How long does a viewer stay on your website? - 15 seconds!

Yes, thats right. On average you get 15 seconds to grab a viewers’ attention and convert them into a customer. So here’s the thing, how do you create a compelling homepage design that can convert in just 15 seconds? Well I have a 10 second version that can do just that. Plus I have put together some tips on best practices for your website homepage design.

10 seconds to convert your website audience

First you need to consider what your website does and the way your target audience thinks about it. After all, at the end of the day, it’s what gets people to act (or not) that matters most. Check out these 5 tips for the best homepage content design strategy.

1.Keep your most important information above the fold

Viewers should be able to see your most important information without having to scroll down. This means that the best website homepage design will have a clear and concise message that is easy for viewers to understand. The layout of the homepage should be simple and uncluttered, with calls-to-action that are easy to spot. By following these guidelines, you can create a homepage that will help boost conversions and keep viewers on your site.

Try to answer these four vital questions about your business as soon a viewer lands on your site;

1. Who are you? (Logo/tagline)

2. What do you do? (Header intro text)

3. Why should I care? (Description)

4. What do I do now? (CTA)

These questions are also highlighted on the Free homepage download below, where you can clearly see a good placement strategy, allowing these questions to be answered within the first 10 seconds of landing on a website.

2. Let people know what you are talking about right away

The best homepage website designs are the ones that let new visitors know what you are about right away. One of the worst mistakes you can make when designing your website is cramming too much information onto your homepage and making it difficult for visitors to find what they are looking for.

Content strategy for website sales is key in order to make a 10 second homepage conversion. Creating a homepage website can be easy with the help of free homepage website designs and templates. The most important part of a homepage strategy is the layout design and content placement.

3. Highlight call to action (CTA)

Provide a ‘direction’ and a ‘call to action’ for your viewers.

Your homepage is the most important page on your website. It's the first thing people see when they visit, and it's where they decide whether to stay or leave. That's why it's so important to have a well-designed homepage that highlights your most important calls to action.

The first step in designing a homepage is identifying your goals for that page. You need to know what you want people to do on your homepage, and then design a layout and content structure that guides them toward those calls to action.

4. Use high quality images or videos that grab your viewers attention

Did you know that 65% of people are visual leaners.

When choosing your imagery for your homepage consider the relevance as well as the quality. For example if you are a blogger or influencer then your images should reflect your own image. Think about using fun and friendly headshots or photographs of you working. Testimonial videos also work great on a homepage and help to build trust for your customers.

5. A fast loading homepage is key

We all know that website sales are important. But what's even more important is having a converting homepage design. Why? Because a fast loading homepage will keep viewers on your site longer, and that means they're more likely to convert into paying customers. Check your site speed regularly to make sure loading time is as fast as possible.

Why viewers leave your website

Visitors leave your website when they don’t get what they expect.

Firstly you need to give your visitors a pleasant experience. A good way to start is by addressing the website design. Why? Because poor web design will drive visitors away very quickly. Consider a site that has too many options. This will confuse your viewers and ultimately lead them to bounce. Try not to add too much into your navigation, keep it clean and simple. Keep your copy clear, relevant and easy to read.

If your content is crammed full of confusing copy and irrelevant imagery you are likely going to lose visitors fast! Make sure your site is relevant to the product or service you are selling. If you sell handbags for example, talk about about the material, the quality and so on, try not to side track your copy into ‘salesy’ paragraphs, be as human as possible, viewers are wise to robots and stock imagery these days!

Make sure your pages have plenty of whitespace. Whitespace breaks up content on a website, leaving people with a sense of space as they navigate and consume its content. By minimising distractions, whitespace gives people the time and space to process information and make connections between the individual parts of a design.

To conclude

Communicate trustworthiness by discontinuing spammy ads and videos and investing in creating a recognizable voice for your brand. The right words at the right time will go much farther than you might expect.

Finally, come up with a way to impress your audience when they come to your site. Tailor your act to their tastes and be compelling with a strong voice.

In everything you do, remember to cultivate trust. Your site visits will be longer, your bounce rates will be lower, and your customers will be happier.