SimplStart for Membership Sites - Homepage layout

Homepage Layout

What: The layout of you homepage has a logo in the top left, and one initial column. There is a teaser image that offers the main call to action (subscribe). In the left column are more dynamic links that go deeper into the site.

Why: People look and read websites different to books. Studies of eye movement have shown that site visitors use an F-shaped pattern when they look at web pages. The home page layout is designed to take advantage of this pattern.

Source: http://www.useit.com/eye tracking/

The home page of the Membership content pack takes advantage in several ways:

• Logo tag line
  There is a space for a "tag line" in your logo. The top left of your page is a high visibility place to put a tag line that identifies your business and what you do.
  
• Teaser Image
  There are high impact teaser images close to the top of the page. This teaser image will draw the eye as visitors scan the home page and will act as links to more detailed information. The image here is from istockphoto.com, a cheap source of high-quality images.
  
• Left column
  There is a left column to place important site wide information. The left column contains a login box (with registration link) and a series of dynamic links to articles deeper into the site.
• Main Article
  The main article has a headline/title and important information about your company. The home page should always clearly and quickly communicate who you are and what you do. Your home page article needs to do this in 1-2 short, easy to read paragraphs.

Editing the Homepage

Your home page is made up of the home page article and various modules.

These links will take you directly into the backend of your site where you can edit the elements of your homepage.

• Edit your logo
• Edit your teaser image module
• Edit the left column modules: login
• Edit the home page article

For more help about editing modules see:
simplweb.com/beginner-lessons/2-beginner/17-lesson-1c-customizing-your-site#editingmodules

You cannot edit the left column article links. These are automatically generated as you add other articles elsewhere.

Thee left column links are modules that show the:

• Latest articles from the Blog category
• Most popular articles from the Blog category
• Latest articles from the Premium Content Section