Revamp Your Homepage to Gain More Traffic
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Yes, you read right this post is: Revamp Your Homepage to Gain More Traffic!
I rarely, rarely write on blogging. For one, I still feel really new at this. For two, even though my B.S. is in Education, I’m not great at explaining things. Except for baking, I love to teach the boys about baking. For the most part, I get impatient and skip over steps.
But, I really felt compelled to write this after visiting numerous blogs that I find very difficult to navigate.
In general, your homepage is the first impression a reader gets when visiting your blog. Make the most of that visit.
The first thing I want you to do is to look at your blog like it’s the first time you’ve ever visited it. Or, better yet, have a friend that hasn’t visited your blog look at it. Then answer these questions.
Revamp Your Homepage to Gain More Traffic
- Is it easy to navigate? Think of an old, random, unpopular post and try to find it. Can you? How long did it take?
- Is your website organized and the homepage well designed? On some sights that have a static homepage, I get stuck and don’t know where to go to find the content. If readers can’t find information, you have only seconds before they leave.
- How can readers communicate with you? Do you have a ‘Contact Me’ tab? Does it work? After a recent update, my contact form stopped working. Fortunately, a friend told me. Check these items often.
- Is the information easy to find? Are tabs and categories labeled clearly?
- Do you have a search box? Does it work?
- Is your blog pleasant to the eyes? Are the colors compatible? Is the font easy to read, or is it curly and distracting? Is your sidebar too cluttered with ads?
- Are the widgets loading fast and properly? Or, are plugins and widgets slowing down your site? Check your site speed here.
- Can readers easily follow you or sign up for updates via email or RSS? You’re losing traffic if the answer is no! Have you checked the social media icons recently? Go ahead, click on them and see if they’re working. I’ll wait right here!
- Is your title, logo, and tagline consistent with your brand? When people visit, do they immediately know who you are and what you’re about? Find artwork, illustrations, and information that clearly and effectively communicate this.
- Are you using good-quality, large pictures?
- Is the stats on your Sponsor page up to date? Can someone easily purchase ad space with you or contact you for information?
There’s More…
And, in completely unrelated news, when was the last time you backed up your blog? Of course, you should back up before any updates or major changes. I believe you should also update at minimum once a month, that way if anything *gasp* awful happens at least you will have only lost four weeks or less in content! Set a remember on your cell phone to remind yourself. (I have a reminder on my phone on everything. If I lose my phone, I’d lose my mind!)
Look at your site objectively. A ‘no’ to any one of these questions, could mean your readers aren’t staying as long as you’d like on your blog. You work hard on the content, and make sure your entire site and your entire brand reflect your hard work!
My blogging Pinterest board is a good resource for you too.
See Fall Tablescapes, How to paint bottles, and my recipe index.
Great tips! I think we get so used to our homepage that we kind of forget about it. You reminded me that I need to update my stats and check my links. Thanks!
I do the same thing, I’m always on the back side of the blog writing or such. Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you for sharing these great ideas!
Smiles,
Carol
Good info and tips, I’ll have to give mine a go-over ! Take care – Dawn @ We Call It Junkin.com
Thanks Paula! Definitely pinning this great article. You’ve done a fantastic job with your blog! Congrats!
Thanks so much Kelli!
Love everything you asked! There is so many times I get on a site and cannot figure out what to do or even WHO they are. I need to go do my updates. I’m afraid it’ll mess it all up. I’m crazy like that. I’m actually in the middle of redesigning my header …it’s taking soooo long. Mainly because I’m not the best with decision making. Already pinning and making sure this gets out there. Some bloggers don’t even know. So, thank you! (=
Thank you Gloria. I’m just so non-techie I have to get someone to do all the hard stuff for me.
Good information, I am inviting you to share this with Show Your Stuff:
http://juliejewels1.blogspot.com/2013/10/caramel-and-chocolate-brownies-show.html
Great post Paula. I actually went and tweaked my header a little because of this. 🙂 It totally matches my business cards now. And I ditch the instagram photo plugin I was using – 9 second load time?!? Wow. Totally pinned to spread the good word!
Thank you, Julie! I was thinking about adding an IG widget so glad you told me that!
I’m as non-technical as they come. I tried the site speed site but couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
I was the same way the first time, then I looked at it again and saw a couple things that were slowing my site down and removed them and it actually did help.
Great Tips! I am a new blogger of about 8 months, @ Casual Elegance by Beverly Girolomo I am a artist, designer & just recently started Bridal Bouquets Handmade, More….I am trying to tight them all together in my blog, “also I am going to have “Blog to Shop” on my new Blog. Things that I have created & new things like my wedding bouquets. I do have a Etsy Shop, that’s new too. My question to you is, do you think you can check out my new blog? I would like to see where I could
improve.
Blog: Casual Elegance by Beverly Girolomo
Oh yes I am a blogger also!
Hi Beverly! Thanks so much for stopping by. I love your site, it’s very organized and easy to find. The only thing I noticed is I would add your Pinterest account in the heading. I did see where you have a follow me on Pinterest on your blog, but I’d have all your buttons on both sites. Looks great!