Do you ever wonder about the first page that comes up whenever you open a website? If yes, then this article is just right for you. In this article, we will talk about the first page of a website, along with the important things we should consider while designing it. So, read this article to explore everything about the first page of a website.
What Is the First Page of a Website Called?
The first page of a website is known as the “homepage” and it acts as the entry point to a website. When you open any website, the first page that appears on the screen is the homepage.
The homepage usually contains an overview of the website’s content, explaining what the website is all about. It also contains navigation links to other pages and various elements such as images, videos, or calls to action. It sets the tone for the entire website, as the homepage decides whether the user will move further with the website or not.
The primary purpose of the homepage is to provide the users with an overview of the website, including what the website is about, and to guide them to other relevant pages on the site.
What Is the Homepage of a Website?
The homepage is the first page with which a user interacts after opening any website. So, the homepages need to be interactive, engaging, and presented in such a way that any user would want to stay there and explore the other options.
Homepages are designed to serve different audiences who are all from different origins and have visited a particular website for various reasons. Although there are a few critical elements that every homepage of a website should have, such as:
1. Headline
When a user visits your website, he or she should be able to figure out what it has to offer. In order to make the user understand that, you can write a few words that are related to your content, or you can simply write the heading of the content that the website has to offer.
The overall category of the content can also be mentioned in the headline, through which the user can easily understand what the website is all about.
2. Sub-Headline
Now that the user has stayed on the website, they will look further into it. This is where the subheadline comes in. A subheadline is something that contributes to the headline of the website. It can be a brief description of the services and content the website delivers.
3. Primary Call-To-Action
A message that encourages the user to take a specific action on a website is known as a call to action (CTA). The homepage is supposed to compel users to dive deeper into the website and explore all the other options present on it. So adding a few call-to-action on the homepage allows the users to be directed to different stages of the website.
The CTAs should be visually interesting in such a way that the user will want to click on them and proceed further on the website.
4. Supporting Images
A huge number of users are visually oriented and make their decisions based on visuals, so the homepage of any website must have images, animations, or even a short video. All the images, animations, and short videos should be designed in such a way that they drive action, capture emotions, and visually let the user know the story that the website is trying to convey.
5. Social Proof
It might be possible for some websites to be the best in what they offer, but for people to believe that might be difficult. It’s basic human nature to believe things when they hear about them from other people.
Social proof does exactly that and lets the users know that the website they are visiting is the best in terms of the service it provides.
6. Navigation
For the visitors to be able to dig deeper into the website properly, they need to have a clear path through which they can clearly walk and explore every part of the website. To be able to make a proper path for users, everything should be connected with each other in such a way that the content should look well-structured.
7. Resources
The user doesn�t know that you provide the best quality content. To prove that to the users, you need to link the content to the actual sources of the content. This will allow the users to verify their doubts and remove any second thoughts from their minds.
8. Success Indicators
Along with good content on the homepage, it’s also important to gain the trust of the users by showcasing the success stories of your customers.
Apart from this, displaying the awards and recognition that the website has received can also contribute towards creating a favourable first impression.
Important Things to Consider While Designing a Homepage
In today’s digital age, having an effective and strong online presence is crucial for businesses. It is equally, if not more, important than having a successful offline presence. A negative impression of your company’s website can have a significant impact on potential customers. Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure your website is appealing, user-friendly, and holds the content to attract and retain users.
From this, it can be concluded that web design plays a critical role. A minor error in web design could significantly harm your entire website and user experience. However, there are a few things that you should consider while designing a website to ensure a smooth user experience. This includes:
- Usability: A lot of users are not experts in coding, and because of this, they might not understand some parts of the website that are coded using advanced HTML, which is fine considering most of the users.
- Aesthetics: The aesthetics and functionality of your webpage hold equal significance. It takes only 10 seconds for a user to form an impression and determine whether the visit is worthwhile.
- Speed: The delay in loading the homepage of any website can provoke user frustration. Hence, ensure that your users can effortlessly access the website, as the swiftness of website loading can be the deciding factor for the success or failure of your entire website.
- Website Management: Each webpage on your website must function seamlessly without any glitches. In the unlikely event of an issue, you must have a 24-hour support system in place to guarantee prompt resolution of the problem.
- Content: People are very careful and picky about what they like. Even if your website is easy to use, works well, and looks good, it won’t make the user happy unless it has engaging and exciting things to read or see.
- Device Friendly: Almost half of the users who use the internet on their phones think that if a website doesn’t work properly on mobile, the website isn�t worth visiting. Hence, it’s really important for websites to work well on mobile phones for better user engagement.
There are still lots of other things that must be considered on a technical level while designing a website, but the points that are discussed above shouldn�t be ignored while designing a homepage.
FAQs on Website Pages
Here are some commonly asked questions on website pages:
What are the pages of a website called?
The pages of a website are called web pages or simply pages. Usually, all the pages of a website are connected to a main page, which is known as the homepage.
What should be on the first page of a website?
The first page of a website, commonly known as the homepage, should contain key information about the entire website, including its identity, purpose, and services offered. This page should also provide easy navigation to other relevant website sections, such as about us, contact, products, and services.
What is the second page of a website called?
The second page of a website is referred to as a landing page or an interior page, depending on the structure of the website. The second page is designed to provide detailed information about a specific topic, product, or service offered through the website.
These pages are usually linked from the homepage or other relevant pages on the website, and they serve as a means to organise and categorise information for the convenience of the user.
What is called the home page?
The homepage is the primary or main page of a website that serves as the starting point for users. It contains essential information about the entire website, such as its mission and the products or services it offers. The homepage often includes navigational links to other pages within the website, allowing users to access additional information or resources.
What are the 3 main parts of a web page?
A web page typically consists of three main parts: the header, body, and footer.
- The header is located at the top of the page and contains the website’s logo, navigation menu, and other important information, such as contact details or a search bar.
- The body of the page is the main section that displays the content, including text, images, and multimedia. This area of the page is where the user interacts with the website’s features and obtains the desired information.
- Finally, the footer is located at the bottom of the page and contains links to important pages on the website, such as the privacy policy, terms and conditions, or contact information. The footer can also include copyright information, social media links, and other relevant information that the website owner wants to convey to the user.
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