While the world moves towards digital, your ice cream business must have an online presence. This means having a website that sells your product and promotes your ice cream shops – a website that actually brings in customers. But what exactly should an ice cream shop website home page include?
Must-Includes on Ice Cream Shop Website Home Page
Websites are not only important for new businesses but for existing ones too. Therefore, ensure that your heart-melting ice creams get the home page they deserve. Instead of using a template, give it a personal touch by using the following checklist for the ice cream shop website’s home page design.
1. A clear and attention-grabbing headline
Most of the visitors to your website would not be reading the entire text written on your website. So, start editing your content in a way that must have an attention-grabbing headline.
It should have the power to convince most people to skim through the page and be tempted enough to come and purchase your ice cream. For example: “The best ice cream in town!” or “15 flavors of ice cream that you must try!”
2. A well-planned layout and color scheme
While designing your website’s home page, you should remember that it would be like the front page of a magazine. It would make the first impression, and on which your potential customers will base their decision to visit your ice cream shop or not.
(This is why we’ve created ice cream shop layouts that we KNOW work to drive my business into your ice cream shop, and we customize every template with your logo, colors, and your photos. Check out our ice cream shop website packages and rates.)
The layout of your website’s home page should be easy to follow, and the color scheme should be pleasing to the eye. You want your customers to stay on your site and browse through it, so make sure it is visually appealing. Think of the ice cream industry and how a reader will decide to stay on your page and prepare to bring that dream into reality.
3. A High-Impact top image
Your ice cream shop website’s cover image is the first thing visitors would see when they land on your home page, so ensure it makes a good impression!
The cover image should be high quality and relevant to your business. It could be a photo of your flagship ice cream flavor or a picture of your store.
4. A brief description of your ice cream shop
After the cover image, the next step of your business plan should be to have a brief description of your ice cream shop. It’s the same as the executive summary we add to our resume. So, try to keep this section short and sweet- just a couple of sentences would do.
Use some marketing strategies like including some keywords so that your website comes up when people search for an ice cream shop business in your area.
5. A list of your flavors
This is one of the most-searched-for sections on your home page! You should have a menu of all the flavors you offer, with photos and brief descriptions.
If you have seasonal flavors, make sure to update this section regularly. You could also include customer reviews or ratings to give visitors an idea of what to expect.
6. A summary of what makes your ice cream shop unique
What is the unique selling point of your ice cream shop? Why should people buy ice cream from you and not from your competitor? You need to answer this on your website’s home page. It’s like advertising your ice cream to the customers.
For example, you could be serving vegan-friendly or organic ice cream or using unique ingredients that are not readily available. You might be located in a great location on a city rooftop, or overlooking a lake. You might have partnerships with local bakeries and providers where you’re using their products included in your ice creams and toppings.
These can become the ice cream shop’s unique brand qualities that will increase foot traffic.
7. Beautiful and mouth-watering images
Images are worth a thousand words, so make sure to use high-quality photos to make people’s mouths water. Include pictures of your irresistible ice cream, toppings, and waffle cones. Your own photos (from a local photographer) of your location and menu items are always best, but you may choose a service like unsplash.com to fill in a few extra photos here and there.
A high-quality photo or video of your ice cream can make all the difference. It will help customers understand what they are buying and if it’s worth their money or not. Also, it’ll give them a sense of the atmosphere at your ice cream parlor.
8. Customer testimonials
The customer testimonials and reviews add authenticity to your website. It is a great way to show potential customers that you are a reputable business. We help you integrate your google reviews on the home page of your website so when someone leaves you a glowing review on google, it will automatically show up on your website also.
Have a “sticky note” review board in your ice cream shop where customers can make flavor and combination recommendations, then take pictures of those to share on your website and social media (If you need more tips for what to post on social media, here are Facebook post tips, Twitter post tips, and Instagram post examples.
9. An enticing call-to-action
Your home page should have a clear call-to-action (CTA). It could be something like “Visit us today!” or “Order now!” The CTA should be visible and easy to find.
10. Links to your social media accounts
Make sure to include links to your social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, etc., so that people can follow you and stay up-to-date with your latest flavors. You could also have a feed of your recent posts so that people can see what’s new.
11. Your contact information
The home page should have easy access to your contact information. Include your store’s address, phone number, and email address. You can also include the location of your ice cream shop so that people can find you easily.
12. A search bar
If you have a lot of blog content on your website, it might be a great idea to add a search bar so that the readers can find what they are looking for.
13. An FAQ section
If you get a lot of questions from customers, you could consider adding an FAQ section on your home page. This will help you in saving a lot of time in the long run as you won’t have to keep answering the same questions, or tying up your employees on the phone.
Parting Words
These are the essential elements on your ice cream shop website’s home page. Make sure to tick them all off the list so that you can attract more customers and boost sales.
If you’re not sure how to get started on updating your ice cream shop website, get our FREE 40-point inspection of your website and social media so you know where you’re at and what to focus on next!
