There are 14 articles on this title. You are reading the article ranked and rated #11 by Helium's members.
Your home page is the face of what your entire site contains, with this in mind do not attempt to clutter it with excessive text, try these tips to improve your design skills repertoire.
-1- Use minimum text, bullet points (li attributes)[1] are useful.
-2- Use a CSS file[2] and ensure the page is XHTML compliant[3].
-3- Ensure information is clearly positioned. Use a global navigation system[4] if necessary, or just use the home page as a splash page[5] to introduce your site.
-4- You'll need to get the user hooked on first glace so ensure that the page uses a colorful layout with a few graphics, but keep the color tones realistic to keep the look professional.
-5- Having said the above, also ensure the page is less than 20KB in size. Users should not have to wait to see most of the page. If you are using graphics amounting to over 20KB, use a pre-loader.
-6- Use consistent CSS. Allow for plenty of white space[6] and use consistent fonts, colors, and styles.
-7- Sell your site in the first few seconds, add a catchphrase that stands out or something that will capture your entire site in a few words.
-8- As a general rule, do not put '$' signs on the home page. Users are weary of sites trying to sell something. Exceptions to this rule do exist.
-9- Use 'blocks', especially the background-image and background-color CSS attributes[8], these simple additions can really make a site look like it was designed well and a lot of effort was put into it.
10- Still concerned about the look of your home page? Send me a message and I will take a look at your site and offer some feedback.
References [1] to [8]: Do an online search for the terms preceding these references.
Learn more about this author, Alexander D.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:
by Danny Kwok
Have you ever wondered why the first page in the website is called a home page? Pause for a moment and think about th... read more
by Brenna Mae
You always learned that first impressions are everything. Your mother told you, your teachers told you, and your frie... read more
Need to create an on-line presence that will attract and retain traffic? Searching for the perfect look and feel for ... read more
by icepricessa
The first impression matters, just as clothes and dressing are to interviews, so are homepages to websites. The way ... read more
Making a good home page is easy these days. There are dozens of free tools available on the Internet to help you a... read more
View All Articles on:
How to make a good home page
Add your voice
Know something about How to make a good home page?
We want to hear your view.
Write now!
Already a member? Log in.
Cast your vote!
Click for your side. Must be logged in.
Featured Partner
E Square has partnered with Helium, giving you the chance to write for a cause. Browse E Square's featured title...more
hide