image courtesy of imagerymajestic/freedigitalphotos.net
I am always disappointed when I click on a website and get a homepage slider at the top with no headline. Actually, “disappointed” is being nice…upset is a better way to put it.
Why would I get frustrated with a homepage slider?
Because when I search the internet, I’m usually in a hurry. I have a problem that begs for a solution right now. Having to view a number of images and text sliding by without any context frustrates me. And it probably frustrates your visitors, too.
The images usually slide too fast for me to read and it’s a nightmare figuring out what the heck they’re all about. With no headline above the images, I’m completely lost.
Now, don’t get me wrong, the images are nice, sometimes very beautiful. But even if your website visitor knows about you and your company or non-profit, they’re most likely clicking onto your site to get something that you offer. As far as I’m concerned, the slider just gets in the way.
Here’s the thing, most of your visitors don’t have the time to browse…they get to your website action oriented. The first thing they want to know is whether they’ve come to the right place. The second thing is, can you help them.
It’s much easier to answer those two questions with an effective headline. The last thing they need is to get a generic overview of your business in lovely pictures, one after the other.
So get rid of those sliders on your homepage. To me and my copywriting sensibilities, they’re a cop out probably suggested by your designer because he/she couldn’t come up with a powerful enough headline.
A good headline will tell your visitor what you do and how you can help them. A good start. A great headline makes your webpage irresistible to your visitor so they feel they must read on.
Think about how you would eliminate those sliding images and replace them with a headline that really engages your visitors. At the least, tell them what you do and how you can help them.
Now about that irresistible headline...need help? Just get in touch!
Until next time,
Nick
Nick Burns is an SEO web writer specializing in persuasive copywriting and content marketing. He provides clients a winning content strategy plus the special web writing to make it work. You can contact Nick here.
