To persuade users, incorporate testimonials, reviews, case studies, or a portfolio; ideally, use at least two methods.
• 📝 Place a call-to-action form directly at the bottom of the homepage for user convenience, rather than linking to a separate contact page.

Q & A

What are some of the common mistakes people make in homepage layouts?

Common mistakes include using a 'PowerPoint layout' with a full-screen slider and no scroll, relying on sliders with poor click-through rates, and having a homepage that lacks meaningful content.

Why are full-screen sliders considered ineffective for homepage layouts?

Full-screen sliders limit the amount of content that can be displayed, and sliders generally have poor click-through rates, meaning most users don't engage with them.

What three questions should the 'above the fold' section of a homepage answer?

The above-the-fold section should answer: Who are you? What do you do? How can you help me?

How does a homepage guide users through a customer journey?

A good homepage introduces the business, explains its offerings, highlights why users should choose them, and leads to a call to action that encourages conversion.

Why is consistency important in homepage design?

Consistency ensures users have a familiar experience. They expect elements like a logo in the top left, a navigation bar at the top, and a footer at the bottom. Deviating from these expectations can confuse users and lead to a poor experience.

What is the role of testimonials or reviews on a homepage?

Testimonials, reviews, and case studies help build trust with potential customers, showing why they should consider your business over competitors.

Why should important content not be hidden behind sliders?

If content is important enough to be on the homepage, it shouldn't be hidden behind sliders because most users may not interact with or see the content.

What is the recommended placement for a call to action on a homepage?

A call to action should be placed in the top right corner for visibility and at the bottom of the page, with a form directly on the homepage for convenience.

What elements should follow the 'above the fold' section in a homepage layout?

After the 'above the fold' section, the homepage should display the business's key products or services, followed by information about the business, and then persuasive elements like testimonials or reviews.

How does this homepage layout follow a sales funnel?

The layout follows a sales funnel by starting with awareness (introducing the business and its offerings), leading to consideration (why users should choose the business), and ending with a call to action (to make a purchase or contact the business).