7 Creative Ideas to Refresh Your Website's Homepage
Even if your website is doing well, it needs a refresh from time to time to make sure it still looks good and functions smoothly. Online technology and what people expect change fast, so you've got to keep up to stay competitive. It's smart to update your website and content regularly, especially when customer demand is up or during important shopping seasons. This article will show you how to give your site a check-up and make updates to keep it appealing and current.
Your eCatholic-powered website has all the tools you need to spruce up your homepage efficiently and beautifully. Even simple changes can make a big difference in how your site looks and how visitors experience it.
Refreshing your website might sound like a huge task that takes forever, but the eCatholic team disagrees! In our recent webinar, we put our website tools to the test and gave an entire homepage a makeover in less than 30 minutes. Watch the webinar recording to see how we did it!
And if you like what you see but don't have the time or resources to do a makeover yourself, check out our Homepage Makeover Service. It's an affordable option for existing eCatholic customers who want a fresh look for their site.
Step 1: Update your website theme
To quickly give your website a fresh look, consider updating your theme. eCatholic provides a variety of free themes that you can customize with curated color schemes, special font combinations, and more. Plus, we regularly introduce new free themes, so you'll always have plenty of design options to explore!
If you're unsure which theme to go for, here are some helpful tips:
Opt for a theme with a Sections Layout: When selecting your theme in the Design Studio, filter your options to include themes with Sections. This way, you'll have access to the latest eCatholic technology and features.
Emphasize your Catholic identity: If you want to incorporate the beauty of the Catholic faith into your website, consider using free themes like Eden, Moser, Tabor, or Sinai. These themes offer unique Catholic background images and illustrations featuring Jesus, Mary, and other saints, adding a heavenly touch to your designs!
Step 2: Enable Sections Layout
Switching from a Standard Layout (which extends vertically down the webpage) to a Sections Layout enables you to create clear horizontal content sections that can be stacked across your entire page. These horizontal content areas offer a more engaging browsing experience for your website visitors, allowing them to digest distinct content segments and styles within each section.
Additionally, a Sections Layout is optimized for viewing on cell phones and tablets. With over 60% of internet traffic coming from mobile devices in 2022, adopting a Sections Layout not only enhances the visual appeal of your site but also improves its functionality for mobile visitors.
Step 3: Analyze your homepage content
We understand that saying “no” can be tough sometimes. If you're unsure about what should go on your homepage, here are some questions to help you decide:
Could this content be better suited for another part of my website? Can I move this module to an internal page, the footer, or maybe as a quick link in the navigation bar?
Can I present this information differently? Should I use different modules or section types like News and Events or the Headline Section?
Is this content still important to our website visitors? Can I just remove this module/information altogether?
Step 4: Clean up your site map
It's common for website administrators to overlook or neglect their Site Map, leading to overcrowded and hard-to-read navigation menus. While it happens unintentionally, it's essential to address it. Here are some quick fixes to tidy up your Site Map:
Limit the number of items in your navigation bar: Sometimes, simplifying is the key. Explore creative ways or observe other websites to learn how they streamline pages and guide visitor traffic more effectively.
Use Quick Links and Mega Menu Groups: Take advantage of these features offered by eCatholic to organize and optimize your navigation by grouping similar items together.
Remember, websites require regular maintenance, much like how cars need oil changes every few months. With these suggestions, you should feel confident in making these updates swiftly and efficiently!
5. Review the user experience
User experience is crucial. It's all about how easily visitors navigate your site. They should find products effortlessly, access key information to make decisions about using your business, and complete purchases smoothly on e-commerce platforms.
If a site is difficult to use, more visitors will leave before converting, so investing in UX is vital. Start by using your website as a customer would, and gather feedback from colleagues, friends, and family.
You can also collect feedback from customers through surveys and by noting site-related complaints in customer service emails and other touchpoints like Twitter or live chat. Additionally, you can conduct remote user testing using platforms such as UserZoom and usertesting.com, where you can set tests and watch videos of people using your site.
6. Images
Refreshing product images can significantly boost conversions, so it's essential to keep them updated.
You can give your site a fresh look by replacing older images with newer, higher-quality versions. Also, consider the number of images you use on product pages. For instance, displaying multiple images can effectively showcase a product, such as shoes from different angles, allowing customers to make more informed decisions.
This principle applies to all websites, not just online shops. Consider updating homepage imagery or replacing outdated pictures on your 'about' page.
Take some time to review the type and style of images you're using and ensure they align with your brand image. Look for opportunities to add more imagery to your site to enhance its appeal.
Summary
The reviews, refreshes, and updates mentioned here are all easy to implement and can lead to rapid improvements in website performance.
In a competitive online landscape, it's crucial not to become complacent. Website design and features can become outdated swiftly, and customer behavior and device usage are constantly evolving.
By staying proactive and regularly reviewing and updating your site, you can enhance website performance without exerting too much effort.