The Structure of Web Pages

Technically making a home page is the same as making any web page. However, when making the home page you need to consider that this page is usually the starting page of the Website.

The home page acts as the site guide, it is the page presented to website visitors who do not directly specify a web page but simply enter the website domain name.

As it is usually the way most users enter your website it is, without doubt, the most important page on your website.

What A Good Home Page Must Do

The Home page must tell new visitors what to expect from the website- what is in it for them! This it should accomplish within the first 2 -3 paragraphs. It should then provide clear navigation to the rest of the site for new and returning visitors.

What a Good Home Page Must Not Do

You must not try to put product details, details about yourself, your company etc on the home page. You must not try to sell directly from the home page and should not try to put all your website on the home page.

Home Page File Name and Title

Home pages file names are by convention either index.htm, index.html, home.htm, home.html, default.htm or default.html. Usually your web hosting provider will tell you which to use, if not use index.htm as it tends to be accepted by most providers.

To test that it works ok just connect to your website using the domain name like www.build-your-website.co.uk and the home page should be displayed.

The page Title and other Meta Tags should follow the standard rules for optimized web pages i.e. it should include your site keywords.

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