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!
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chenele says
Thank you Paula, I find your tips and questions useful and actionable.
Caleb says
These are great tips! Thanks for sharing. One way to have someone else review your website is to use a user testing service where a real person goes to your site and gives their opinion of what they see. I used the free 5 minute test from the website usertesting.. Here’s the url http:// peek.usertesting.com …btw, I have no affiliation with this company. I did get some really good feedback though!
Karen M Peterson says
These are great tips. I feel like my page is doing pretty well, but I come across a lot of blogs that are kind of a mess!
Carole says
Thanks for these helpful tips. One of the things I did early on in my blogging career was to “subscribe” via email to my own blog. That way I get an email sent to me each time I post something new. And, I don’t ignore that email (like we do 90% of the ones we all get), but open it and check it. I do this because one day it didn’t have a photo! Humans are visual, so that post was probably overlooked by many subscribers! After investigating, I figured out that I’d forgotten to set my “featured image” on my dashboard! Pinning to Pinterest!
Pinterest Addicted says
Great tips! I did not even think about backing up my site, YIKES! I have only just started my blog and I think I definitely need to work on number 6. I have a lot of design work to do. Thanks for the post!.
Diane Roark says
Paula,
Great tips! THANK YOU!! I pinned it! I am double checking everything.
Blessings and have a Marvelous Monday!
Diane Roark
recipesforourdailybread.com
Beverly Girolomo says
Reply: I need to know how do I put buttons on both sides? Thank you for your input!
Beverly Girolomo says
Hi Paula
I just notice you have reply to me: I will answer back!
You suggest me to buttons on both sides. How do I do that? Will be added my Pinterest account shortly.
And thanks so much for your imput, I really appreciated it!
Leslie @ House on the Way says
Great tips! Thanks so much!
Navi says
Hey those are some great tips! I started my blog a few months ago & i was wondering if you could look at it and give me any suggestions to improve it? Is the background too bright? Etc.
Celebrateyourhome.blogspot.com
Thanks so much! 🙂
Raven says
Thank you Paula for the link to pingdom. My site was loading slow and pingdom found the problem, I had been trying to find that problem for months, and I was able to fix it. Great post and thanks again!
Raven J. True Blue Baking
Paula says
Awesome, Raven! So happy I could help!
Mandi Welbaum says
These are some really good tips that any blogger new or old should take into account. Thanks for giving your input on this issue.
Paula says
Thanks so much for stopping by, I hope they can be helpful.
Divya says
great list, putting it up on sverve
Paula says
Thank you, Divya!
Cheryl says
Lots of great tips, I’m glad I fourn you on Saturday Night Fever #4.
Paula says
Thank you, Cheryl! Thanks for stopping by!
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats says
Super helpful Paula, need to take a look at my homepage with fresh eyes! 🙂 Thanks for sharing at Show Stopper Saturday!
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
Nici says
Oh, my goodness…I needed the info in this post so badly, but now I feel completely overwhelmed. Baby steps, right? I’ve been wanting to do something different with the overall design, and now I know that all the aspects you mentioned need to be revamped as well. There’s just not enough time in a day to get it all done. Ever feel like that? I am going to pin this, maybe even print it out so I can have a checklist of items to fix and/or do. Thanks for laying it all out there, Paula. By the way, if you happen to see anything glaringly wrong with my blog, feel free to let me know. I need all the help I can get. ;–)
Have a blessed day!
Nici
Paula says
Nici, you have a great blog!! I do feel like there’s never enough time, I’m always trying to get new content ready and neglect items as well. My RSS button doesn’t work, never has on WordPress and I keep putting off doing anything about it.
tanya says
I needed this Paula! It’s so good to stop and step back and see where you might need to revamp your site. I know my homepage could use a face lift! Thanks for sharing this at Saturday Night Fever!
Paula says
I know, we work so hard but usually from back stage. It was fun to write, I never write about blogging.
Elizabeth (Rock-A-Bye Parents) says
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!
Paula says
I do the same thing, I’m always on the back side of the blog writing or such. Thanks for stopping by!
Carol says
Thank you for sharing these great ideas!
Smiles,
Carol
Dawn @ We Call It Junkin says
Good info and tips, I’ll have to give mine a go-over ! Take care – Dawn @ We Call It Junkin.com
kelli@ eat pray read love says
Thanks Paula! Definitely pinning this great article. You’ve done a fantastic job with your blog! Congrats!
Paula says
Thanks so much Kelli!
Gloria // Simply Gloria says
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! (=
Paula says
Thank you Gloria. I’m just so non-techie I have to get someone to do all the hard stuff for me.
Julie says
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
Julie @White Lights on Wednesday says
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!
Paula says
Thank you, Julie! I was thinking about adding an IG widget so glad you told me that!
tracy says
I’m as non-technical as they come. I tried the site speed site but couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
Paula says
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.
Beverly Girolomo says
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!
Paula says
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!
kiki says
Hi Paula, great post… I really need to improve my site, as I’m a beginner. Your check list is very clear: I’ll use it!
thanks for sharing!
Paula says
Thank you so much. I still feel like a beginner on the technical side of things, happy you found it useful!
Camila says
Awesome post Paula, this is a great reminder to give some love to our own blogs! Each one of those questions are so important to check! Thanks so much for sharing this!
XOXO
Cami
Paula says
Thanks so much, Camila. I have to remind myself to look at it like a first time visitor would and see if it’s easy to navigate.
GiGi Eats Celebrities says
I do believe I am doing this all correctly, maybe minus the rather busy side bar. But I have yet to figure out how I can utilize the bottom banner portion of my web site!
Paula says
Your site looks fab. I struggle with the bottom as well, I think it just doesn’t get viewed much. Have you ever tried a banner ad down there? I was wondering if it would make much.
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) says
Great tips Paula. Thanks for this. In your recipe index in your header, how do you get the recipes to index under those photos? Is that a plug in or custom design?
Shauna @ Satori Design for Living says
Thanks for the tips. I definitely could use a search box (I haven’t found one that works well) and I could probably make it clearer for people to subscribe to email updates. Going to work on those!
Eva Gallant says
I am techno-challenged and have never been able to figure out how to do tabs.
Paula says
Are you on blogger? I don’t know how to on wp, but I did finally figure it out on blogger, If I can remember I’ll send instructions.
Heather @ Sugar Dish Me says
This was a great list Paula! It’s always helpful to review 🙂
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) says
Paula, this is a great article. My homepage needs some tweaks, but overall is pretty good. How did you create the tab Recipe Index? and Then get all of your recipes to link under all the photo boxes? I really like that.
Becca from ItsYummi says
Great tips, Paula! I need to find the tools to fix the load time on my blog. It’s horribly slow!
Paula says
Becca, plug in your blog url on that site I gave you. It help me tweek my load time and get rid of some of my slow plugins.
Paula@SweetPea says
Great tips! What plug-in do you use to back up your blog? I need to do that!
Paula says
I back up from my cpanel at my host, Bluehost, and save it to an external hard drive.