6 Design Essentials for Above the Fold

Have you heard the term “put first things first”?

It’s a call to make the most important things priority. Whether you have a blog, a brand website, or both, there are 6 design essentials that should always come first. And by first, I mean above the fold.

Above the fold refers to the area of your site that is visible without scrolling. (That’s why it’s also referred to as “above the scroll.”) This area could be bigger or smaller depending on the resolution of your reader’s computer monitor. That’s why you want to fit as many “first things” above the fold as possible — without looking cluttered!

6 Design Essentials For Above The Fold

1. Site Name and Subtitle {tagline} – This is a succinct, descriptive slogan for your site. It should give an idea of what readers can expect to find when they visit.
2. Contact – How can they get in touch with you? Whether via email or phone, be sure the information is easy to find. The navigation bar is a good place for this.
3. Subscribe – Make it easy for your readers to stay up-to-date via email subscription. Many sites are even opting to display their subscribe option as a pop-up or hover box.
4. Share/Connect – If you want readers to follow you and share your information on social media channels, make it easy for them to do so. Install fun share icons that match your site design!
5. Popular Posts/Categories – If they like what they read, they’ll want to read more. Keep popular posts and subject headings accessible with an easy click.
6. A Peek at Your Content – Don’t bury your wonderful content under boxes, links, and ads! Be sure your latest post title (and maybe even the first paragraph) is visible. Give them some interesting content that will make them want to read and return for more.

Do you have these essentials above the fold? What else do you like to include?

This post was originally written by Cheryl Pitt for HomeschoolBlogging.com in 2013. It was updated, edited, and re-published in 2018 by Heather Bowen, HomeschoolBlogging.com owner.

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