originally posted: May 28, 2021

Your homepage is your first chance at a first impression

In the late 90s…

When I first learned to build websites, “homepages” were popular. You could get a free homepage anywhere – the most popular choices were GeoCities, AngelFire, and Tripod (R.I.P all three).

Homepages were the precursors to MySpace profiles; glorified, nuanced spaces where the HTML-savvy could showcase their interests and unique humor.

The web was simpler then. Personal web pages existed solely for entertainment, and the satisfaction of their creators. As time has shown, the possibilities of the internet would prove endless.

A simple website with clean design + copy

IN PRESENT DAY…

if you’re an artist or entrepreneur YOU NEED A WEBSITE.

You need a website that follows web design best practices & industry standards to convert new visitors.

It’s not the best investment of your time to get lost learning how to build a website when you could and should be doing what you love instead. (That’s why you should hire Nineke Publishing to create your website.)

Your Homepage Is SUPER Important

The point of your website is to make people want to communicate with you, hire you, or buy your artwork or product.

Every part of your site works toward the goal, but your homepage is the starting line.

Your homepage is the first page of your website. It’s your first chance at a first impression with a first-time visitor.

It’s like an online handshake, with visuals and text. Make it count, make it strong.

Make An Immediate Connection.

Your entire site should be 100% mobile responsive – not just the homepage.

The majority of internet users are browsing on phones or tablets, with an attention span & patience threshold of about 3.5 seconds. I’m not kidding. There’s data to back this up.

We can’t help our inclination to keep tapping and scrolling. The purpose of your homepage is to make people want to keep scrolling and tapping through the rest of your site.

Your homepage should accomplish three things:

1. Captivate Attention & Direct It

Strong visuals should pull the visitors eyes to a spot that immediately lets them know this is where they want to be.

Your brand colors, buttons, and accents (backgrounds, borders, lines, shadows) are there to frame and highlight things that are important –> Call for more, View Selection, Book Consult, etc.

2. Make It Easy To Connect

Whether it’s social icons, your physical business address and phone number, or an email form where you collect visitors’ contact info, your homepage must clearly SHOW people how to get in touch with you.

If you have a creative business YOU NEED A WEBSITE

3. Promote Business Goals

Bottom line is your website is supposed to make you money. It’s your marketing & sales vehicle in one. So your homepage has to promote your business goals, seamlessly.

Your business goals can change monthly or even weekly, depending on what you’re doing. And your homepage needs to reflect that.

If you’re an artist with an upcoming exhibit, your goal is to get bodies inside the space, photographing and sharing your work. Your homepage should definitely feature the centerpiece of the exhibit, along with the date, time, and location of the event.

If you’re a jewelry or clothing designer, or give guitar lessons your homepage should mention and directly link to your most popular items/services and have a clearly identified CTA (call to action).

If you’re a model, photographer, make-up artist, or other kind of performance artist your homepage should be dynamic. By dynamic I mean there should be some motion, either with a fading or sliding slideshow – or video – displaying your best images and showcasing you in your element.

Your homepage should tell visitors that they like you & show them why.

You have seconds to do it. The copy and imagery of your homepage are ultimately seduction. Their purpose is to lure visitors further into your site and inspire them to buy your art or hire you.

How’s Your Power?

Are you making the most of your homepage? Time for a revamp?

Let Nineke Publishing give you a free homepage evaluation! DM me on Twitter with your website/URL to find out what you’re doing right, and how Nineke Creative can power up your homepage.

Do you know what you want? Book your website planning call today.

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