Web Genius Blog

Does it ever occur to you how often the best initial pitch a website can make is to welcome you to the site?

Instead of some bland, "welcome to..." statement, it is the job of the colours, design, language and tone of the site to make the visitor feel welcome - rather than a statement that is used on so many websites that it makes it even more meaningless.

But even more fundamentally, a "Welcome to.." headline is a colossal waste of what is the most valuable space on the website.

This type of statement does nothing to either "orient" the visitor (so she can immediately figure out if she is in the right place) or help her achieve her objectives (which ultimately helps you achieve yours).

Instead the home page headline is an opportunity to connect with the perfect prospect, either by successfully articulating the business's core benefit, or by framing the main problem that the business is looking to solve...

Here are a few examples from some of our recent sites:

www.theyarnqueen.co.nz:
"Wow, Did you knit that?"

www.marlboroughclassicmotoring.co.nz:
"With the hood down and wind in your hair, you can transport yourself into another era"

www.progressivebusinessinternational.com:
"You and your business. Intrinsically linked."

I would "welcome" any comments...