When creating a stellar website, you need to make sure you understand what the most important page of your website is. This is where you should put the most time, energy, and focus.
Of course, your whole website is important, but there are some specific essential pages for a website that need to be included. It’s important to know what should be on the first page of your website. Your homepage is the make-or-break page of your website, and it needs to be the star of the show.
Essential Pages For a Website
There are many directions you could go with your website, but there are five essential pages for a website that you need to have. They are:
- Home
- About
- Services
- FAQ
- Contact
Let’s break down these essential pages for a website that are must-haves.
Homepage
The homepage is the most important page of your website. It’s the first thing people see when they land on your site. It needs to speak to your potential client’s pain points. You need to think about what they typed into a Google search to find you and speak to the reason they might be looking for help.
It’s important to tell your readers who you are, who you work with, and what you do right away. Let them know what they can expect when they work with you. Use your empathy to really hook them right away so they’ll want to read more.
About Page
The about page is probably the second most important page of your website. The tricky thing with about pages is that they’re not actually about you. Your about page shouldn’t read like a resume or a CV. Yes, you can include training, background, and certifications, but I always recommend putting these in a list below your main text.
The about page is actually about the reader. You need to include enough information about you that potential clients feel like they know you. However, the information should relate to the readers.
I talked about hitting your reader’s pain points on the homepage. The about page is another opportunity to do this through your story. What is it about your story that will connect with potential clients and make them feel like you’ll get them?
Services Page
This essential page of a website is pretty self-explanatory from the title. It should break down the services you offer so that readers know exactly what they can come to you for.
For example, if you offer individual and couples therapy, you should write about each of those services as they relate to your practice.
It’s also beneficial for the reader if you explain the different areas of mental health that you treat. By the time your readers reach your services page, they already have an idea of what you offer. This is your opportunity to give them all the information about how you can help them.
If you’d like you can include small sections about each area you treat, but don’t get too hung up on explaining anxiety and depression. If people are searching for a therapist who treats anxiety and depression, they already know what that is.
FAQ Page
An FAQ page is another essential page of a website that often gets overlooked. FAQ pages are great places to not only answer common questions but also to use keywords so that Google can rank your website.
This page gives readers the opportunity to learn more about your practice, your fees and insurance policies, your late and cancellation policies, and what types of things to expect in the therapy you practice.
If you practice specific types of therapy like EMDR or DBT that people may not be super familiar with, you can use your FAQ page to succinctly answer questions people may have. FAQ pages are another opportunity to connect with your readers and answer their questions before you start.
Contact Page
Contact pages are pretty straightforward. They can be short and don’t require that much text, but they are another essential page of a website.
Your contact page must have clear ways to contact you. This includes an office address and phone number (if those apply) and an email where you can be reached. You can also include a contact form.
What Is the Most Important Page of Your Website?
The most important page of your website is your homepage. It’s where you make your first impression. You only have a few seconds to grab the reader’s attention before they leave. You want to get them to stay on your website and look around. In order to do this, you need copy that connects with the reader and has a strong and clear call to action (CTA).
What should be on the first page of your website, you may ask? Well, it’s crucial that the reader knows your name and what type of therapy your practice. Your CTA, whatever it is, needs to be clear and singular. You don’t want multiple CTAs or your readers won’t know what to do next. A homepage CTA can be to sign up for a call or book a session.
Your homepage is the make-or-break page that determines whether or not someone sticks around to read the rest of your site. You don’t want them to find you, skim, and bounce because you didn’t connect or they didn’t know what to do next. If you want a low bounce rate, you need to get people to click on other pages of your site.
What Should Be On the First Page of Your Website?
There are some obvious and maybe not-so-obvious things that should on the first page of a website. The name of your practice and your name need to be there so that people know who you are.
You also want a welcome paragraph that’s warm and inviting. Next, you need to clearly identify your ideal client and how you help them. Set up what they can expect from working with you right away. They can read more about your services and have questions answered on your Services and FAQ pages, but the homepage should give a general idea of what to expect.
As I mentioned before, you want to hit their pain points. Think about why your readers are coming to your website. What do you want them to know about how you can help them?
Make sure you’re using keywords to attract people to your website. If you provide EMDR therapy for veterans who have PTSD, use those words in your keywords and pepper them throughout your site. Remember, you need to think about what people would be typing into a Google search to look for help and incorporate those words into your copy.
Getting Help With Your Website
Figuring out things like what should be on the first page of your website or the essential pages of your website can be overwhelming. It can also be time-consuming, and time is not something most therapists have to spare.
This is why you should outsource and hire a mental health copywriter. I’m a former therapist who writes for therapists, and I understand how to craft a website that reflects who you are as a therapist. Contact me to set up a call and see if we’re a good fit. Let’s get that website written and focus on the most important pages of your site!