Have you ever visited a website and been amazed at how everything just works seamlessly? Behind that smooth experience are multiple elements working together to make the site functional, user-friendly, and visually appealing. These parts are crucial for how you interact with the site and how well it communicates your offer to your intended client. By understanding these elements, you’ll gain a greater appreciation for the structure behind web pages, whether you’re a site visitor or a website owner.

Let’s kick things off with:

Types of Website Pages

Home Page

Think of the home page as the front door to a website. It’s the first impression visitors get, so it’s essential for capturing their attention and guiding them further into the site. Its main job is to give a clear overview of what the website is about and invite visitors to explore more. We’ll dive into some key elements of a great webpage later on.

Interior Pages

Interior pages are the backbone of a website, offering detailed information and fulfilling the site’s primary functions. These pages can vary in purpose and content:

• About Page: This is where you tell your story. It introduces your mission, values, and team members, helping to build trust and connect with visitors on a personal level.
• Services Pages: These pages outline what you offer, providing specifics on each service. They often include descriptions, benefits, pricing, and sometimes client testimonials to showcase your expertise and reliability.
• Blog: A blog page is like your conversation hub. It houses articles, updates, and insights that engage your audience, improve SEO, and establish your authority.
• Contact Page: This page makes it easy for visitors to get in touch. It typically includes a contact form, phone number, email address, and sometimes a map of your physical location.

Landing Page / Sales Page

Landing pages and sales pages are unique because they have a focused purpose:

• Landing Page: These pages are designed with a specific goal in mind, like capturing leads or promoting a campaign. They ’re often minimalist, with a clear call-to-action to drive visitors towards completing a single action, like signing up for a newsletter or downloading an ebook.
• Sales Page: This is a type of landing page focused on converting visitors into customers. Sales pages provide detailed information about a product or service, highlighting benefits, features, and customer testimonials. They are designed to persuade and guide the visitor through the buying process, often including compelling visuals and direct calls to action like “Buy Now” or “Sign Up.”

Next, let’s look at some common sections you will find on a typical web page

Main Sections of a Webpage

Header

The header is the first thing visitors see, no matter where they land. Typically, it includes your site’s logo and a navigation menu that helps users move easily from page to page. You might also find a contact button, links to social media pages, or cart icons if it’s an e-commerce site. Consistency is key here—the header stays the same as users click around, creating a smooth and organized experience. Some headers even stay put as users scroll, a feature known as a sticky header, so they’re always within reach.

Hero Section

Just below the header, you’ll find the hero section. In the print world this is called “above the fold”.  This is what you normally can view on your browser at first glance without having to scroll. The main goal of this section is to communicate the unique value that your business offers to customers aka your Brand Statement. It often features an eye-catching image, video, or graphic. Often here you will find a strong headline, supported by a brief description and often a call-to-action (CTA) button. 

Body

The body is where the real action happens. This is the main part of the page where most of the information is presented—think articles, blog posts, product descriptions, and multimedia content. The body can be divided into content sections, making it easier to scan and read. Interactive elements like forms, CTA buttons, and links also live here. 

Sidebars

Sidebars are like the sidekick to the main content. They provide extra space for additional content and navigation options. Right sidebars are more common than left ones as this placement allows the main content to appear first on the left, giving it priority.

Footer

At the very bottom of the page, the footer ties everything together. It’s where you’ll find important details like contact information, copyright notices, and links to privacy policies and terms of service. Footers often include navigation links to key parts of the site, such as the homepage or about us page, and sometimes a “back to top” button to make navigation a breeze. 

Common Elements in a Webpage

So far I have mentioned terms like “navigation menu”, “cards” and “CTA” (Call to Action). These are some of the essential elements that typically make up the sections of a webpage. Let’s go through the most common ones in more detail.

Navigation Menu

The navigation menu is like a friendly guide that helps visitors find their way around a website. It’s usually located at the top of the page but can also appear on the side or even at the bottom. This menu includes links to the main sections of the site, such as “Home,” “About,” and “Contact,” making it easy for people to navigate and explore different areas. A well-designed menu should adapt seamlessly to various screen sizes. 

Additionally, you will see breadcrumb trails. Located near the top of the page, just below the header, these trails help users backtrack their steps easily, reducing confusion and simplifying navigation on larger sites. A typical breadcrumb trail looks like this: 

Home > Category > Subcategory > Current Page.

Content Sections

Think of content sections as neat little packages that organize information into bite-sized pieces. They’re versatile design elements used to present content in a clean, structured way. Each content section contains all the details related to a specific topic or item, making it easy for users to focus on one piece of content at a time without feeling overwhelmed. They often mix text, images, and icons, and can be styled with various designs, borders, shadows, and backgrounds to match the overall look of the site.

Search Bar

Imagine trying to find a single article on a website brimming with information. That’s where the search bar comes to the rescue. It simplifies the process by allowing users to quickly locate exactly what they’re looking for, saving time and frustration. Typically positioned at the top of the page, the search bar is a simple rectangular box where you type your query and hit enter to see the results. Some search bars come with filters, helping users narrow down results by categories, dates, or other criteria for even more precise searches.

Call to Action

A Call to Action (CTA) button guides visitors toward taking a specific action, like making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter. CTAs typically stand out—using bright colors or bold fonts helps them grab attention. Placement is key, too. You’ll find CTAs where they’re easy to spot, such as at the top of the page, at the end of articles, or beside important content. The goal is to make sure your users don’t have to search for them. Also, repeating a CTA on a long page e.g. sales page ensure the site visitor does not have to search for the ‘BUY’ option and can take action at any point.

Contact Form

A contact form makes it easy for visitors to reach out to you by filling out a few fields. To keep it accessible, the contact form is usually found on a dedicated “Contact Us” page or in the footer, so visitors won’t have to hunt for it. Common fields include name, email address, and sometimes more details depending on the need. Interactive features, like autofill and validation messages, smooth the process and reduce frustration. To keep spam at bay, many contact forms include CAPTCHA or other verification steps, ensuring that only real users can submit their messages.

Featured Image

The featured image is a key visual element for blog posts. Positioned at the top of the post, just below the title or header, it’s the first visual thing readers see, grabbing their attention and setting the tone for the content. You typically set the featured image in your web platform’s content editor, like WordPress. When sharing blog posts on your social media handle, the featured image often serves as the preview image, adding visual appeal and drawing readers in.

NOTEABLE READING: 10 DIY Website Mistakes To Avoid

Page and Text Hierarchy

The final aspect I want to delve into is page and text hierarchy.  When it comes to designing a website, the order in which text is presented is crucial for guiding visitors through your content smoothly. This hierarchy ensures that the most important information stands out and is easily accessible.

1. Title Text: This is the most prominent text on the page, usually an H1 heading.

2. Subheadings: These are slightly smaller than the title text and help break down the content into sections. They are typically H2 or H3 headings.

3. Body Text: This is the main content of the page, providing detailed information. 

Here’s a visual representation with dummy text:

Let’s quickly go over typography which is all about choosing and arranging fonts, colors, and sizes on a webpage. For example, sans-serif fonts are great for body text because they’re easy to read. You also have to account for white space (also known as negative space). It separates content sections and allows a page to breathe. While you are at it don’t forget the color scheme. It helps establish brand identity and enhance a page’s visual appeal. For instance, blue and white can convey trust and professionalism, which is why many financial websites use these colors.  That’s why understanding color psychology is crucial for web design.

Design The Best Website For You

With all these sections and elements, it’s clear that creating a website is much more than just putting text and images together. You need to be thoughtful about the design and have a deep understanding of the desired user experience. If all this sounds like a lot (I don’t blame you if it does), I’m here to help.

Let’s work together to build a stunning website that turns your site visitors into clients.

Hire Me as Your Web Designer Today!