While many will find it more tempting to focus on the product pages on your Magento store, it pays to focus on the home page as well. Your homepage sets the tone for your website. It is the first source of information that people begin to critique or form an opinion of what you have to offer. You must, therefore, ensure that the Magento web design is appealing and the content is relevant.

Use your homepage to convey your brand messages and to engage people so that they can explore your online store further.

Pay attention to how you design the page and what you put into it. We will explore the topic in more detail in our article below. We will highlight the critical elements of your homepage and the best practices when coming up with the designs.

Critical Elements of your homepage

Pay attention to the following features and design tips for your Magento store homepage.

1. Header

A header is a critical element for any website. It is the place your website visitor will go when searching for products because it carries the search bar and the main navigation.

2. Main Navigation

The main navigation is the vehicle through which customers will browse through your store. Anytime they need product information, they will come here. You will get to give an overview of your products so that your customers can easily access the information. It allows you to show the product range without classifying everything under the product label. You have the option of using the drop-down menu so that you classify products according to hierarchy, and include compelling images for more attention.

Take advantage of different design aspects such as font styles, white space, spacial indicators, borders, among others. If you design the main navigation properly, it will be easier to scan and assist visitors to make choices easily.

With poor design, many customers may leave without purchasing anything because they’re not able to make easy decisions. You should also include down-facing arrows if you are utilizing the hidden items feature. When a customer clicks on the drop-down, it will open up additional items, thus giving them more variety.

Also Read: 10+ Best Magento 2 Extensions That Promise Better Store Navigation

3. Search Bar

Think about every time you go to a particular website, and you want to search for information, but you cannot do it because there is no search feature. More often, it can be very frustrating because you do not want to have to browse through the whole website to find the information you need.

When designing a Magento store, include the search input field. Ensure it can efficiently handle long search queries. You must also include the search button because it will be a big mistake to assume that everyone understands how to use the enter key.

Also, consider providing search suggestions, and the autocomplete function to ease the process for your customers. The former can prompt a customer to buy something they may not have been thinking about that particular moment. You also increase the chance of conversions when you allow customers to search for what they need.

4. Courtesy Navigation

Courtesy navigation is critical for giving customers a better user experience that results in more engagement. It is a simple way of providing access to tools and features such as phone numbers, currency switcher, and language facilities, among others. Ensure you place it on a visible and accessible area on your homepage.

Avoid the use of icons and instead opt for text to avoid ambiguity and lack of understanding. One of the most critical tips in designing a homepage is not to assume anything. You would, for example, be making a big mistake if you think everyone understands what different icons mean.

5. Homepage Footer

You will find the footer at the bottom of your homepage. It is essential because people will use it to find additional information about your Magento store. Critical information to include on the homepage footer includes contact information, company details, security seals, awards, newsletter subscriptions, social media links, shipping policy, among others.

Ensure you place links so that they redirect the visitor to a place where they will get more information. You have the option of minimalistic footers, but they do not do too much for engagement.  Go for semantically divided and functional footers for higher visibility.

6. The Main Section Design

The main section is critical and requires that you pay attention to the theme or template to use. Some of the sections include promoted categories or products, hero content, special promotions, unique selling point, value proposition, client testimonials, among others.

Pay attention to the content because it will give a good indication of what kind of store you have.

It conveys to the visitors to your website that you have the products they are looking for. It improves the chances of conversions and reduces exit and bounce rates. Let your customers know upfront what you have on offer even before they go through the other web pages.

7. Hero Section

Be careful when designing the hero section. You should not make it look like the customer will get all the information with just a glance. Most web designers will use a text, static text, or a Call to Action button, which can be misleading. The visitor will not scroll through the rest of the homepage, and you may miss out on critical information.

If you can, avoid the use of the carousel or sliding images. You may lose out on the number of people who see the messages you want to share.

Also Read: Ecommerce Call To Actions – Top Ten Tips To Make The Most Of CTAs In 2020

8. Slides

If you feel that you must use slides, make sure you do a usability test to see how effective they will be. You may get more mileage by using static images or giving customers the option to change the slides when they are ready.

Many people will use dots, but they can be difficult to notice, and if you do not pay attention to the design, challenging to click on. Ensure the experience of using the carousel on mobile is seamless and easy to navigate.

9. Promoted Products And Categories

Do not make it seem like your store does not have much to offer by only highlighting a few products in the promoted categories and products section. You may end up losing customers who do not feel the need to go to the product pages.

Think about mixing categories so that you capture your inventory well. Also, make sure that what you showcase is easy to understand so that the customer does not feel like they have more questions than answers.

Incorporate the use of the main navigation and critical subcategories on your homepage. Categories allow you to improve the browsing experience and make it easier to find.

It is essential to pay attention to the type of goods you are selling. If, for example, you are selling apparel, you can categorize them according to gender, size, age, price, among others. Also, incorporate the use of images, icons, different fonts, among others, for better visual appeal.

Thematic paths are also an excellent approach. If, for example, you sell gift items, arrange them thematically using events e.g., Valentine’s, Easter, birthdays, anniversaries, among others. It makes it very easy for whoever is searching for a particular item to find them.

Incorporate the use of multiple categories so that you can effectively display the different products you have. The temptation may be to focus on profitable or fast-moving goods while ignoring the others in your inventory. You, however, compromise the visibility of those that do not move very well and do not give your customers an opportunity to pick from that range. Continue to run tests to determine what your customers will have an interest in.

Running regular analytics is critical and is a step you must never ignore. Take into consideration the industry trends, customer behavior, products available among others to know what you need to have on your homepage.

Also Read: How Should Small Ecommerce Businesses Promote Their Products Online?

10. Unique Selling Points And Value Propositions

Your homepage is the place where customers will make an impression of your Magento store. They will want to know what products you have, but most importantly, why they should buy from you and who you are. Highlighting your unique selling points shows how different you are from your competitors. Your value proposition will give the customers a good idea of who you are and how purchasing the products will be of benefit to them.

You have a lot of leeway on how you present yourself; it could be in short sentences or lengthier explanations.

The ultimate goal should be to show how you add value and give customers a basis for trusting you.

Speak with your customers in the language they understand well. It starts with knowing your target audience well. Be unique in your messaging and respond to an identified need.

11. Additional Content

The other content you need to consider for your homepage includes testimonials, customer reviews, and blogs, among others.

A. Reviews And Testimonials

More than 50% of customers will base their purchasing decision on what other customers have to say. A staggering 79% will trust online testimonials and reviews as well as personal recommendations. You get to build trust and have a chance to showcase the quality of the products and services you have. It is proof that you are not tooting your own horn, but have the facts to back you up.

B. Blogs

Blogs are excellent for building a portfolio as an authority in your industry or field. You can use them for marketing your product inexpensively and improving your search rankings by applying SEO strategies. When you highlight your blog page on your homepage, you should encourage people to subscribe to it and give their feedback. Ensure your content is relevant and adds value to the end consumer. A subscription box, lead magnet, and live feed will increase the engagement with your online visitors.

12. Social Media Pages

Linking your home page or website to your social media pages is critical for building an organic community. Place your social media buttons in a visible place such as the footer to improve the chances of an online visitor clicking on them.

Also Read: How To Use Social Media Marketing For ECommerce Store  

13. Contact Information

Display your contact information on the homepage in case anyone wants to get in touch with you. The details you need to incorporate, include your email address, physical address, and telephone numbers. Having this information shows that you are credible and are running a legitimate business. Live chat also helps with better engagement with your customers.

14. Use Of Videos And Images

The choice of whether to use videos or not really depends on you. However, videos allow you to give a quick introduction to your business and are easier to engage with than text. Give an overall view of what you have to offer and who you are so that the customer gets to know you in a more interesting, more engaging manner.

The one thing to consider is to keep the video short and very interesting. If it is too long, the website visitor will lose interest and move on. Aim for videos that are less than 3 minutes in length.

Be careful about the type of images you use; while stock images have the convenience, they may not be the best for using your homepage. Invest in high-quality images that will showcase what you have to offer. This may not be the time to take pictures with your phone camera; instead, think about hiring an expert to take the pictures for you.

Final Thoughts

We have looked at the different things you need to have in mind when designing your Magento Store homepage. The most important thing you must ensure is that the pages are easy to navigate and give relevant content. Use high-quality images and avoid clutter. List your products in a way that makes it easy for customers to get the information they need without having to spend a lot of time searching for it. Include your contact information, customer reviews, awards, and social media links, among others, in the footer section.