The best websites have beautiful images of their company and products that complement the content they are trying to convey. The worst websites don’t use enough photos, or they put them in places you can never see them without scrolling down a whole page. This article is a comprehensive list of what needs to be above the fold on your homepage, with examples for each type of website. The average person’s attention span is less than that of a goldfish. It’s undoubtedly harming you when it comes to your website. “55 percent of visitors spend less than 15 seconds on your website,” according to HubSpot.
You’d best get their attention as soon as possible. But how do you go about doing that? The most crucial information is placed above the fold. It’s one of the most well-known web design principles. And it’s a topic that’s sparked a lot of discussions. Some individuals argue you should stick to the original formula and maintain critical information above the fold. Other individuals have told me that it doesn’t matter since most people are willing to scroll. And, given the growing number of individuals who use mobile devices, this makes even more sense. It’s ok if everyone has their point of view. But in this essay, I’ll discuss what I believe should appear above the fold on your site.
Most critical aspects and vital necessities:
What does it mean to be “above the fold”?
Allow me to provide a formal definition of “above the fold” so that we’re all on the same page. Tech Target claims that ‘The area of a web page displayed in a browser window when the page is initially loaded is known as above the fold.’ In other words, it’s the first thing visitors view when they don’t scroll down. Although we commonly associate “above the fold” with websites, the phrase initially originated with conventional print newspapers. It was merely the top half of a newspaper’s front page where the most crucial article was carried.
As an example:
Why is it so vital to have content above the fold?
It’s straightforward.
- It’s the first thing people notice.
- It’s what gets people’s attention the most.
- It is here that most visitors spend most of their time.
Visitors spend 80% of their time above the fold, according to a 2011 eye-tracking research by Jakob Nielsen.
It’s understandable why people make such a massive deal over what goes above the fold. While there will always be disagreement about how vital it is to place material above the fold, it is undeniably significant. And in my opinion, there are a few key components that must be included.
Unique selling proposition (USP)
Here’s a snapshot of Tech Target’s description of a USP:
You must include this information above the fold. The way visitors gather their bearings after visiting your site is your USP. It’s your technique of quickly demonstrating what you’re providing and how they’ll benefit from digging further through your website. Bam! Visitors are immediately aware of the situation. A clear, well-crafted USP is a crucial feature of your above-the-fold content, regardless of what sector you’re in or what area you specialize in.
Some “explanatory” text
As a result, your USP gives the first orientation to visitors. However, it typically does not go into great depth. This is why you should add some “explainer” material that explains what your product accomplishes to newcomers. From the Ahrefs webpage, here’s an excellent example:
It’s concise and to-the-point, yet visitors can immediately see what Ahrefs can do for them. In this situation, they may figure out what is assisting rivals in achieving high rankings and what actions they might take to surpass them. It’s worth noting that it doesn’t go on and on with the long-winded text. It outlines what the product accomplishes and straightforwardly elaborates on the USP. As a result, visitors’ interest levels should rise, encouraging them to explore the website.
Your company’s logo
This is a significant issue. In a world when sectors are oversaturated, and enterprises must frequently scratch and claw their way to the top, brand awareness is critical. That’s why you should build consistent branding across the board and promote your brand identity at every opportunity. I was hoping you could take a look at any large company’s webpage, and I’m sure their logo is prominently displayed above the fold. Listed below are a few instances.
The HubSpot homepage is as follows:
Dropbox’s home page is as follows:
It’s your method of introducing yourself to visitors and aiding in developing your long-term brand.
Navigation is simple
Let’s pretend a new visitor has just arrived on your homepage. They have a solid sense of what you’re giving after viewing your USP and explanatory material. They will link your brand logo with you after viewing it. You’ve piqued their attention, and they’re curious to learn more. It’s your job to provide customers with the tools they need to navigate your site in a logical, organized manner. Of course, this is accomplished via easy, straightforward navigation. Allow me to give you a few examples of companies who excel at this. There’s ConversionXL, for starters:
Buffer is the next item on the list:
Finally, there’s Pat Flynn’s Smart Passive Income: How to Make Money While You Sleep.
Pat’s webpage has a feature that I like. This is the “Begin Here” page. It isn’t required for every website, but it is a great approach for specific sites to provide first-time visitors with a fast and straightforward way to get familiar with the site by giving them the most excellent material available. All three of these instances have straightforward, easy-to-understand navigation. This allows visitors to locate what they’re searching for fast and efficiently. This is critical for enticing people to explore your site thoroughly and convert them.
Information about how to contact us
This factor is more crucial than you would imagine. According to a KoMarketing analysis on online usability, The most significant factor missing from many corporate websites, according to 51% of users, is “thorough contact information.” Aside from that, On the homepage of a vendor’s website, 64% of customers want to see contact information.
It’s particularly vital if you’re selling online via an e-commerce site. People want to know you’re a reputable company rather than a con artist who will grab their money and flee. When visitors arrive on your site, having complete contact information puts their minds at rest.
Your call to action
You may have raised an eyebrow since I placed the word occasionally in brackets. Why wouldn’t you put a call to action above the fold? Isn’t this the very foundation of webpage design?
But here’s the thing with CTAs:
Several studies have been conducted to see how effective CTAs positioned above the fold are compared to those placed below. The Boston Globe was part of one of the most noteworthy experiments. The experiment was straightforward. They did an A/B test on the site, placing the CTA above the fold initially, then below the fold. The original webpage, with the CTA above the fold, looked like this:
The second version, with the CTA below the fold, is as follows:
According to conventional thinking, the first version with the CTA above the fold should outperform the second, right? No, not at all. In reality, the outcomes were almost identical, with no significant changes in conversion rates. This indicates that increasing conversions requires more than just positioning your CTA above the fold. That is something that everyone can accomplish. It’s more about nailing the rest of the aspects and crafting amazing content. If you catch visitors’ curiosity, they’ll scroll farther down your webpage and eventually come across your CTA. However, as long as it makes sense and fits with the rest of your material, I advocate putting your CTA above the fold. The majority of successful brands use this strategy. However, it would be best if you never forced it. The most important thing for you to encourage visitors and develop magnetic material. Also, make sure you’re not overloading visitors by including many CTAs above the fold, such as registration forms, a link to your product, and so on. Instead, keep things simple by focusing on a single call to action. As an example:
Conclusion
It’s relatively simple to figure out what should be above the fold on your webpage.
Here’s a quick rundown:
- A unique selling proposition (USP) that is well-written
- Some quick explanation text
- Your company’s logo
- Navigation is straightforward.
- Contact information is very vital if you operate an e-commerce business.
The CTA is optional, and it doesn’t have as big an impact on conversion rates as you would imagine. However, if you can do it smoothly, non-disruptive manner, go ahead and put your CTA above the fold. Other aspects might be added, but these are the most important. You should be able to convince a significant part of your readers to continue exploring and even proceed through your sales funnel by combining them all. What do you believe is the most significant aspect to add to your webpage above the fold?
Frequently Asked Questions
What should be above the fold on a website?
A: The area above the fold is the section of a website that is not scrolled past when one scrolls down to read articles. This should contain some call to action or other vital information about what people are looking for on your site.
What is content above the fold?
A: Content above the fold is a term used to describe content that appears on screen before all other content.
What content should be on a homepage?
A: A homepage should be informative and valuable. It needs to have a description of what the website is, who it’s for (if any), links to helpful related websites, an email address or contact form, social media accounts like Facebook and Twitter with the most up-to-date information on live events and how often they’re happening, as well as other promotional materials including videos.
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