Your blog homepage is an important part of your blogging strategy. It is often either the first or second page accessed by your readers and you need to be prepared to wow your readers and encourage them to stick around.
Don’t let your readers down with a less than stellar homepage design. Be sure your homepage has each of these elements so you can covert your readers to subscribers and true fans.
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5 Elements to Include in Your Homepage Design
A Clear Headline
The first thing your reader should see when they land on your homepage is a clear idea of why they are there and what’s in it for them. You can achieve this in a couple of ways.
You can use your logo and header area to give your message. Your blog name and tag line should clearly describer who and what you are targeting.
You can start with a welcome message written directly to your readers which include a headline that makes them want to click around your site.
Or you can use your optin offer- which we will talk about next- to get the job done for you.
Related Reading: How to Craft the Perfect Headline!
A Killer Optin
One of your most important jobs as a blogger is to convert your readers to subscribers so you can build your list. Your homepage needs to feature a irresistible offer that highlights the benefits of your site.
You may have more than one lead magnet or content upgrade, but choose your best offer (or best 2) to feature on your homepage.
Your optin should have a headline that catches the reader and tells them exactly what’s in it for them.
I suggest putting the subscriber box as close to the top of your homepage as possible.
Easy to Understand Navigation
Most people come to your homepage one of 2 ways:
- They are first time readers who click through to your homepage from another article.
- They are repeat readers who want to revisit an article or see what new content you have available.
In either of these scenarios you need to make sure you have a clear, easy to understand navigation menu so that they can easily click to find what they are looking for.
Having 4-5 categories listed in a menu across the top with drop down menus for subcategories is the easiest way to achieve this.
Don’t overwhelm your readers here, give them the basic categories and divide your content between them.
And, of course, don’t forget a way for them to search your site!
Related Reading: 7 Action Steps to Take Your Blog to the Next Level!
Blog Highlights
When blog’s first started most blogger’s homepage design was simply a chronological listing of their posts. The main reason I don’t like this is because it doesn’t allow you to highlight your best work or get some of the other critical elements of a good homepage design in.
So when designing your homepage be sure to feature 6-10 of your best articles. Choose ones that are the most popular or feature by categories.
You can also do featured articles more than once on your homepage- one for reader favorites and one for most recent posts.
Change these around every so often to keep your homepage up-to-date.
A Clear Call-to-Action
Having a clear call-to-action (or more than one) is one of the most critical elements of your homepage design.
You need to be guiding your reader where you want them to go.
Do you want them to subscribe?
Do you want them to buy your product?
Do you want them to click a popular post that is filled with affiliate links?
Use your homepage design to tell them what to do. Guide them in their next step.
Read this article for tips on how to create the perfect call to action!
There are of course other elements that you can include on your homepage- social media links, contact information, etc. but if you include these 5 key homepage design elements you will be well on your way to converting first-time readers, building your email list, and getting the blogging results you desire.
