Hero Section Spacing That Actually Works
TL;DR:
- Hero sections make or break first impressions, so spacing matters more than you think
- Cramming too much content into your hero kills its impact
- White space around headlines and CTAs makes them more effective
- Test how your spacing looks on mobile devices before going live
Your hero section is the first thing visitors see when they land on your site. Get the spacing wrong and you'll lose people before they've even started reading.
Most websites stuff their hero sections with everything they think is important. The result? A cluttered mess that overwhelms visitors and makes nothing stand out.
Good spacing does the opposite. It guides the eye, makes your message clearer, and turns browsers into readers.
What Makes Hero Spacing Work
Give Your Headline Room to Breathe
Your headline is doing the heavy lifting in your hero section. If it's squashed between other elements, it loses its punch.
Add generous margins above and below your main headline. This creates a visual hierarchy that tells visitors where to look first.
Position Your CTA Strategically
Your call-to-action button needs space around it to work properly. Visitors should be able to spot it instantly and click it without hunting around.
Leave enough padding around your CTA so it doesn't get lost in the visual noise. On mobile, make sure there's enough space for thumb-friendly tapping.
Balance Text and Visuals
If you're using background images or videos, make sure they enhance your message rather than compete with it.
Keep supporting text brief. Long paragraphs in hero sections get skipped. A sentence or two is usually enough.
Common Spacing Mistakes to Avoid
Filling every pixel: Just because you have space doesn't mean you need to use it all. Empty space is a design tool, not wasted space.
Ignoring mobile spacing: What looks spacious on desktop often feels cramped on mobile. Always check how your spacing translates to smaller screens.
Making everything the same size: Not all elements deserve equal visual weight. Use spacing to show visitors what matters most.
How to Get Your Spacing Right
Start by identifying the one thing you want visitors to do in your hero section. Everything else should support that goal.
Use margins and padding to create clear separation between elements. In Squarespace 7.1, you can adjust spacing through the design panel without touching code.
Preview your changes on different screen sizes as you work. What feels right on your laptop might look completely different on a phone.
FAQs
How much white space is too much?
There's no magic number, but if your hero section feels empty or your key message gets lost, you've probably gone too far. The goal is clarity, not minimalism for its own sake.
Should hero sections look the same on mobile and desktop?
No. Mobile screens have different constraints, so your spacing should adapt. Elements that sit side by side on desktop might need to stack vertically on mobile.
What if I have lots of important information to include?
Pick the most important message for your hero section and move everything else further down the page. Trying to say everything at once usually means nothing gets heard.
Jargon Buster
Hero Section: The top section of your webpage that visitors see first, usually containing your main headline and primary call to action.
Margins: The space outside an element's border that separates it from other elements.
Padding: The space inside an element's border, between the border and the content.
White Space: Any empty area in your design, regardless of its actual colour.
Wrap-up
Good hero section spacing isn't about following rigid rules. It's about making your visitors' experience smoother and your message clearer.
Start with more space than you think you need, then adjust from there. Most people err on the side of cramming too much in rather than leaving too much out.
Remember to test your spacing on actual devices, not just by resizing your browser window. Real-world testing shows you how your spacing actually performs.
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