Why Your Homepage is Hurting Your Conversions (and How to Fix It)
I don’t know what’s worse—spending 59 hours getting your website together or hearing crickets after you launch it (like, forreal, where the hell is everyone?). It’s like showing up to work, and remembering you have the day off—insert facepalm.
If your homepage isn’t converting the right people (or even worse, converting at all), it can be frustrating (more frustrating than forgetting your wallet at home). But you can relax a bit because there are ways to fix your homepage so it actually converts the right people into clients, just like you want.
Your messaging is a bit confusing
True tea: your homepage isn’t converting because it’s not saying what you think it’s saying.
Think of your homepage like a first date—you want to impress and keep them wanting more.
If it’s confusing, people are gonna get out of there without thinking twice. Too many homepages are either doing the absolute most or just don’t say enough about what really matters.
People need to know three things right away: who you are, what you do, and what’s in it for them.
Why? Because making things easy to understand helps people know exactly what you mean and what you want them to do. It’s like when you tell your friend about your new boo. You don’t shy away from the details. No! You go all in on everything that makes you melt at just the thought of them—their smile, sense of humor, and how they express themselves.
So, to make your homepage messaging clear, write it like you’re explaining it to a friend. Think about how you would tell them what you offer and how it helps your clients. Use simple language and get to the point.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Your Homepage Isn’t Converting:
Overly complex language: Seriously, throw all the fancy, dictionary language out. People shouldn’t have to work hard to understand what you mean; they just want to know what you can do for them.
Missing clear benefits: It should be obvious why someone should choose you. It should be clear what sets you apart—don’t be afraid to show that off.
Overlooking your people: It’s about the people! Your messaging should be all about your dream clients and what they really want.
Your CTA’s (call to action) are weak
The CTAs on your homepage can seal the deal or leave people saying “I don’t have time for this; let me just go somewhere else.”
People can’t read your mind so they won’t just know what you want them to do next (whether that be schedule a call, ask about your services, sign up for your newsletter, the list goes on).
If your CTA is weak or worse, not there at all, people might bounce because they’re not sure what to do, or because you haven’t convinced them to do anything. Your CTA is like a bridge—it’s what takes people from “Okay, this person is cool” to “Okay, I’m down.”
So, don’t think of your CTA as just a button—it’s seriously so much more than that. CTAs hold a lot of weight because they give people the obvious next step. A CTA that converts doesn’t just say ‘click here’—it tells people exactly what they’re getting.
Think about the one thing you want people to do. Write it just how you’d say it to them or how they’d say it to you, like “sign me up, like, yesterday” (if the purpose is to get people to sign up for your newsletter).
Also, don’t just throw any old CTA on your homepage. If you want people to do something, think about what they need to make them want to do it—be clear and convincing. It’s all about giving them a good reason to do what you want.
And there you have it, people will know exactly what you want them to do next.
Different types of CTAs
Soft CTAs: These are lowkey CTAs, like “sign up for the newsletter” or “join the community.” Perf for nurturing your leads.
Hard CTAs: These CTAs are direct, like “Girl, sign me up, now!” or “I need to get on the list.” Use these when you want people to take immediate action.
Your design is a bit too much to take in
Is your homepage easy on the eyes—something like the new hot guy on campus? (Or is it overwhelming people?)
A homepage with too much of this and too much of that is visually exhausting. If there’s just too much going on, people don’t know where to look; they’re getting lost, and they might not stay on your site long enough to see what’s in it for them. When everything on your homepage is competing for attention, your message gets overlooked—and nobody wants that, ever.
People need a break—so give it to them. There’s no such thing as too much white space unless it’s just one big empty page, obvi. Those gaps are intentional and much-needed to get people to make their way to your CTA.
So, ask yourself: if I were just landing on this site for the first time, where are my eyes going? Are they bouncing around everywhere trying to take in all of the stuff on the page, about to hit the X because it’s just too much happening?
Here are a few ways to fix a homepage that has too much going on:
Strong headline: Always start with a strong headline in a readable font that catches attention
Short paragraphs: Keep your paragraphs short so they have room to breathe
Limit images: Use only one (sometimes two) image per section and space things out so it doesn’t seem so overwhelming
Consistent color scheme: Make sure your colors are consistent and go with your brand
Your User Experience (UX) isn’t user-friendly
UX matters, big time. If it’s off, people know it right away—and they leave. A smooth UX helps people move through your site with ease, finding exactly what they need without any frustration.
Make your homepage easy to use. People should know where to go and what to do without second guessing. The layout on your homepage should make sense with buttons right where they need to be and a design that guides them naturally. When your UX is easy to use, people will want to stay on your site and see what you have to offer.
If your homepage feels like a bad first date—awkward, confusing, or just plain ugly—people are gonna bounce fast. But with a few tweaks—clear messaging, strong CTAs, eye-friendly design, and a smooth user experience—your homepage has a better chance of actually converting.
The thing is your website should be working hard for you—if it’s not, head over to my services page to see how I can help you get the right people converting on your website.
