5 CURCIAL ASPECTS THAT EVERY HOMEPAGE DESIGN NEEDS IN 2023

Discover the 5 crucial aspects that every homepage design needs in 2023 to create a compelling and effective website. From delivering an engaging hook that conveys expertise to fostering trust with social proof, learn how to prioritize adding value and lead visitors to take action. Embrace psychological strategies to inspire action and enhance your website’s impact, ensuring it resonates with your audience and drives meaningful results.

1. Deliver an Effective Hook

Every landing page should have a simple statement that hooks your visitor, conveying who you are, your target market, and the problem you solve. A well-formulated hook establishes your expertise and capability in solving your audience’s problems.

The Framework:

  • Introduce who you are
  • Express who you help (your target market / audience)
  • Describe the problem you solve and how you solve it

Our Example:

“Hi, we’re Outshine. We bring your local business more paying customers by creating and optimizing your online presence.”

“We’re Outshine…” – who we are – brand awareness
“…your local business…” – targeting small and local business owners
“…we bring…more paying customers…” – the problem we solve – pain point
“…by creating and optimizing your online presence.” – how we solve it – the solution

By implementing a well formulated hook your target market will understand that you are experienced and fully capable of serving them well by offering your services to solve their problems.

2. Convey a Favorable Experience

Create a positive experience on your website that reflects what prospects can expect when working with you. Easy navigation, clear communication, valuable content, high-quality visuals, and smiling faces all contribute to a favorable impression. What a website visitor experiences on your website is the experience they’ll expect when working with you in real life, make it a good one.

Negative experiences:

Your potential clients are viewing your website, social media content, and business directory listings. If they see low quality photos they will correlate your business to being low quality. If they can’t find relevant information to their search they are likely to go elsewhere. If your visitor has a difficult time using your website they’ll think they’ll have a difficult time working with you as well.

Every detail ads up.

Positive experiences:

Online Content vs. Real Life

Easy to navigate website = easy to do business with
Clean, clear, and effective site structure = Good communication
Free blog posts that ad value = A business that truly wants to help
High quality photos and video = a business that acts professionally
Smiling faces in photos = Staff that enjoys serving clients / happy clients

….the list is endless…

3. Convey Trust & Believability

In a world with digital scams left and right, website visitors are naturally skeptical, and they have every right to be. Therefore, having highly believable social proof that is crucial for any business website. The visitor needs to believe that they will be treated well, that their problems are solved, and they won’t be wasting their money.

One of the most effective way to achieve this type of believability is with reviews and testimonials.

  • Reviews have always been important
  • Reviews are becoming even more important
  • List stats of reviews for local business
  • Reviews on Citations help ranking
  • It’s social validation / proof that you’re a great business to work with
  • Photos will improve the validity and believability of each review
  • If you can get video testimonials it’s like GOLD

In addition to testimonials, a solid portfolio of work, and compelling case studies can significantly enhance your business’s credibility and trustworthiness.

Combining a portfolio with case studies enhances trust and believability. The portfolio showcases completed projects visually, while case studies delve deeper into real-world successes. This comprehensive approach instills confidence in potential customers, proving your expertise and ability to deliver results.

A great case study will include the following:

  • Client Background: Provide information about the client, their industry, and their specific challenges or goals.
  • Problem or Challenge: Clearly outline the problem or challenge the client was facing that led them to seek your services.
  • The Solution Your Provided: Describe the approach and strategies you implemented to address the client’s problem or achieve their goals.
  • Implementation: Explain how your solutions were put into action, detailing the steps taken to execute the project or service.
  • Successful Results: Present the outcomes and results achieved from your efforts, quantifying the impact whenever possible.
  • Testimonial: Include a direct quote or testimonial from the client expressing their satisfaction with your services and the results obtained.
  • Lessons Learned: Share any valuable insights or lessons learned from the project that can be beneficial to potential clients.
  • Visuals: Include relevant visuals, such as charts, graphs, or before-and-after images, to enhance the case study’s impact.

4. Add Value instead of just Selling

  • Creating a website that truly adds value to visitors’ experience is essential for building trust and fostering strong customer relationships. A website that goes beyond hosting basic information or pushing sales pitches and genuinely focuses on providing helpful content is more likely to resonate with potential clients. The key is to prioritize adding value first, ensuring that visitors feel supported and assisted without any immediate expectation of reciprocation.

When you prioritize value addition, people feel genuinely appreciated and taken care of. Whether online or in person, providing assistance and helpful resources without asking for anything in return establishes a positive rapport with your audience. This approach fosters a sense of trust and authenticity, making visitors more receptive to your brand and message.

Examples:

  • Provide informative and educational blog posts or articles on relevant topics.
  • Offer downloadable resources, such as e-books, guides, or templates.
  • Create video tutorials or how-to guides that address common challenges.
  • Offer free webinars or online workshops on industry-related subjects.
  • Curate a resource section with links to helpful external articles or tools.
  • Provide interactive tools or calculators that help visitors make informed decisions.
  • Offer a comprehensive FAQ section addressing common questions and concerns.
  • Incorporate live chat support for instant assistance and real-time engagement.
  • Provide valuable industry insights and trends through data-driven reports.
  • Include a community forum or discussion board where users can exchange knowledge and ideas.
  • Provide practical tips and actionable advice to help visitors improve their own endeavors.

Instead of bombarding visitors with sales-heavy content, focus on addressing their needs and solving their problems. Offer valuable information, tips, guides, or resources that genuinely cater to their interests and concerns. This approach showcases your expertise and positions your website as a reliable source of knowledge.

Incorporate clear and concise calls-to-action (CTAs) that gently invite visitors to reach out for further assistance if they desire. By putting their needs first and offering value upfront, you create a conducive environment for building lasting connections.

Remember, a website that genuinely helps clients fosters a sense of loyalty and respect. By providing value first, you lay a strong foundation for long-term relationships and, ultimately, foster business growth through authentic connections with your audience.

5. Effectively Leading to a Conversion

If your website isn’t converting leads into customers, you’re missing out on a big opportunity.

To achieve a compelling website that leads visitors to take action, it’s essential to understand the psychological factors that drive conversions. Here’s how to do it from a psychological point of view:

  • Emphasize Value: Craft persuasive messaging that communicates the value, benefits, and solutions of your products or services, tapping into visitors’ needs and desires to motivate action.

  • Create a Sense of Urgency: Utilize psychological triggers like limited-time offers, countdown timers, or stock scarcity to create a sense of urgency. When visitors feel that they might miss out on a valuable opportunity, they are more likely to act swiftly.

  • Implement Persuasive Design: Optimize the visual design of your website to guide visitors’ attention and actions. Use contrasting colors for CTA buttons, create visual cues leading to conversion points, and ensure a clear and user-friendly layout. This helps visitors instinctively understand where to take action.

  • Appeal to Emotions: Human decisions are often influenced by emotions. Craft compelling stories and visuals that evoke positive emotions and connect with visitors on a deeper level. Emotionally engaged visitors are more likely to take action.

  • Create a Sense of Belonging: Use language that fosters a sense of belonging and inclusivity. People are drawn to communities and want to be part of something meaningful. Highlight how your offerings can improve their lives and make them feel part of a like-minded group.

By employing these psychological strategies, your website can become a persuasive force, inspiring prospects to take action and confidently say, “Take my money!”

The Bottom Line:

Ultimately, put yourself in the shoes of your prospects and understand what they truly seek. Think about your experiences on other websites, positive or negative, and how that influenced your decision to work with that company. This understanding will revolutionize the way you view and implement your website.