Things HomePage must accomodate

1. Site Identity & Mission

   HomePage should be able to tell

   • What this site is?
   • What it’s for?
   • Why should I be here & not at some other site.

2. Site Hierarchy

   • Overview of what site has to offer.
   • Content (what can I find here?)
   • Features (what can I do here?)
   • How it’s all organized? (Persistant Navigation)

3. Search

4. Teases

   It should be able to entice user with hints of the “good stuff” inside.

5. Content Promos

   spotlight the newest, best or most popular pieces of content.

   top stories & hot deals

6. Feature Promos

   explore additional sections of this site or try out features

7. Timely Content

   Update content frequently to make it alive

8. Deals

   Allocated space for advertising, cross-promotion & co-branding deals.

9. Shortcuts

   Most requested piece of content

10. Registration/Login

Home Page also has to meet a few abstract objectives

1. Show users what they are looking for

2. and what they are not looking for

   Some of the wonderful things site has to offer that user might be interested in—even though user is not looking for them

3. Show user where to start

4. Establish Credibility & Trust

   Make a good impression in the homepage iteself.

And you have to do it…blindfolded

1. Everybody wants a piece of it

   • Likely to be the page seen by most visitor—sometimes the only page a visitor will see.
   • Most desirable real estate—very limited supply—everybody who has a stake in the site wants a promo or link to their section.

   

2. Too many cooks

   Everyone (even the CEO) has an opinion about homepage.

3. One size fits all

   Unlike lower-level pages, the Home page has to appeal to everyone who visits the site, no matter how diverse their interests.