The chances are pretty high that your homepage is THE most visited page on your website. Therefore, your homepage has a big responsibility. It needs to attract your ideal customer, invite them to take action, and introduce them to your brand. So you might be wondering what to include on a homepage to accomplish those big, lavish goals. I’m sharing seven things I look for during a homepage audit, so you can make adjustments on your site, too.

(PS. Homepage audits can be booked as Quick Tasks! If you’re a Worry-Free Maintenance member, the homepage audit is included or discounted in your monthly fee.)

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What to Include on a Homepage

As I mentioned, your homepage has a big job. When I complete homepage audits with clients, I am looking for these seven elements.

#1 Site Organization and Navigation

This has probably happened to you: you’re on a website, and you can’t figure out where to go. The menu is confusing. There is no flow to the website. You say your goodbyes and exit the site. ✌🏻

Make sure your site is easy to navigate. That means having a clear menu and menu options, creating a simple flow to the homepage, and using bold buttons. This way, you’ll keep visitors on your site for longer.

#2 Call to Action at the Top

The main action you want your site visitor to take should be at the top of your website (before they even scroll). This gives them a next step and tells them something important about your brand, like you have a shop or email list. When people ask what to include on a homepage, this is always my first response! It’s that important.

#3 Branding

Branding isn’t just the visual identity of your business. It also sends the signal that you’re a trustworthy and legitimate business. Imagine stumbling on a site with wild colors and varying fonts. It would feel thrown together and careless (and do you want to buy from someone who doesn’t care?). 😕 Make sure your colors, fonts, and images are cohesive throughout.

#4 Ad on the Homepage

I know you’re a business, and you want to make money. But ads can be distracting and downright annoying for visitors. They can decrease your page speed, cause frustrating popups, and send your customers away from your site. If you decide to use ads, remove them from your homepage. Instead, stick to using them on other high-traffic areas of your site, like your blog.

#5 Headers and High Resolution Images

Your homepage is packed full of information, but that doesn’t mean it should feel cluttered or suffocating. Use headers (in one of your brand fonts) to break up sections. Also include high resolution images to differentiate sections and make it easy for visitors to scroll. (Important note: You want your images to be high quality and compressed. This helps your site speed and SEO.)

#6 Site Performance

Is your site running slow? Easy to find online? Optimized for search engines? Ultimately, you want your website to perform – not just sit pretty. That means writing SEO-optimized blogs, monitoring site analytics, and updating your site as needed. I can help you keep your site up to date and running smoothly with my monthly service, Worry-Free Maintenance!

Next steps to support you

Want to go deeper with your site audit? Book a Quick Task, and I’ll audit your website homepage content for you! I’ll provide personalized recommendations via a Loom video + a written action plan. 

You can also do a full audit of your website with my free Website Audit Checklist. 😍 This freebie goes beyond what to include on a homepage! I’ll walk you through your entire site, from functionality to search-ability.