When you are involved in designing or producing a Web site, it's easy to lose sight of important details. As design elements are moved around the page to improve esthetics or usability, items can be left out accidentally. Here is a checklist of important elements that every Web site homepage should contain. Before you publish yours, check off each item.
- Page Title
 The browser window should display your site's title and a brief description. Use language that will be informative in bookmark lists and search engines.
- Logo
Include your site name and/or logo in its expected location: the top left hand corner of the page.
- Tag Line
Identify what your site is all about, preferably in a one sentence tagline. Don't let anyone wonder what you do or what you sell.
- Search Function
If your site is search enabled (which it should be if it has more than just a few pages), make sure there is a search box on the homepage.
- Contact Information
Contact information must be easy to find. Include it on every page of your site if possible.
- Link to Privacy Policy
If you collect any information from your users, have a clearly written and easily found Privacy Policy.
- Link to About Us
Users may want to know who you are and why they should trust you. An "About Us" section is the expected place to give this information.
- Link to Shopping Cart
If you sell anything, there should be a link to your shopping cart and/or account information on every page.
- Sign In
If your site requires users to log-in for access, make the log-in area prominent on the homepage.
- Sign Up
If you plan to solicit user e-mail addresses for a newsletter or other communication, ask for the sign up on every page, including the homepage.
- Recent Content
Any recently published notices or features should be highlighted on the homepage.
- High Priority Tasks
While these tasks differ by site, make sure that the tasks your users need to accomplish most frequently are easily found on the homepage.
- Article by Wale Bello
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