Branding & First Impression
#1 Compelling Brand Identity
Ensure your logo, color scheme, fonts, and imagery reflect your brand’s core personality. Your home page must have elements that succinctly convey what makes your brand unique.
#2 Hero Banner
A ‘Hero banner’ is a great tool for impressing your customers at first glance. For instance, showcase a customer happily using your product and pair it with compelling taglines and CTAs prompting desired actions.
Easy Product Discovery & Intuitive Navigation
#3 Dynamic Search Bar
While your home page should give a comprehensive overview of your store and its wide range of products, it should also let your shoppers easily locate the products they are looking for. Facilitate that with a dynamic search bar with advanced capabilities.
#4 Thoughtfully Categorized Products
The home page should serve as your store’s index, menu card, or catalog. A strategic assortment of different products will help your shoppers navigate your products easily and intuitively. Present your top categories and relevant sub-categories in a contextual hierarchy, gently nudging your visitors to explore and engage more.
Curated Product Collections
#5 Different Types Of Product Listings
Each shopper lands on your home page with a unique intent. Your home page should broadly cover all types of products available on your site to make it relatable to each of them. Here are the different types of product collections:
- Top Sellers / Best Sellers
- Top Categories
- Seasonal Collections / Festive Bundles
- Featured Products, Trending Products
- Clearance Sale
- Customized Collections / Top Picks For You
- Offer-based Categories
Social Proof & Trust Signals
#6 Real-time Customer Testimonials
Shoppers trust fellow shoppers’ recommendations more than brands! Collect and feature authentic customer testimonials on your home page. Take advantage of different formats, such as unboxing videos, GIFs, image and text reviews, etc. Avoid using commissioned testimonials or boring stock images, which may lead to a negative brand reputation.
#7 Social Proof
Showcase product reviews and positive comments from social media on your home page with accurate time stamps and handle names. Social media reviews go a long way in evoking a sense of trust, curiosity, and credibility.
#8 ‘In The Press’ Section
Flaunt any media mentions or press coverage you’ve received. Social proof from such recognized sources adds an element of authority and industry leadership to your brand.
#9 Awards & Recognitions
Displaying awards, certifications, and recognitions your brand has received can further reassure your potential customers that your products or services are of high quality and industry-approved.
Conversion Boosters
#10 Irresistable CTAs
Call-to-actions help you prompt your shoppers on what action to take. Ensure these CTAs are appropriate, compelling, and enticing. Here are some examples:
- Curiosity-evoking CTAs
Explore Deals, View More, See All Products, Quick View - Action-oriented CTAs
View Product, See Collections Add to Cart, Continue Shopping - Benefit-driven CTAs
Order Now & Save 20%
#11 Value & Benefit Emphasis
Highlighting your competitive advantage urges your shoppers to accelerate their purchase decision. These advantages can be about your product quality, value for money, or order fulfillment incentives. Here are a few examples:
- Lowest price guaranteed
- Free shipping on all orders above $75
- 100% money-back guarantee
- No questions asked return
- ISO Certified
#12 Highlighted Deals
Who doesn’t love offers? If you have a special sale going on, your home page is the best place to talk about it loud and clear. Create an exclusive ‘offer’ section highlighting all your current deals and special discounts with captivating images and inviting CTAs.
#13 Live Chat & Other Contact Options
The home page is also the place where customers look for your brand’s specific details. Having quick contact options like live chat and ‘request a callback’ will help spearhead meaningful interactions between you and your potential customers.
Technical Excellence
#14 Mobile Optimization
Your mobile storefront, especially the home page, deserves a unique design strategy. Craft a mobile home page with tap-friendly menus, prominent contact options, and bite-sized product collections—all designed to convert mobile visitors into buyers.
#15 Fast & Smooth Loading
While every page should be optimized for fast loading, the home page, as the face of your brand, must be exceptionally swift to uphold your brand’s reputation. Ensure your home page loads quickly and seamlessly on all devices.
#16 High-Resolution Product Images
The product images, customer testimonial videos, and other multimedia featured on your home page should be rich in quality. Ensure these images are crisp, clear, and accurately represent your products. This attention to detail can enhance your brand value and encourage purchases.
By following this checklist, you can create a home page that looks good, converts visitors into paying customers, and acts as a brand ambassador for your store.
Need help getting started with your home page optimization? We are glad to provide you with a free comprehensive home page audit. Talk to our eCommerce experts today.