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What goes on a home, about and contact page

What to checkFor each of the three pages, you have a short list of what goes on it, and the contact details are the same everywhere they appear.

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The short version

  • The home page says what the site is and where to go next.
  • The about page says who is behind it.
  • The contact page says how to reach you, and when.

The home page

The home page is the main page of a website.[1] It's usually found at the root of your domain.[1] For example, example.com leads to the home page, not to a page deeper in.

One important job is to communicate who you are and what you offer.[1] A poorly designed home page can overwhelm visitors and put them off.[1] So keep it light.

Use your purpose sentence from step 1. Then add:

  • a short headline that says what you do
  • one or two lines of detail
  • a way to take the main action (your one main goal)
  • links to your two or three most important pages
A home page sketch with a logo and menu, a headline reading 'Fresh cakes, made to order', two grey text lines, an 'Order a cake' button and three page links. Numbers point to the headline (say what you do), the button (one main action) and the links (key pages).
The three jobs of a home page.

Leave the rest off. The home page isn't the place for your whole history.

The about page

Some visitors will want to know who is behind a site. The about page answers that.

Plan it with a few headings:

  1. Who we are. One short paragraph.
  2. What we do. In one or two lines.
  3. Why you do it. A sentence or two.
  4. How to get in touch. A link to the contact page.
Four numbered boxes for an about page: who we are (one short paragraph), what we do (one or two lines), why we do it (a sentence or two) and get in touch (link to the contact page).
A simple outline for an about page.

Stick to things you can back up. Don't invent numbers, awards or quotes from customers. If you've got nothing to say yet, say less. A short true page beats a long made-up one.

The contact page

A contact page is where visitors go to reach the person or group behind the site.[2] It usually holds one or more of these:[2]

  • an email address
  • a telephone number
  • a postal address, sometimes with a map
  • links to social media
  • a contact form
  • office hours

An email address is for direct communication, and a phone number is for voice contact.[2] A form lets people send a message without opening their own email program.[2] Choose only the ways you can really answer.

The GOV.UK Design System has a pattern for contact details. Its advice fits any small site:

  • Show contact options in the same order everywhere on the site.[3]
  • Tell people when you'll reply.[3]
  • Explain any exceptions to your opening hours, such as public holidays.[3]
  • List social media last.[3]

Here's one of its examples, with made-up details.

The GOV.UK Design System contact pattern page, showing an example block headed 'Get help with your application' with a phone number, opening hours and a link about call charges.
An example contact block from the GOV.UK Design System, with made-up details. Screenshot: GOV.UK Design System, captured 2026-11-01.

Hours and replies

If a shop is closed on Mondays, say so. If you reply to email within two working days, say that. Visitors then know what to expect.[3] Only promise what you can keep.

Next

Once the three pages are planned, sketch them. That's the job of wireframes.

Sources

  1. Home page, Wikipedia (accessed 2026-11-01)
  2. Contact page, Wikipedia (accessed 2026-11-01)
  3. Contact a department or service team, GOV.UK Design System (accessed 2026-11-01)