The first structure to be tackled when creating
a homepage
is the skeleton of the homepage. The quality of the structure determines the usability and readability of the homepage.
This time, we will introduce the important structure, concepts and procedures when creating a homepage.
What is the purpose of creating a homepage in the first place?
According to a survey of companies by Markerize Inc., inquiries from the homepage were the most likely to lead to business negotiations. A homepage is an effective tool for acquiring potential customers with a high probability of closing.
The purpose of creating a homepage is to disseminate information to the intended target. The type of site you choose will depend on the goal you want to achieve. A typical example is a corporate site. This homepage is created for the purpose of conveying corporate information and the latest trends to the company’s stakeholders.
If your goal is to hire the type of person you are looking for, there is owned media recruiting, which carries out recruitment activities while disseminating information through the company’s own media. This not only prevents mismatches with job seekers, but also allows you to approach potential job changers over the long term.
Configuration concept/procedure
We will introduce the steps to consider the structure of your homepage.
Clarify the goal of your homepage
First, clarify the goal of your homepage. Basically, one site for one goal. Focus on one of the following: inquiries/requests for materials, sales of products/services, acquisition of lists, acquisition of credibility, recruitment, etc. At the same time, we will also clarify the target (
persona
) of the homepage.
Identify the pages you need for your site
Once the goal and target of your homepage are clear, it’s time to identify the pages you need for your site. We will list everything you can think of, including the top page, announcements, company profile, history, service introduction, recruitment information, inquiries, and privacy policy.
Once you have identified the pages you need, sort them into categories. Then, the classified pages are hierarchically organized into pages that make up the homepage (
directory
). For example, place the “Company Overview” and “History” pages under the “About the Company” category.
Incorporate it into a configuration diagram (site map)
Once you have categorized and hierarchically categorized, you can create a configuration diagram (site map). A configuration diagram is a map-like page that shows the page structure of the entire site in a tree shape, and after the homepage is created, it becomes an important page for
SEO
measures.
Sitemaps can be created using Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe XD, etc.
What are the points you should keep in mind when thinking about it?
It is important to consider the structure of a homepage with the target user’s perspective in mind so that it can be used comfortably, such as “Is there the information the user is looking for?” “Is that information available in a location that is easy to find?” The following two points are mainly important.
Don’t make the hierarchy too deep
When layering the pages on your site, be careful not to make them too deep. It takes a long time for users to reach the desired page, or they get lost within the site, which is a major reason for users to leave the site. It would be best to have a depth of 3 to 4 levels.
Be aware of the user’s path
It is also important to be aware of the flow path of users who visit your homepage. Analyze the behavior of users on the site, such as where they come from, what pages they look at, and what they want to do, and try to create a UI/UX that allows them to smoothly reach the final goal of the homepage.
How to create a homepage based on the configuration diagram?
We will create a homepage based on the configuration diagram we created. Creating a homepage requires programming languages such as
HTML
,
CSS
, and JavaScript, and companies without engineers had to outsource the work to a homepage production company.
However, with
CMS
, anyone can easily create a homepage without the need for an engineer. Additionally, you can easily create and update pages after they are created, and multiple people can work together. Furthermore, using templates increases work efficiency, and central management reduces the operational burden.
At our company, we are developing “Swich Plus”, which is a CMS that includes a continuous approach function called MA (marketing automation), such as sending prospective customer emails. It is recommended for those who want to start web marketing and promotion at a low cost, as it allows you to create and operate a homepage and follow up with users acquired on the homepage.
summary
We introduced the steps and points to think about the structure of your homepage. The key to success in designing a homepage is to identify all of the information that users are looking for, and to design a route that allows users to get there smoothly.
Be conscious of thinking about the structure of your homepage from the user’s perspective so that you can achieve the original purpose of your homepage.