In this day & age, a dance studio’s online presence is often the first encounter prospective dance families have with the world of pirouettes and pliés. While people don’t always enter a site through its homepage, it’s nonetheless arguably the most important page of a site, and one to pay special attention to.
In fact, crafting a perfect homepage is like setting the stage for a performance — it requires a thoughtful blend of aesthetics, organization, and a warm invitation to step into the world of dance. Each dance studio’s website is unique, but all studios would benefit from having the following pieces in place on their site’s index page.
Let’s delve into the essential elements that make up the anatomy of a flawless dance studio website homepage!
1. Welcoming Visuals:
A picture is worth a thousand words, and on your homepage, your photos speak volumes about life at your studio. High-quality, inviting visuals that showcase your studio’s personality and the grace and energy of dance will set the tone for a positive and memorable user experience.
Pro-Tip: Pay special attention to the content located “above the fold”! Above the fold refers to the content near the top, which will be viewed before a visitor starts scrolling down the page. This content packs the most punch, so put your best photo(s) or video there and make sure to include a strong call-to-action.
2. Clear Navigation:
Ease of navigation is key to ensuring that visitors can find what they’re looking for on your studio’s website. A clean and well-organized navigation bar directs users to essential sections, such as class schedules, summer programs, studio history, faculty bios, and enrollment details. Clarity in navigation is Super Important and fosters a user-friendly experience.
3. Engaging Headline and Subheadings:
Capture attention with a compelling headline that succinctly communicates the essence of your dance studio. Follow it up with subheadings that provide quick insights into the variety of classes, the expertise of instructors, and the unique aspects of your studio. Along with judicious used of bullet points, smart use of headings and subheadings are one of the best ways to ensure excellent readability.
4. Dance Studio Overview:
This overview can be 2 or 3 paragraphs, just enough to provide visitors a sense of what your studio is about and to give them reason to further explore.
Tempted to leave this off? Don’t do it! It’s important not only for your website viewers but also for your search engine optimization, because an overview clearly states for Google’s “spiders” how you’re helpful to your target market (parents wanting dance classes for their children). This assists Google in placing you properly – hopefully nice and high! – in the search listings for your most important keywords and phrases.
5. Class Offerings Overview:
Highlight your dance class and/or program offerings prominently on the homepage. A section showcasing organized display of dance programs, with an eye-catching photo and teaser for each, allows visitors to quickly identify classes that align with their interests and availability. We like to use a “photo buckets” section, which are programs displayed in one or more rows of three, as shown below.
6. Testimonials and Reviews:
You’ll build credibility if you feature testimonials or reviews from current or past dance students. You get bonus points if you include a photo with each testimonial, and a gold star if one or more are video testimonials. Real experiences shared by your dance families will instill confidence in prospective dancers who are considering taking classes at your studio.
Pro-Tip: Don’t have a lot of testimonials on hand? It’s ok to grab positive reviews from your Facebook and Google listing accounts to showcase on your website.
7. Studio Announcements or Events:
Keep your dance community informed and engaged by teasing upcoming events, recitals, or special announcements on your homepage. Put a link to your full Events/Calendar page underneath, so that people can easily find more information on the items they’re most interested in.
NOTE: Make sure to check this homepage section regularly and keep it current! A dynamic and updated homepage reflects a relevant and vibrant dance studio.
8. Call-to-Action (CTA) Buttons:
Guide visitors seamlessly through their online journey with clear and strategically placed call-to-action buttons. Whether it’s directing them to register, to schedule a trial class, or to contact the studio, intuitive CTAs will increase user engagement (including registration!).
9. Mobile Responsiveness:
Does your homepage look fabulous on your laptop? Excellent!! But you’re not in the clear yet. Make sure your homepage performs flawlessly across various mobile devices as well. With so many users accessing websites on phones and tablets, a responsive design means an optimal viewing experience for all visitors. This contributes to user satisfaction and can mean more dancers in your studio!
10. Social Media Integration:
Lastly, connect your dance studio’s website to the social media platforms you use by incorporating social media links or feeds onto your homepage. Having a social presence will increase engagement, demonstrate social proof, and provide a platform for the community to stay connected and share their dance experiences.
If you use the guide above to blend aesthetics and functionality, you’ll create a visually appealing, user-friendly, and informative digital home for your studio. The result is greater potential for visitors to become paying students, ones who are loyal and share their experiences with others who may also enroll.
Best wishes to you and your studio,
Stacey