Home Page Design
A home page is your publication’s portal to the world. How you package content on your website can be the difference between gaining or losing a reader. Here are some examples of award-winning home pages.
The Pendleton Times-Post has an appealing home page. Look at the photograph in the flag. When done well, this can provide a splash of color and a reminder that the focus of the paper is the community. Change the photo at the top of the homepage often. You could even ask readers to choose one from a selection.
The Washington Times-Herald nails the formula for balancing original local copy and an active social media presence (look left and below). You'll see that the newspaper has linked its web page to Facebook and Twitter accounts, two popular social media platforms for newspapers.
Being active on social media improves the likelihood that readers will continue to engage with your publication, in addition to retaining subscribers. With more than 7,000 likes on Facebook, the Times-Herald is able to share breaking news, link back to popular stories and engage readers on platforms that more and more of them use.
