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.
Paula,
Great tips! THANK YOU!! I pinned it! I am double checking everything.
Blessings and have a Marvelous Monday!
Diane Roark
recipesforourdailybread.com
Reply: I need to know how do I put buttons on both sides? Thank you for your input!
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!
Great tips! Thanks so much!
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! 🙂
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
Awesome, Raven! So happy I could help!
These are some really good tips that any blogger new or old should take into account. Thanks for giving your input on this issue.
Thanks so much for stopping by, I hope they can be helpful.
great list, putting it up on sverve
Thank you, Divya!
Lots of great tips, I’m glad I fourn you on Saturday Night Fever #4.
Thank you, Cheryl! Thanks for stopping by!
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
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
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.
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!
I know, we work so hard but usually from back stage. It was fun to write, I never write about blogging.
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!