Your homepage in five seconds
Visitors decide fast. Here is how to make your homepage say who you are, what you do and what to do next, almost at a glance.
Imagine a stranger lands on your homepage and looks away after five seconds. Could they tell you what your organisation does? If not, the page has some work to do.
The three questions every homepage should answer
- Who are you? Your name and a short line describing what you do.
- What is in it for me? The main benefit or purpose, in words your audience would use.
- What should I do next? One clear action, such as "Get in touch", "Donate" or "See our programmes".
A simple test
Show your homepage to someone unfamiliar with your work for five seconds, then hide it. Ask them what the organisation does and what they would click first. Their answers show you what the page really communicates.
What helps
- A short, specific headline instead of a vague slogan
- One main action that stands out from the rest
- Simple navigation with a few clear labels
- Real photos and a clean design that load quickly
- Contact details that are easy to find
What gets in the way
- Sliders that move before anyone can read them
- Long welcome paragraphs
- Too many buttons competing for attention
- Insider jargon and abbreviations
- Pop-ups that appear the moment someone arrives
Think of it as a front door
Your homepage does not need to say everything. It needs to help the right people take the next step, whether that is reading more, calling or signing up.
Would your homepage pass the five-second test? Ask our team for an honest first-impression review.