Homepage Best Practices for Small Business Websites

Aames Ng
Sep 30
3 min read

Updated: Oct 7

Your homepage is often the first and sometimes only chance to make an impression. It’s the digital front door to your business, setting the tone for what you offer and why visitors should stay. But many small businesses overlook simple homepage best practices, leaving potential customers confused, frustrated, or ready to click away.

In this post, we’ll show you how to create a high-converting homepage with clear messaging, strategic design, and user-friendly structure even if you’re not a web designer.

Tablet displaying "Wares" on screen against an orange background with text "Homepage Best Practices for Websites." — Your homepage is often the first and sometimes only chance to make an impression.

Why Your Homepage Matters

A homepage isn’t just about looking pretty. It’s a strategic tool to guide visitors toward action. Whether that’s contacting you, booking a service, or making a purchase.

A well-designed homepage:

Builds trust and credibility
Quickly explains what you do
Highlights your unique value
Guides visitors to key pages
Encourages engagement and conversions

Neglecting your homepage layout or messaging can cost you leads and sales. Following a few simple homepage design tips can make a massive difference.

7 Essential Homepage Best Practices

Ready to improve your homepage? Here are seven powerful homepage best practices every small business should follow.

1. Start with a Clear Headline

The first thing visitors see should answer two questions:

What do you offer?
Who is it for?

Example: Instead of “Welcome to Our Website,” try “Affordable Interior Design Services for Malaysian Homes.”

A strong headline hooks visitors and helps them understand they’re in the right place.

2. Add a Sub-headline for Clarity

Under your headline, a sub-headline gives a bit more detail. It should explain how your business helps solve a problem or deliver value.

Example: “We help homeowners transform their spaces into beautiful, functional living areas. On time and on budget.”

3. Use a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)

Don’t leave visitors guessing what to do next. Add a clear, visible CTA button like:

“Get a Quote”
“Book a Free Consultation”
“See Our Work”

Place your CTA “above the fold,” meaning it’s visible without scrolling.

4. Keep Navigation Simple

Your top menu should be clean and focused. Avoid overwhelming visitors with too many links. Common homepage navigation items include:

Home
About
Services
Blog
Contact

A simple structure improves usability and SEO.

5. Show Social Proof

Testimonials, client logos, and case studies add credibility. Visitors want to know others have trusted and loved your work.

Example: Add a short testimonial block under your hero section:

“Techy Apes completely transformed our website and our business. We’re now getting twice the enquiries!” - Happy Client

6. Use High-Quality Visuals

Professional photos or clean graphics make a big difference in first impressions. Avoid blurry images, inconsistent styles, or generic stock photos that feel impersonal.

7. Optimise for Mobile

With over half of web traffic coming from smartphones, mobile-friendly homepage design is non-negotiable. Make sure:

Text is readable without zooming
Buttons are easy to tap
Images load quickly
Layout adjusts nicely on smaller screens

A Simple Homepage Layout That Works

Here’s a proven homepage structure for small business websites:

Section	Purpose
Hero Section	Clear headline, sub-headline, CTA
About Preview	Short intro about who you are and what you do
Services Snapshot	Quick overview of your main offerings
Testimonials	Build trust with social proof
Latest Blog Posts (optional)	Showcase expertise
CTA Section	Encourage next step

Keeping your homepage layout organised helps visitors find what they need faster, which leads to better engagement and higher conversions.

Want Help Improving Your Homepage?

At Techy Apes, we specialise in designing homepages and websites that don’t just look good, they work hard to attract leads and grow your business. Whether you’re building a new website or revamping an old one, we’re here to help you implement homepage best practices for maximum results.