In the past, a “header” in web design referred to the ever-present strip at the top of websites that contained the logo, navigation bar, and maybe some contact details and search bar. Nowadays, a “header” refers more often to the entire space above the fold on the home page.

Unless someone’s found your site through a blog post shared on social media or from a referral on another site, chances are good they will enter it through the home page. And the first thing they’ll see is that prime real estate up top laid bare.

I’ve written before about how visitors respond better to the predictable placement of certain elements on your website (like the logo and CTA). By designing a website with the goal of meeting their expectations and enhancing their comfort by making the experience somewhat more predictable, you can effectively improve click-through and conversion rates.

Now think about that header space on the home page.

What exactly is a “header” these days?

Most people have come to rely on home pages to give them a bird’s-eye view of what a company or website is about, which means you can’t afford to waste this opportunity to deliver on that expectation.

Of course, your home page header design can be unique to your brand, but the elements found within it really shouldn’t be. Visitors expect scrolling won’t be necessary to find out what a site will do for them. In essence, your header should be a 10-second story that proves to your visitors what value the site will be to them.

So, what will you do with this space to captivate your visitors’ interest?

Let’s talk about some of the trends in header design, what you can do to make use of this highly visible real estate,

Keep reading this article on wpmudev.org