Are homepages vital?

[Gajandra D]

The traditional concept of a homepage still has value in the expanding web. The value now occurs at a different point in the buying cycle. Not long ago people would do their research then go to a website to learn more about the company, the company's products, so on and so forth.

Now people are doing the bulk of their buying research online. Search and offer-specific entry pages have to be simpler than traditional homepages because visitors aren't going to spend a lot of time figuring out where to go to do what they want to do. People entering a site via an offer or search query are essentially entering a site via a different mnemonic brand than what is traditionally recognized as a brand. Their purpose and goal is completely different from that of visitors coming in through the front door. Their mindset is more akin to the person at a fast-food drive-thru window. They're too busy to get out of the car. Their goal is to quickly get something they know they want and be on their way because they have other things to do. Specifically, things they place more value on than spending time with you and your site.

The new homepage purpose is very much a "comfort" and "trust" purpose. Visitors entering a homepage in the new web world are doing so because they want to get to know the company behind the site. They are the people who walk into an automotive showroom because they know they'll be in the market for a car a few months down the line. They don't want to buy a car today; they want to establish a relationship with the salesperson and the dealership. If things go well they'll come back and purchase a car.

In other words the homepage serves more than just an entry but it tell the buyer who you are and what your core business and manifesto is. Are they pressed into trusting you before buying and they sometimes do. So a homepage should reflect everything you are about to the buyer and gain his confidence and log an entry into his memory banks.

[darkpurple]

i think they are. as time goes by more and more people will be purchasing online. the web site is like walking into a store, so in that sense the site should reflect the character of the services/product being sold.

[Gajandra D]

One thing is to make them at ease at your site. Try to keep them engaged at all times with your offers or products. If possible let them traverse your site at their own pace and leisure something like a guided tour. This is why social networking sites are popular because not only are people curious animals but we constantly seek to renew our experience.

If you can succeed at having them click at more than one page then you are succeeding in your task. The rest would be up to the quality of the service and saleability of your products. This is usually the hardest part where you will convince them without actually conversation to purchase whatever it is you are selling. Everyone has an opinion on how to do this. The best thing you do is research your competition and the put your plan into action.

[David Tan]

With the advance of flash in almost all the browsers and how easy it is to install, these homepages for companies should include videos in describing their products and factories.

It's easy to implement flv videos (flash videos), easily convertible from normal camera videos to provide visitors with better insight into the company.

Imagine video descriptions of your best selling products (with emphasis on it's unique selling points).

Videos of how your company runs the business (even though you focus only on it's positive aspects).

It's so easy to implement into the website and any novice would be able to do it.