What happens if you want to sell a house that has an overgrown garden and cracks in its driveway? There are no offers. This is exactly why you need the best website design.
Your homepage is like a home’s curb appeal. Your homepage is the first thing people see when they go to your website. Therefore, you need to impress them as soon as the page loads.
It’s more than aesthetics. Your homepage should also be able to convert. A broken front door or inaccessible driveway can prevent future buyers from considering the sale. Your website should be the same.
If you don’t provide an incentive for people to convert, and make it as simple and intuitive as possible, they won’t.
Understanding the fundamental elements of every homepage is key to gaining more customers.
After you have mastered the basics of a homepage design, you can take inspiration from 31 popular designs to help you choose what is best for you and your audience.
A well-designed homepage can reap the benefits
Your website’s homepage is a simple way to welcome your visitors. It tells them what they should do next and lets them explore your site further.
Complexity can be added to a basic homepage design. However, you don’t want to create a chaotic mess and then have to prune it. Always start with the basics.
What information do you require on your homepage? What is the expectation of your audience? What elements should be prioritized?
These questions will help you to create a better homepage design. Homepage elements serve a specific purpose in web design.
Your target audience will get to know you better by helping them
Your homepage will be the first place that many of your websites visitors visit. You need to make a strong first impression.
Your homepage should convey the company’s unique selling proposition (USP) and values. If you communicate this information effectively, potential customers will be more inclined to come to your company.
Improve the user experience of your website
Your website is visited by consumers with a purpose. You could have a purpose to look at your product line, check out your blog posts, or see if you offer a specific type of service.
You want the consumer to go to the right page, regardless of their location. This transition should be made easier by your homepage design. It should provide intuitive navigation and an understanding of how your website flows.
More conversions
Website visitors should convert. However, they won’t do so if you don’t offer them the opportunity and incentive to do so. You may want to build an email database, but visitors won’t be able to find a signup form.
This information can be easily found on your homepage and will increase conversions.
A strong first impression is a great way to increase conversions. Visitors will remember your website more if they enjoy their visit. Although you may not make a sale right away, the customer will likely return to your website days or even weeks later to purchase from you.
Increasing brand awareness
Your company’s brand message and image should be prominent on every page. This is especially true for your homepage design, which serves as your gateway to all other pages on your website.
The purpose, logo, and tagline should be at the center of your homepage. You might consider adding a form or statement at the top of your website –preferably in large font — to give your visitors an idea of what you do.
Which problems can you solve for customers? What can you do to improve the lives of your customers, personal and professional?
Your website audience shouldn’t be forced to guess your business. It should be clear from the beginning.
How to design a website homepage
After you have identified the four design goals that will motivate your design principles, you should ask three questions: What information do you need on your homepage? What is your target audience? What elements should be prioritized?
After answering these questions, you can start planning how to improve your homepage. Make sure to link each of your design elements with one of the above-mentioned goals. Don’t stress about perfection. Website optimization is an ongoing effort!
These are the Best Examples of Homepage Design (And Why They Work).
An example is the best teacher. Here are some examples of homepage design that I have found to be the best. I will also tell you why these designs work, so you can use them on your site.
1. Dropbox
Dropbox Is an example of great marketing. The homepage of the company is no exception. The homepage features a strange hero image to draw the eye and two CTAs. One uses a dark background because it is for the paid version.
This marketing copy is simple. Dropbox understands its target audience and focuses on the pain points that impact them. This includes security and efficiency. The navigation is simple and offers the option to “Compare Plans”.
2. Slack
Because of the unique illustrations, I love the Slack homepage design. Custom graphics are a must-have. The tagline “Where Work Happens” is also my favorite, as it’s both creative and encapsulates what the tool does.
Slack makes it easy for visitors to know what they should do. Sign in or create an account. We offer more navigation options than Dropbox, but all contribute to visitors finding what they are looking for.
3. Green Mountain Energy
Another example of custom graphics is here. Green Mountain Energy leaves no doubt about the company’s purpose. It is committed to providing clean energy at a reasonable price. Two equal CTAs are available — one for residential customers and one for business owners. They use contrasting colors to draw the eyes.
4. CarMax
CarMax faced a unique challenge in designing its homepage. CarMax is a company that both sells and buys cars. It needed to be able to appeal to both. CarMax is a success, as you can see.
Multiple CTAs allow visitors to search for a used car to purchase or sell. Simple and clean. You can see that the hero image was custom-made because the CarMax logo is on the vehicle’s license plates.
5. thredUP
Ecommerce homepage design can get tricky. How do you introduce your business? Show off your flagship product. Or overwhelm your audience by listing tons of products and categories?
You’re able to avoid the former.
The thredUP homepage uses a seasonal approach. Boho fashion is in, at least for women. So we see a custom graphic advertising lots of boho clothes. Visitors can find the category they are interested in easily with the large navigation.
6. StudioPress
The StudioPress homepage design is simple and elegant with flat design illustrations and muted colors. StudioPress’s mission statement is clear and concise. You can choose from three CTAs depending on your preferred method of proceeding.
7. Healthline
Your approach to designing your homepage should reflect the website type you are building. Healthline’s example, is primarily an educational publication providing tips and insights on healthcare, nutrition, and fitness.
This is an example of a “showing, rather than telling” design. Healthline displays this fact with many article titles and excerpts. A hamburger menu is located in the header. This can be used to navigate to the desired information and also provides a link to the newsletter.
8. Kobe Digital
Did you think I would write this article if I didn’t include Kobe Digital? The homepage of this website encourages visitors to enter their URLs to view services.
The subhead contains social proof, which shows visitors how many people trust Kobe Digital’s tools. Scroll down to find expandable content right below the social proof.
Clicking the “Learn More” link expands the homepage to provide more information about Kobe Digital’s ability to increase website conversions.
9. Abacus Plumbing
Although this is quite different from the other examples, I love how Plumbing has organized its homepage.
Although it may look messy, this homepage has tons of social proof. Strategically placed are the BBB logo, review count, as well as the words “You Can Trust On Us”
Another trust-building aspect of the homepage is that customers will be able to access personal information about technicians before they arrive. Customers can feel more secure knowing they are opening their doors to an Abacus technician.
10. Chicago
You may have heard me once or twice say that I love minimalist design. The trivago homepage design is the most minimalist. It is focused on one goal: To get visitors to search for a destination. That’s it.
11. Century21
When I first saw the homepage design, the word “relentless,” caught my attention. Would you hire a Realtor who is relentless? I would.
The Century21 audience will find the homepage attractive and easy to use. The homepage is focused on property searches immediately, but there’s also useful navigation.
12. Marc Jacobs
Although I wouldn’t consider myself a fashion expert, I do like the overall design of the Mark Jacobs website. It is minimalistic and sophisticated which suits the target audience. Creative copywriting also captures visitors’ attention.
Consumers will also notice the free shipping in the top bar as well as the well-placed navigation links.
13. Laura Worthington Fonts
Laura Worthington created a homepage design to reflect her approach to designing fonts. It is feminine and bright without overwhelming the senses.
The elements aren’t overwhelming and you can immediately identify what Laura Worthington is selling.
14. Skype
Skype is something I use a lot so I am familiar with its workings. Skype’s homepage design is perfect for its target audience. The graphic communicates the technology is compatible with all devices. The word “millions”, which refers to the popularity of the service, is also included in the graphic.
Next, you will find the three main purposes Skype is used for: talking, messaging, and collaboration. The CTA button, with its blue background and white text, draws attention to itself nicely.
15. Fitness Blender
Fitness blender created a stunning homepage, from the logo to the marketing copy. It’s refreshing to see a message promising workout videos that are free of cost, considering all that money is spent on the fitness industry. Sign me up
The male and female models are also available, and both look fit and motivated to grab attention and motivate the audience.
16. Nest
For the Nest homepage design, the copy and imagery are the most important. This example shows elements of Apple’s design. With the product in place, you have added the tagline “Saving Energy Never Goes Out of Style” to the tagline. The “Buy now!” CTA tells visitors what to do next.
17. Toastmasters International
The Toastmasters international homepage design may seem outdated at first but it is important to remember who its intended audience is. It is a business leader-oriented organization that wants to attract people. The background images and headline copy are appealing to me. The colors are appropriate for the tone and voice that the company wishes to convey.
You don’t have the obligation to use a minimalist or pale color scheme if it doesn’t work well for your business. You are free to try different designs and see what works best for your business.
18. Bookouture
Another example of a minimal design is this. Bookouture, a digital publisher specializing in romance and suspense books, is another example of a minimalist design. Its homepage targets authors who may want to publish their books there. Smart use of the computer image for cover art is smart. You will find a link to submit your submissions in the header. Below the homepage copy is a CTA that allows you to learn more about the company.
19. Assurem
Ensure shows a minimalist design that feels rich and human. As does the large hero image and dark color palette. The design conveys a feeling of sophistication.
The CTA is particularly notable. It is large, the background has high contrast, and the background color reminds me of the colors in the Ensurem logo. They all fit together seamlessly.
20. Suicide Prevention Hotline
When it comes to designing a homepage for non-profits, there are many obstacles. Nonprofits want to reach as many people as possible, but they also need to get donations, volunteers, or other assistance from the public. Each of these goals is met well by the Suicide Prevention Hotline.
It is interesting because the primary CTA for this site is a telephone number. Although it might seem odd considering the things we see every day, it was designed for its intended audience. It’s even easier to use if you are surfing on your smartphone.
21. L’Oursin
L’Oursin is a great Seattle restaurant that completely nails the homepage design. Visitors are immediately enticed by the photos of food and can get a feel for the atmosphere through the font and photographs.
22. The Motley Fool
Many people only use The Motley Fool for articles about finance. However, the company offers more. One element that will stick out on the page is the yellow CTA button that reads “Latest Stock Price”. Click it to be taken to the paid services of the company, which include stock picks from experts and analysts.
23. FindLaw
FindLaw serves two purposes. It educates people about the law and connects customers with lawyers. Through its homepage design, it caters to both of these purposes. The top navigation can be used to locate educational information. However, the primary CTA, centered over the hero image encourages you to find a lawyer close to you.
24. UnitedHealthcare
If you are familiar with marketing psychology, you will know that blue is used often to represent emotional healing and health.
UnitedHealthcare’s homepage design has been so successful because of this. It also uses relevant images to make visitors feel at home. Multiple CTAs provide clear instructions on how to proceed.
25. Viewership
You may have seen my YouTube videos. Adam and I have a regular Wednesday series in which we answer questions from viewers who left comments on past videos. Viewership.com is Adam’s business. It focuses on helping people to take advantage of video marketing.
It is a great homepage design. The homepage design is perfect. We only see the pink/red color at two locations and the green color at two. This is how Viewership draws people’s eyes to the most relevant areas of the page.
26. Lyft
In my article on best homepage examples, Uber was one of my top picks. It seems only right that I feature Lyft. It’s a great homepage with a clever illustration that attracts viewers. It caters to both drivers and riders.
27. HubEngage
The hubEngage homepage design is attractive and elegant. The business’s only purpose is to “Unleash the Power of Engaged employees.” You will also see the chat box at the lower right-hand side, which is a great UX decision, and the topical hero picture.
28. Starbucks
Why not close with a bang? Starbucks has been a marketer for years. Starbucks has set the standard for other coffee shops, and their homepage design changes based on what products Starbucks is trying to promote.
These protein shakes look great and have a simple, but effective copy. You will also be interested in the “New” icons that are next to product names.
29. Copyblogger
Copyblogger uses the hero image approach for its homepage design. It works well. It is minimalist and clean, with light colors and an image that is both inviting and subtle.
Everything you would expect from a homepage is included, including the logo and tagline as well as the navigation bar at the top. The value proposition is also included above the hero image to help cement the company’s worth.
It works when you are selling one value proposition. This is not a good choice for e-commerce homepages if you don’t sell one product, but it works well for service businesses that offer a core or top-selling service.
Visual imagery is a powerful tool for human communication. A study found that nearly 60% of customers would prefer to interact with a well-designed web page over one that is simple. Your homepage is what customers judge your business on.
30. Uber
Anybody who knows me well will tell you that I hate driving. I’m always calling Uber to pick me up.
Uber’s website is also very popular with me. It has been one of my favorite homepage designs in a long while.
This is a great example of how to seamlessly combine two value propositions: Get safe, affordable rides or become a driver and earn money.
This is no easy task, especially when there are so few words.
It works because: Each element on Uber’s website is designed to direct visitors toward a specific action. You will need to create an account to place Uber rides, or become a driver and earn money.
These are two completely different markets. It somehow works.
You can see the choice of image. Although the guy at the wheel of the Uber car is an Uber driver he is still looking directly at the camera. He’s the person you would feel at home in a car with if you were to order an Uber. You could also use him as a part-time entrepreneur.
The homepage also contains tons of information. From a map and a quoting form to get from one place to the next, to blurbs about our value proposition,
31. Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone is a set of tools that can help you learn foreign languages. Although it is expensive, it is still very popular.
It’s also one of the most impressive homepage examples I’ve ever seen for an ecommerce site.
Again, we have a hero image of a worldly traveler using his phone to access the Rosetta Stone app.
Rosetta Stone’s TruAccent technology is the reason it works. It is distinguished by its value-added features which makes it more effective in helping people learn languages.
Another value proposition is that the company has been operating for 25 years. Social proof is also available: “The most trusted …” language solution”
Rosetta Stone could benefit from hard numbers. What number of customers does it serve each day? This might be even more impressive. It’s my only problem with this website.
A major call-to-action is required to launch an interactive demo. However, users can also learn about solutions that are specific to different customer segments, including educators and individuals.
This homepage is a great way to grab attention and provides plenty of places for visitors to explore, without distracting them from the main CTA.
Checklist for Homepage Optimization
These are three examples of some of the most popular homepage designs on the Internet. What can you learn from them? How do you create the best homepage for your company?
It’s easy to design a homepage with just five elements. There are many ways to express your creativity. However, you must present your offer clearly without distracting others.
This handy checklist will help you improve your homepage and increase conversions.
1. Make sure your headline is strong and clear
Each of these three examples has a specific headline that anchors the page. Let’s take a look at each headline:
- With powerful content marketing, you can build your online authority
- Get there – Your Day Belongs To You
- TruAccent(tm), the only language software that uses TruAccent(tm), is the best speech recognition technology in the world.
Although they are very different, they share many things in common.
They use powerful words. These words are words that instantly evoke emotion or connect with the reader.
Copyblogger emphasizes words like “authority” or “powerfully efficient.” However, when combined with a short headline, they can help to send a stronger message.
Uber uses a more emotional approach. Uber uses a more emotive approach to communicating its value proposition.
Rosetta Stone is another option. It uses words such as “only” or “world’s finest” to communicate authority and credibility. Rosetta Stone is the only thing you need to achieve your goals.
Create strong headlines and put yourself in the shoes of your customer. What would you say to impress him/her? What would make that person feel connected enough to encourage him or her to visit the rest of your website? You could also ask them to complete a form.
2. Do not confuse your users
Conflicting CTAs are one of my biggest issues with homepages.
As much as possible, avoid conflicting CTAs. While you can have multiple options, it’s best to make sure that your visitors only follow one CTA. This is how Rosetta Stone and Uber did it in these examples. They made the alternative CTAs smaller and more obvious.
You want to avoid visual clutter. You want to get rid of any visual clutter on your homepage, just as you do with toys, clothes, and scattered magazines.
Keep it simple, in other words.
It is important to have enough information on the page to draw attention. But not too much that readers don’t know where they can find it.
3. For the best offer, add a big and direct CTA button
Your CTA should be the focal point of your visitors’ attention. It’s an invitation. Here’s what you should do next.
While the CTA button should not take up too much screen space, it should grab attention. If you aren’t convinced it is captivating enough, consider using a different font.
Also, ensure you use a call-to-action phrase that is clear and communicates value. I don’t like a CTA that says “Subscribe Now.” You can change it to “Subscribe Now to Receive a Free Case Study.” I’m now interested.
4. Contrasting colors are a good idea
Contrast is a favorite of mine when it comes to web design. On NeilPatel.com, Neil Patel Digital, you’ll find my orange signature color.
Contrast does not necessarily mean loud or offensive colors. Contrast can be created in many ways.
Bold background color and a neutral text color on a CTA are good options. It’s not a good idea to put lime green on top of electric blue. This is hard on the eyes.
You can use color in a CTA that’s not found anywhere else on the page. It’s important to not create too much visual discord. You will become a better designer if you learn the color wheel and how colors complement each other.
5. Keep your offer high up
It is possible that your website visitors will not scroll past the top of your site. This is a fact. Many of your visitors won’t see your offer if it is hidden beneath the fold.
You can see that all of the examples above have a unique selling proposition (or offer) at the top. It is obvious as soon as the visitor enters the site.
How to find out what’s working and what’s not on your homepage
Web design companies in Miami can be very subjective. It might be something I love about a site’s design. Or it might not be for you. There is no way to please everyone.
You can still please the majority of people who visit your website. How? How?
Kobe Digital allows you to run user behavior reports from your website. You can see which design elements are being clicked, scrolled, or otherwise reacted to by seeing where they were clicked.
For example, a heatmap lets you see what people are interested in on a website and what they don’t notice, even when they should. A Confetti report, on the other hand, gives you detailed information about referral sources and how visitors interact with your site.
Are people more likely to ignore your CTA when they visit Facebook? Perhaps your posts on Facebook don’t match the design of your website.
You can view visitor patterns in other ways with the help of user behavior reports. A heatmap can show areas of high activity and low activity. It can be more effective to position your homepage elements in alignment with the eye tracking.
Once you have collected this information, make two versions of your site. One version should be presented to half of your visitors and the other version to the rest. You can refine your website by A/B-testing individual elements.
Conclusion
A good homepage design does not require that you follow a particular formula. You can see that some homepages share the same elements as others, but they are all unique.
You can push the limits of modern design conventions to your advantage, provided you don’t hinder the user’s experience. Bold design choices are fine, but not at the expense or utility of functionality.
It is not a good idea to copy another person. You don’t want to copy someone else.
This will allow you to create a website converter.
