What Your Website Needs to Say in the First 5 Seconds
When someone lands on your website, you don’t have much time.
We’re talking seconds, not minutes.
Most people will scan your homepage for about 5 seconds before deciding if they’re going to stay or leave. That means your website needs to answer a few key questions right away, without making them think too hard.
If it doesn’t, they’re gone.
What Should Your Website Answer in 5 Seconds?
There are three simple questions your website should answer immediately:
- What do you do?
- Who do you help?
- What should I do next?
That’s it.
It sounds simple, but this is where a lot of websites miss the mark. They either try to say too much, or they don’t say enough.
It Starts With Your Hero Section
The top section of your homepage matters more than anything else.
Before someone scrolls. Before they click anything. Before they read a full paragraph.
That first section, your hero section, should do most of the heavy lifting.
Your headline should clearly explain what you do.
Your subheadline should give a little more detail or explain who you help.
And somewhere in that section, there should be a clear next step.
Don’t Make People Figure It Out
One of the biggest mistakes we see is websites that look nice but don’t actually say anything.
You’ll see big, bold headlines that sound good, but don’t explain anything. Or vague phrases that could apply to just about any business.
That might look good from a design standpoint, but it doesn’t help your visitor.
People shouldn’t have to scroll around your site trying to figure out what you do. If they have to work for it, most won’t.
Your Call To Action Matters
Once someone understands what you do and who you help, the next step should be obvious.
That’s where your call to action comes in.
“Contact Us” works, but it’s not very strong. You can be more specific and more helpful.
Something like:
- “Schedule a Free Consultation”
- “Get a Website Review”
- “Request a Quote”
Give them a clear direction.
A Quick Test You Can Do Today
Pull up your website and look at just the top section.
Ask yourself:
Can someone tell what we do?
Can they tell who we help?
Do they know what to do next?
If the answer to any of those is no, that’s a good place to start.
You don’t need to redesign your whole site. Sometimes a better headline and a stronger call to action can make a big difference.