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If you’re in the process of building a website for your business or redesigning your website, the homepage is typically the first place you start with.

Your homepage needs to provide visitors with a quick rundown of your business; think of it like your elevator pitch. Who you are, what you do, and why they should be interested. It’s important to sum up the important parts of your business and to “hook” the users so they want to keep scrolling and check out every page.

Need a little guidance? Here’s a brief checklist of the top things every website homepage should include.

Logo

First and foremost, give your website a piece of your brand identity with your logo. Your business logo needs to live at the top of your homepage in order to stay top of mind to your visitors.

Logos let consumers know more about you and gives them something to remember and identify your brand with down the road, so it’s an essential part of your homepage that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Give your brand identity and website some thought to figure out the best placement for your logo — maybe it’s the top corner, maybe it’s front and center. Either way, make sure it leaves a lasting impression on your website visitors.

Introductions

This is your chance to quickly communicate to a new visitor who you are and what you do. While you can save the details and backstory for your About page, the intro on your homepage should hone in on exactly what you want your brand to represent — this is where your tagline or brand statement should go.

Include a heading and a subhead to give consumers a bite-sized idea of what your business is, who it’s for, and what they can get out of it.

Navigation

Your website should provide a good user experience, and this is especially important when designing your navigation menu. The navigation on your homepage should feel intuitive; it should flow easily, guide visitors from page to page and take them where they need to go.

The navigation bar is often the first place users check out so they can get a feel for what the rest of your website has in store for them. Be strategic when thinking about how you want your navigation bar organized.

Products/Services

You will likely have a separate page that lists your products or services and into more detail, but the homepage is your chance to highlight a few of them.

If you have an online shop, this is where you can feature your recent products, a new collection, or seasonal picks. Use this page to draw them in and give them a sneak peek of your product offerings.

If you have a service-based business, use the front page to talk a little bit about each service you offer, and link it to the page that goes into more detail.

Contact Information

Once potential customers or clients have scrolled through your homepage, have a solid idea of what your business is, and are attracted to what you offer, they will be looking for a way to contact you.

Whether you have a brick and mortar address or you solely operate online, include your contact information on your homepage.

As a business, the last thing you want is for a potential client or customer to struggle to find a way to reach you. Make it easy for the user by having a space on the homepage clearly dedicated to your contact information or including a button that links to your contact page.

Start Designing Your Website Today!

liveBooks offers mobile-responsive, customizable website templates for creative professionals and businesses worldwide.

The best part? Our website designs are ready for search engines and look great on any mobile device!

We’ve also got a top-notch support team who’s here to help you every step of the way. Start for free here.

With the number of users on social media websites and platforms consistently growing every year, it’s no surprise that businesses have jumped on the train as well — and for good reason! It’s a fun way to engage with potential customers and increase your reach.

However, far too many entrepreneurs have started to rely almost entirely on social media to grow their business, instead of reaping the benefits from building an effective and informative website.

If you’ve ever heard the saying, “Don’t build your property on someone else’s land,” then you may understand what we’re getting at here.

Here’s the truth: every business needs an impactful website to reach potential customers. And for wedding professionals, this isn’t just a guessing game . . it’s fact.

The Latest in Wedding Industry Data

According to WeddingWire’s 2018 Newlywed Report, which utilizes information from almost 18,000 newlyweds who said their vows in 2017, 83% of wedding planning is now done online.

Additionally, the top sources for finding wedding vendors were wedding-related websites and online searches.

What does this mean for wedding professionals? In short, this data suggests that those who offer the most assistance and access to potential couples on the web are more likely to win the competition against those who don’t.

And if that isn’t enough to convince you, here’s a list of other fantastic reasons why your wedding company needs a website that sells.

1. You own it.

That’s right: not Facebook, not Youtube, not any other fancy social media platform that rises to the top in upcoming years. Your website is yours to keep.

The best part? You can customize your website the way you’d like, and show off your craft in a way that isn’t limited by the algorithms and boring profile settings of any social platform.

2. Websites are the perfect way to spotlight your portfolio.

Wedding couples love seeing specific examples of previous work. Whether you’re a wedding designer who’s got a knack for everything vintage or you’re an up-and-coming videographer with a unique editing style, your website is the best chance you have of showcasing what you love so much about being in the industry.

3. You can use your website as the foundation to all of your other marketing and sales efforts.

Think of your website like a “city center”: you may have interstates and roads extending out in other directions, but they all can help drive traffic back to the core.

Instead of seeing your social media handles, your networking events, and any wedding shows you attend as being solitary, start to look at them like a connected web, with your site at the center.

This means that the focus becomes less about convincing potential clients to buy solely through that one channel, but instead about cycling them through the buyer’s journey.

For example, if you have someone who sees a post on Instagram and loves your work, they can view your profile, begin to explore your website, and follow other areas where you’re engaged (such as your blog, your Youtube channel, your Pinterest boards, etc.).

Looking for an easy-to-use platform to build the perfect website for your wedding company?

liveBooks offers stunning, customizable website templates for wedding industry professionals and creatives.

Not only will you feel empowered and excited to show off your website, but you can be confident that they’ll look great on any device. Fully mobile-ready and responsive in all the best ways.

We’ve also got a top-notch support team who’s here to help you every step of the way. Start for free today!