When someone steps into your home, you might say, “Make yourself at home.”
You want them to feel relaxed, comfortable, and free to be themselves. You show them where the kettle is, where to find the mugs, and you ask how they take their tea.
Creating a website should feel exactly the same.
Whether you’re selling products, offering services, or sharing your story — the goal is to make your visitors feel at home. Your site should guide them intuitively, without friction or confusion. They should know where everything is, and how to upgrade their experience if they choose.
So, let’s break it down.
1. Show Them Where the Cups Are
Your main navigation is your kitchen. If your guest has to open every cupboard to find a mug, that’s not a good experience — and if your website forces visitors to dig through menus to find what they need, it’s the same thing.
Keep it clear, simple, and obvious.
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Is your shop or main service offering front and centre?
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Are your product or service categories easy to understand?
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Do your menu labels use your language — or your customers’?
If they’ve landed on your site, chances are they already know what they’re looking for. Make it easy for them to find it.
2. Offer the Right Ingredients
Some people take sugar. Others prefer honey. Some want oat milk, almond milk, or just a splash of the regular stuff.
In website terms? Your customers are looking for options that suit them.
This is where smart navigation and filtering come into play. If someone wants a cruelty-free skincare product under €30, can they find it easily? If they’re shopping for a gift, can they see “best sellers” or “gift ideas” right away?
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Help them browse by what matters to them: price, values, benefits, categories.
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Make it obvious how options differ — don’t assume they already know.
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And if they’re comparing honey and sugar? Give them a little help deciding.
Put the benefits front and centre. Help them feel good about their choice.
3. Make Upgrading Easy
Maybe they came for a basic cuppa — but now they’re eyeing the fancy manuka honey, or the dreamy oat creamer.
Let them upgrade effortlessly.
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Use product recommendations or bundles to make suggestions (without being pushy).
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Show them what goes well with their current choice.
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Let them know if spending a little more qualifies them for free shipping or a discount.
Just like offering biscuits on the side — it’s not a hard sell, it’s hospitality.
4. Let Them Linger Without Frustration
Sometimes your guests need a moment. They’re stirring their tea, contemplating sugar vs. honey, and just taking it all in.
Your website should allow space for browsing, without pressure or confusion.
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Make it easy to save favourites or revisit later.
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Use reviews, product comparisons, or FAQs to help them make informed decisions.
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Avoid information overload — and put the right info in the right place.
A cluttered table doesn’t feel relaxing. A cluttered site doesn’t convert.
5. Make the Whole Experience Feel Human
At the end of the day, people remember how something made them feel.
A website that’s warm, inviting, and easy to use builds trust — and trust builds sales.
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Does your site feel like you?
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Is your tone friendly, clear, and confident?
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Is your contact info easy to find?
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Do visitors feel supported, or are they left to figure it out on their own?
When your website makes people feel at home, they stay longer. They explore. They buy. They come back.
And that? That’s the whole point.
Ready to Put the Kettle On?
If your current website feels a little more like a maze than a home, don’t worry — you don’t have to fix it alone. I help Shopify store owners and website managers turn clunky sites into warm, welcoming spaces that sell.
☕ Want to chat about it? Pick your desired way forward below!
Let’s make your website feel like the kind of place people come back to — and maybe even bring their friends.