Hero Section Optimization: You Have 3 Seconds to Hook Them

Your hero section has 3 seconds to convince visitors to stay.

Here's how to make those 3 seconds count.

The 3-Second Test

Look at your hero section. Cover everything below the fold.

Can a visitor answer these 3 questions in 3 seconds?

1. What is this?
2. What's in it for me?
3. What should I do next?

If no, your hero section is broken.

The Hero Section Formula

5 essential elements:

1. Value proposition - What you do and why it matters
2. Visual - Image or video that reinforces the message
3. Call to action - What to do next
4. Social proof - Why trust you
5. Supporting copy - Additional context (optional)

Miss one = lose conversions.

Element 1: The Headline

Your headline is the hook. Make it count.

Bad Headlines

• "Welcome to Our Platform"
• "Innovative Solutions for Modern Businesses"
• "The Best Landing Page Tool"

Vague. Generic. Forgettable.

Good Headlines

• "Get Your Landing Page Roasted by 6 AI Bears"
• "Find Out Why Your Landing Page Sucks (In 2 Minutes)"
• "Stop Guessing. See Exactly What's Broken."

Specific. Clear benefit. Impossible to misunderstand.

The Headline Formula

[Outcome] + [Timeframe] + [Unique Mechanism]

Examples:

• "Double Conversions in 48 Hours (With AI Roasting)"
• "Ship Features 2x Faster (With AI Code Review)"
• "Cut Support Tickets 50% (With Self-Service Docs)"

Promise + Speed + How.

Element 2: The Subheadline

Headline hooks. Subheadline explains.

Purpose of Subheadline

• Add specificity to the headline
• Address the main objection
• Reinforce the value proposition

Headline: "Get Your Landing Page Roasted by AI Bears" Subheadline: "6 expert perspectives in 2 minutes. See exactly what's killing your conversions and how to fix it."

Hook + Explanation.

Subheadline Length

Keep it short. 15-25 words max.

Longer than that? Visitors stop reading.

Element 3: The Visual

Images speak faster than words.

What Works

Product screenshot: Shows the interface, demonstrates what it does.

Before/After: Shows transformation, proves results.

Hero image with context: Person using product, happy customer, problem being solved.

Video: 10-15 seconds, shows product in action.

What Doesn't Work

Generic stock photos: Smiling business people in suits. Nobody cares.

Abstract concepts: Floating geometric shapes. Meaningless.

Unrelated imagery: Random photos that don't reinforce the message.

If the visual doesn't support your value prop, cut it.

Element 4: The CTA

Your primary CTA lives in the hero section.

CTA Placement

Option 1: Next to visual Desktop: CTA on left, image on right Mobile: Stacked vertically

Option 2: Below headline/subheadline Centered, prominent, impossible to miss

Option 3: Sticky Follows user as they scroll

All three can work. Test your audience.

CTA Copy Rules

• Specific action ("Get My Free Roast")
• Clear outcome ("See What's Broken")
• Remove friction ("No Credit Card Required")

Never just "Submit" or "Get Started."

Element 5: Social Proof

Trust signals in the hero section remove doubt immediately.

Quick Trust Elements

Usage stats: "10,000+ landing pages roasted"

Star rating: "4.9 stars from 2,000 founders"

Logo bar: "Used by teams at [Company Logos]"

Short testimonial: "Found 5 issues I missed. Conversions up 40%." - Sarah, Founder

Pick one. Don't overcrowd.

Layout Patterns That Work

Pattern 1: Split Hero

Left side:

• Headline
• Subheadline
• CTA
• Social proof

Right side:

• Product screenshot or demo

Classic. Effective. Works on desktop and mobile.

Pattern 2: Centered Hero

Center-aligned:

• Headline
• Subheadline
• CTA
• Supporting visual below

Good for simple products or strong headlines.

Pattern 3: Video Background Hero

Full-width video background

• Overlay with headline + CTA
• Muted autoplay
• 10-15 second loop

High-impact but slower load time. Use carefully.

Pattern 4: Minimal Hero

Just the essentials:

• Strong headline
• One-line subheadline
• Prominent CTA

No image, no clutter. Pure focus.

Works for confident brands.

Typography in Hero Sections

Size and hierarchy matter.

Desktop Sizing

• Headline: 48-72px
• Subheadline: 20-24px
• CTA button text: 16-20px

Big enough to read instantly.

Mobile Sizing

• Headline: 32-40px
• Subheadline: 16-18px
• CTA button text: 16-18px

Readable without zooming.

Font Weight

• Headline: Bold or Black (700-900)
• Subheadline: Regular or Medium (400-500)
• CTA: Semibold (600)

Clear hierarchy guides the eye.

Color and Contrast

Your hero section needs high contrast.

Background Color

Light background: Dark text (high contrast), bright CTA

Dark background: Light text, contrasting CTA

Avoid low-contrast combinations. Readability > aesthetics.

CTA Color

Should be the brightest, most contrasting element.

If brand is blue: Use orange/red for CTA

If brand is green: Use purple/pink for CTA

Contrast drives clicks.

Common Hero Section Mistakes

Mistake 1: Too Much Text

Your hero has 3 paragraphs of explanation.

Fix: Cut to 10-15 words max.

Mistake 2: Generic Value Prop

"Innovative solutions for modern businesses"

Fix: Be specific about what you do.

Mistake 3: No Clear CTA

Visitors don't know what to do next.

Fix: One prominent CTA, impossible to miss.

Mistake 4: Slow Loading Hero Image

5MB hero image takes 8 seconds to load.

Fix: Compress to under 200KB.

Mistake 5: Mobile Disaster

Desktop looks great. Mobile is unreadable.

Fix: Design mobile-first, then adapt for desktop.

Testing Hero Variations

Small changes, big impact.

Test 1: Headline Variations

• Version A: "Get Your Landing Page Roasted"
• Version B: "Find Out Why Your Landing Page Isn't Converting"

Test benefit vs. problem framing.

Test 2: Visual Type

• Version A: Product screenshot
• Version B: Before/after comparison

See what resonates.

Test 3: CTA Placement

• Version A: CTA below subheadline
• Version B: CTA next to visual

Measure clicks and conversions.

Test 4: Social Proof Element

• Version A: Usage stats
• Version B: Customer testimonial

Test what builds more trust.

The Reality

Your hero section is your landing page's first impression.

3 seconds to hook them. 3 seconds to show value. 3 seconds to tell them what to do next.

Get it wrong, they bounce. Get it right, they convert.

Want to know if your hero section passes the 3-second test? Get roasted by PageRekt. Our Designer Bear and Copywriter Bear will tear apart your above-fold content (then tell you exactly how to fix it).

Try it free, or get the full Deep Dive roast for $26.99 (one-time) or $29.99/month unlimited.