Accomplish One Thing
If you were only allowed one thing for visitors to do when
they arrived at your site, what would it be? Purchase your product?
Contact you for consulting work? Learn more about your
organization? Whatever it is will stand out as the primary activity
for your visitors. Use that one thing as the focal point for your
site. Want to read more? Check out
Goals - What is the Real Purpose of Your
Website.
Synchronize Your Site
Harmony is essential for creating positive visitor
experiences. Whether your site is formal, light-hearted or
something in-between, be consistent with style. Using slang on a
website that provides computer training would create conflicting
impressions. Your intended reaction should be fondness not
confusion. For even more great info, read
The Secret is Consistency, by Mark Daoust.
Think Like A Visitor
Spend some time critiquing your favorite websites. How do
these sites keep you as a return visitor? Consider your own target
audience and their expectations for your site. Exceed those
expectations and you will build connections that result in return
visits.
Pictures are great if they are relevant to your messaging. Avoid
loading up your homepage with stock images that will clutter your
site, have nothing to do with your business or may take a long time
to download. Instead of purchasing a random stock photo, use a
product photo or get professional photos of your staff or
activities. Here are some more tips on building an effective and
attractive homepage:
The Home Page: Putting Your Best Foot Forward, By
Mat Greenfield
Top Ten
Guidelines for Homepage Usability, Jacob Nielsen
Helping
Your Visitors: a State of Mind, by Nick Usborne