Homepage Designs: Tips & Examples to Inspire Your Next Designs

It is 2023, and many businesses have gone fully digital. Like many businesses, customer behaviors have changed drastically over the years and started adapting to the evolving technologies and trends in the digital era.

Even though many business owners have offline stores to build local visibility, most of them still desire to increase their online visibility and connect with their target audience within and outside their geo-location. No matter how many digital media channels evolve in the market, nothing can beat the power of a website.

A website serves as your digital storefront where your customers and target audience visit to source credible information about your business. Instead of visiting a physical store, people visit your website to learn more about your products or services. In fact, 97% of people prefer researching about businesses online before visiting the stores.

Your website homepage is the first thing your visitor sees when they visit your page, so you need to put in a whole lot of effort to add a “wow” factor to it.

The key to building a successful brand presence is creating visually appealing and converting homepage designs that instantly make a positive impression on your visitors. In this article, we will take you through the benefits of creating stunning homepage designs, real-life examples, and tips to help you create yours.

Keep reading!

What is a Homepage Design?

A home page is a default or front page of a website. It is the first page visitors see when they load your website URL. As one of the most important web pages on your site, your homepage makes the first impression of your brand. If it is poorly designed, it can make your brand look unprofessional and amateur. A survey data report states that 75% of web users judge a website’s credibility based on its design.

Though your website’s homepage makes a lasting impression on your target audience, you have a very limited time to do it. It takes about 0.05 seconds for your web visitors to form either positive or negative impressions about your brand. Usually, your home pages should contain important information about your product or services, have an uncluttered and neat design, and help your audience navigate the site seamlessly. Your homepage should also set the tone for the rest of your site and must act as a lead generation machine for your business.

What Makes a Good Website Homepage Design?

A well-designed homepage must include different combinations of the following elements to create a lasting impression on your audience.

1. Sheds a spotlight on your business

A well-designed home page must describe who you are, what you do, and what your visitors can do or achieve by accessing your website. Best-selling author Steven Krugg, in his book, Don’t Make Me Think, states that your customers won’t stick around on your site for long if they can’t identify what you do in seconds.

2. Communicates your unique value proposition

Your business value proposition is a simple statement that clearly defines and communicates the benefits of the product or service you promise to deliver to your customers. Its core aim is to make your brand, product, or service stick out from your competition and grab the attention of your future customers.

3. Strikes a chord with your target audience

A homepage design needs to speak about your brand to your target audience. When you understand your target audience, you can tailor all the benefits and values of your product or service to your website homepage design to help them get a clear and easy understanding of your business.

4. Optimized for multiple devices

A brilliant homepage design must be optimized for mobile, tablet, iPad screens and other devices to make it highly usable and easy to navigate. To improve the user experience, you can keep the design elements to be minimal and avoid using flashy objects like animations, pop-ups or flash banners.

5. Adds right call to action (CTAs).

Every successful website’s homepage must effectively use primary and secondary calls to action to direct visitors to increase conversions. Remember that your homepage design aims to influence visitors to dig deeper into your website and move further down the sales funnel.

Since getting lost on a page is easy, a well-defined CTA can guide your visitors on what to do next without getting overwhelmed. Using CTAs like “Free Trial,” “Buy Now,” “Schedule a call or Book a Demo,” or “Learn More” can turn your homepage into a lead-generation engine.

6. Uses an appealing overall design

A well-designed homepage effectively uses an attractive layout, whitespace, good color combinations, fonts, CTA placement, and other supporting elements to communicate the business value, build trust and help the visitors navigate through your website easily.

7. Stay abreast with trends

The key to building a compelling homepage design is to keep up to date with the recent trends and keep the page alive. With the mindset that the best homepages aren’t always static, you need to continually change your own website to reflect your visitors’ needs, problems, and questions or even consider using dynamic content to add a new touch to the site constantly.

Benefits of a Well-Designed Homepage

A well-designed home page welcomes your target audience to your site and provides essential information about your business. Like your physical store, your homepage is the digital storefront that tells your audience all they need to know about the brand.

Here are the five most crucial benefits of a well-designed homepage.

1. It sets the first impression

Your homepage design impacts how your audience perceives your brand at first interaction. Depending on how well you design your homepage, it should give them their first impression of your business as a trustworthy, competent, or terrible brand.

2. It aids your SEO Strategy

Web design elements and practices determine how you publish content and organize different aspects of your websites. This affects how search engine spiders crawl and index your website.

A good SEO strategy can increase your ranking on the Search Engine Ranking Page(SERP) page and direct organic traffic towards your website. However, if your on-page SEO is not up to standard, it will be hard for your page to be seen by your target audience on search engines.

3. It informs your potential customers about your business

A good homepage design helps you make a solid impression on your customers. However, to keep your visitors coming, you must ensure that your home projects your company’s valuee, purpose and Unique Selling Proposition (USP).

Also, since many web visitors find your page first, you can get them hooked by making it easy to find the information they need.

4. Increase your conversions

The sole aim of designing a compelling homepage design is to attract more web visitors that will convert. However, it is not enough to have people visit your site. You also need them to convert into paying customers. It would be hard to achieve this without the necessary incentive and opportunities. As a result, you need to make the information on your homepage easily accessible to create a strong impression of your page in a way that boosts conversions.

5. Increase your brand awareness

A well-designed homepage can make your company more memorable by creating your brand image and messaging visible on every web page.

Also, since your homepage serves as the gateway to the rest of your website, your logo, brand colors, tagline, and purpose need to take center stage. To further reinforce your brand values, you might want to add your mission statement at the top of your homepage.

20 Best Examples of Website Homepage Design

Below are the 21 best homepage design examples to find inspirations for your company’s homepage designs:

1. Slack

Slack is an instant messaging program and business communication tool that professionals and teams use to communicate and collaborate with internal and external teams. It allows users to create private channels to keep to share specific project-related tasks and updates.

Their homepage is bright and attractive with bold and contrasting colors that never fails to grab the attention of the visitors. The text in a solid and bold font instantly tells visitors what their business is all about. Their headline copy “Made for people. Built for productivity” makes it clear what visitors should do.

They also have the sign-in or create an account button right in the middle of the header banner to prompt visitors to take desired action. The entire page is designed in such a way that you can easily through it and find the information you want at a single glance.

2. FreshBooks

Freshbooks is a web-based accounting software with multiple invoicing, automation, and customization features. It is ideal for small business owners to create, send and track invoices to clients quickly.

Its homepage is easy to browse and find information you want. It does an excellent job filling them in on a few key benefits of the software. The homepage is blended aesthetically with different colors, calls to action, and compelling copy to keep clients glued to the page. Importantly, this home page also has offers and reviews at the top.

3. Dropbox

Dropbox is an American file hosting service that can help you store and share files, collaborate on projects, and save files for your future use. The homepage has two compelling CTAs – “Get Started” and “Sign up for Free” with a clear, data-backed marketing copy.

With a clear understanding of their target audience and what they need, Dropbox’s homepage goes straight to business by briefly explaining what users can achieve with the software and some statistics. Site navigation is also easy, allowing the target audience to find the necessary information quickly.

4. Airbnb

Airbnb is an online marketplace for short-term homestays. It allows property owners to rent out their spaces to travelers looking for a place to stay. The homepage has a minimalist design with whitespace and fantastic color combos.

The homepage goes straight to the point by instantly bringing up vacation home ideas for different countries and decors. It includes prices, a search button at the top, an interactive map, a sign-in hamburger menu, and a CTA -“Learn more” at the top. Web visitors can access many options as they scroll down the page. In our opinion, this page has all the information every traveller needs.

5. Trivago

Trivago is a price-comparison site for hotel bookings. It has a minimalist homepage design with a search bar at the top center of the page.

Trivago understands its client base or target audience and their needs with the primary and easy-to-navigate site. It is simple, straight to the point, and super-helpful for people who want to book hotels and get on with their jobs. But, like Trivago, don’t waste people’s time; get straight to business.

6. Whitehouse.gov

Whitehouse.gov is the official site of the United States government. This is a perfect example of a homepage that constantly changes to reflect the US government’s current concerns and priorities. The menu at the top of the page headings – “Administration,” “Priorities,” “The Record,” and “Briefing Room” helps visitors gain an idea of what they can expect from each page.

Unlike other government websites, whitehouse.gov has a clean design and great layout, fostering a community. Importantly, you are less likely to get lost on this page, as every piece of information and report has been clearly labeled and organized.

7. Crazy egg

Crazy Egg is an online analytics application that generate heatmaps based on the activities of your website’s visitors. The homepage uses compelling copy and a sign-in form to encourage visitors to plug in their URL and view a heatmap with a 30-day free trial offer.

It also includes the “Cancel anytime” option to allow clients to cancel the plan anytime. In addition, it also has statistics and logos of existing clients using Crazy Egg on its site.

8. StudioPress

StudioPress is regarded as the world’s most popular mobile-responsive and professionally designed premium WordPress themes and design framework.

It uses a compelling copy – “Build Better WordPress Websites, Faster with Genesis” to inform its web visitors what StudioPress does. It also has a minimal element, flat design illustrations, good use of whitespace, muted colors, and CTAs.

9. Mint

Mint is a personal finance app that allows users to manage different accounts in one place. It has a simple design with compelling copy – “Managing money, made simple” tagline, an attractive image, and a solid no-jargon headline and sub-headline. The colors and layout of this homepage design give off a secure but easy-to-use vibe which helps considering the fact that users will be entrusting them with their financial information.

It also adds social proof at the top of the page to build their visitor’s trust and confidence in the brand. It has four CTAs to help potential customers take meaningful actions.

10. 4 Rivers Smokehouse

4 Rivers Smokehouse is an award-winning, family-owned BBQ restaurant that offers the best slow-smoked barbecue – brisket, chicken, and pork – to customers in Florida and Georgia. Being a restaurant website, it is not surprising that the first thing you see on this page is the parallel scrolling guides with a tour of their service, menu, and people, as well as meal preparation and yummy-looking food photography.

It has a simple, well-designed layout with a straight-to-the-point headline – “Family Owned. Locally Made. Community Focused.” This website is pretty straightforward and super attractive as a food site. At first glance, you already know what to expect with salivating meals. You get to see the full menu when you scroll down.

11. CarMax

CarMax is a US-based used vehicle retailer with an inventory of 40,000 vehicles. They specialize in buying and selling used cars. The homepage has a wide-frame image background with a search bar, a compelling headline, and sub-headlines with a CTA – “Search cars.”

The menu bar also has a “Sell/Trade” webpage that directs visitors to either find a car to buy or sell their used car. The design is clean and simple.

12. Green Mountain Energy

Green Mountain Energy is a 100% renewable energy company that offers clean electricity, carbon offsets, and sustainable energy to customers and businesses in the US. The homepage instantly informs visitors about the company’s purpose and its goal to provide clean energy at an affordable price.

13. Healthline

Healthline is a US-based healthcare information website that provides medical information and healthcare advice that can be trusted. It has a more blog-like homepage compared to our other examples.

The homepage design uses a different approach with blogs and other educational publications, providing users with tips and insights into healthcare, nutrition, fitness, and many more. If you scroll down, you will find more resources on healthcare with the explore section and many others.

14. Laura Worthington

Laura Worthington Design is the website for the popular typeface designer – Laura Worthington. The homepage is a beauty, clearly reflecting her approach to designing fonts.

The homepage has image sliders of different fonts with a feminine and colorful look. From the first glance at this homepage, you instantly know what Lauren offers on her page.

15. Skype

Skype is a professional communication software enabling conversations among individuals and businesses.

It allows them to make free video and voice one-to-one and group calls. Its homepage design addresses its target audience and subtly communicates that the technology works across different device types.

16. Google Nest

Google Nest is a part of Google Store that sells smart home products such as smart speakers, streaming devices, smart displays, smoke detectors, routers, and security systems.

The homepage has its copy and imagery at the center, slightly like Apple design elements. It also has highly persuasive CTAs to direct visitors on what to do next.

17. Ensurem

Ensurem is an insurance marketplace and technology provider specializing in Medicare solutions to carriers and consumers in the US market. Its homepage features a minimalist design. The homepage has a dark color palette with a clear headline and CTA – ” Find your match.”

18. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a suicide prevention organization that offers help to people who want to commit suicide. Its homepage design is simple and easy to understand. It has the company name as the headline with a copy and a CTA to encourage users to call. It is designed to help people find information and help very easily.

19. FindLaw

FindLaw is a business of Thompson Reuters that provides online legal information and online marketing services for law firms. It has two key purposes – to educate people about the law and connect customers with lawyers and effectively does this through its homepage design. It has primary CTA in bright colors that help people find lawyers nearer to them.

20. Basecamp

Basecamp allows its different users with different responsibilities to communicate and work together. It has an attractive blog-like homepage design with a single-page site approach with a clever fish cartoon and headlines. The call to action is bold and above the fold to provide more product information.

Tips For Designing An Effective Homepage

What makes a website’s homepage design brilliant? Although we have provided you with the 21 most brilliant homepages for business across various industries, it is still vital that you understand some of the essential must-have design elements for your homepage designs. The success of your homepage design boils down to five simple elements. check them out below:

1. Write a strong and clear headline

The headline copy is the opening content posted on the header banner of your website and the first thing your website visitors read when they land on your website. It is powerful statement that explains what your business does or what users stand to gain by using your product or service. As the first thing a reader sees on your page, your headline must evoke an emotion or connect with your readers.

To write a strong headline, put yourself in your target audience’s shoes and write in a way that compels them to sign up for your product. You should also pay extra attention to the fonts and colors that you use for the headline content.

2. Use clear CTAs

A call to action (CTA) is an image or line of text on a website that encourages the audience to act. One of the common mistakes that people make when designing their homepage is using conflicting CTAs. Keep the CTA simple and ensure that even with more than one CTA, you make the primary call-to-action clear and easy for your visitors to follow.

An excellent way to achieve this is to make the secondary CTAs small and less noticeable compared to the Primary CTA in bold and easily noticeable.

3. Promote offers with big and direct CTAs

Like the second element, ensure you have a big and direct CTA button for your offer when designing your homepage. It should tell your visitors where to go and what action to take on your website.

However, don’t let your CTA button take over your entire screen but make it neat and appealing. You should also use a unique font to capture your audience’s attention quickly and keep the text short and catchy.

4. Use contrasting colors

When designing a homepage or website, the basic rule is to use contrasting colors that attract your audience’s attention and help them have a good user experience.

While this doesn’t mean using a loud or obnoxious color, you should create contrast in many ways. For example, using a bold color on a neutral or white background. The key to contrast is to make the design visually attractive.

5. Keep the offer above the fold

With the possibility that your web visitor might never scroll beyond the scroll, especially if they are looking for something, you should keep the vital information, offer, or elements in your site above the fold. Also, keep your unique selling point above the fold so busy visitors can see it quickly.

Wrap Up

You might never get a second chance when it comes to striking a positive impression on your target audience. After all, first impression matters. The opportunity once lost is, lost forever. Your homepage is like your virtual storefront that welcomes new potential customers and visitors to your business.

A poorly designed website homepage can have a negative impact on your business. If you are counting on wooing your target audience and building a strong brand presence, then a well-designed website homepage is your lucky jackpot.

Our pro website designers at All Time Design can whip up attention and conversion-worthy designs at an astonishingly faster turnaround time to allure visitors to your website and fill up your marketing funnel with organic leads. Check out some of the stunning website designs created by our team here and get started with our 21 days risk-free trial here!