---
title: VCEDC Homepage Simplification Strategy
type: article
created: '2025-11-10'
updated: '2025-11-10'
source_docs:
- raw/2025-11-10-vcedc-website-meeting-100505876.md
tags:
- website
- vcedc
- homepage
- ux
- content-strategy
layer: 2
client_source: null
industry_context: null
transferable: true
---

# VCEDC Homepage Simplification Strategy

## Overview

The VCEDC homepage was identified as confusing and redundant, with an **8-second average visit time** indicating users couldn't quickly find what they needed. The core fix: restructure the homepage to mirror the main navigation menu, creating a clear and logical user path.

The guiding principle is that every section on the homepage should map directly to a menu item — so a visitor can immediately orient themselves and click through to the right place.

> "All of these subheads [should] marry back to the menu." — Kathy Schmitz

See also: [[clients/vcedc/index]] | [[meetings/2025-11-10-vcedc-website-pre-launch-review]]

---

## The Problem

- Average homepage visit time: **7–8 seconds**
- Redundant copy across multiple sections created confusion
- Three-column section mixed audiences (entrepreneurs, remote workers, business expansion) inconsistently
- Events content appeared in multiple places without clear purpose
- Sections were optimized for SEO at the expense of clear calls to action

---

## Restructured Homepage — Section by Section

### Hero / Top Section
- **CTA:** "Grow Business with Vilas" → links to **Business Expansion** page
- Kathy to provide a new, non-pixelated photo for this section

### Three-Column Section
Each column maps to a distinct audience segment and links to its dedicated page:

| Column | Audience | Notes |
|--------|----------|-------|
| 1 | **Entrepreneurs** | Existing content, refined copy |
| 2 | **Remote Workers** | New section; use Vanessa's photo |
| 3 | **Business Expansion** | Links to Business Expansion page |

The Remote Workers column is a new addition. Use Vanessa's photo (the existing remote worker photo from the Remote Workers page). Copy to be written to match the tone of the other two columns.

### Broadband Section
- **Keep** the existing video — it's strong and should remain
- **Remove** the redundant body copy and CTA button beneath it
- The video can stand on its own in this space

### Events Section
- **Headline:** "Sign up for free webinars and networking events to enhance your business skills and meet other innovative entrepreneurs in Vilas County."
- **Button:** "Learn More" → Events page
- Remove the duplicate events copy that previously appeared higher on the page

### Business Success Section
- **Keep** the headline
- **Remove** body copy — the headline alone is sufficient to direct users
- Links to the Business Success page (videos)

### Resources Section
- **Keep** the headline
- **Remove** body copy

### Footer Headline
- Change to **"live and work"** (remove "and play")

---

## Key Design Principle: Menu Parity

The homepage should function as a visual sitemap. If a user can answer "where do I go?" within 8 seconds by scanning the homepage sections, the redesign has succeeded. Every section headline should echo the language used in the main navigation.

This also means **eliminating duplication** — if a topic (e.g., events) appears in the three-column section, it should not also appear as a standalone section below, and vice versa.

---

## Action Items

- **Melissa (Asymmetric):** Implement all homepage structural and copy changes per the section breakdown above
- **Kathy (VCEDC):** Provide a new, non-pixelated photo for the hero section
- **Kathy (VCEDC):** Send updated video list for the Business Success page to ensure Vilas County-wide representation (not just Eagle River)

---

## Related

- [[clients/vcedc/index]]
- [[meetings/2025-11-10-vcedc-website-pre-launch-review]]
- [[knowledge/website/vcedc-donate-page-stripe-paypal-setup]]
- [[knowledge/website/vcedc-leadership-page-refinements]]