Imagine walking into a shop and not knowing where to go, what's being sold, or how to ask for help. That's how visitors feel on a poorly designed homepage - confused, overwhelmed and ready to leave.

Your homepage isn't just about looking good, it's about guiding people towards taking an action. Whether that's making a purchase, booking a call or simply learning more, your layout plays a major role in getting them there.

In this post we're going to break down 5 essential homepage layout tips that will help you grab attention fast, build trust quickly, and convert more visitors into customers.

1. Hook Them Above The Fold

The 'above the fold' refers to what users see as soon as they land on your site before they scroll down. This is arguably the most important aspect in terms of determining whether visitors stay on your website or leave. You have 3-5 seconds to convince them that they are in the right place and make them stay.

Here are a few things to include within this section, using the KISS principle, keeping it simple stupid, as to not overwhelm the visitors:

• A clear, benefit-driven headline, ideally between 3-7 words.

• One key supporting sentence or value proposition as a sub-headline.

• Strong call-to-action (e.g. "Book a Free Consultation" or "Shop Now")

• A supporting image or video that relates to the headline and sub-headline.

2. Use a Clear Visual Hierarchy

You want to guide visitors through your story or offer. Having a design that naturally guides visitors down the page is key. This means they do not have to think about what to do next as they naturally will scroll down the page.

To do this, firstly you want to use size and contrast to highlight important elements. Secondly, stick to a consistent heading structure (H1 >H2 >H3), and thirdly use whitespace to prevent clutter.

3. Add Trust Elements Early On

Trust elements refers to anything that proves you can do what you say you can, such as reviews, testimonials, logos of brands you've worked with or certifications, guarantees or statistics. One subtle yet effective way to add trust on your site is to add your 5-star rating somewhere above the fold, either above the heading or below the call-to-action.

4. Break it up with scannable sections

People tend to quickly skim websites, and clear layed out section help them find what they need fast. It's important to separate your content into digestible blocks. A good way to do this is to first create a wireframe for the site which includes all the different sections that you'd like on your page. This makes the process of developing the site much easier as you already have a layout of what section goes where.

Here is an example layout for a simple business page:

• Hero section (above the fold)

• 'What we offer' or 'How it works'

• Benefits

• 'What people are saying' or 'Brands we've worked with'

• Call-To-Action (e.g. 'Book Now' or 'Apply Today')

5. End With a Compelling CTA (Not Just a Footer)

If someone scrolls all the way down your page, they're interested in what you have to offer so it is only acceptable to close with a call-to-action making it as easy as possible for them to take the step you want them to take. Bonus Tip: Try to avoid the generic 'Contact Us' - make the offer irresistible.

Your homepage has one job: turn casual visitors into committed customers. And with the right layout, clear structure, smart design and a focus on guiding your audience every step of the way.

If your current homepage isn't pulling weight, maybe it's time to rethink the layout. Even small changes like tightening up your headlines or adding trust can lead to big gains in engagement and conversions.

Need help making it happen?

At SG Digital we specialise in building beautiful, high-converting websites that work just as hard as you do.

👉Book your free strategy call and let's turn your homepage into a lead-generating machine.