Ideally, a search engine should see content, navigation structure, and site title when it views your home page. In addition, images should have “alt text” as search engines only see text. Links, both internal and external, should have carefully worded text. Content should be a least 200 words – with good keywords and phrases.
Here is an example:
This is what a search engine sees for GetFoundontheWeb.com.
The first line is the website title:
Ottawa Search Engine Optimization SEO Company | Improving Online Visibility | GetFoundontheWeb.com
The second section is the navigation system:
Home
Site Optimization
Search Engine Marketing
Online Reputation Management
Blog
Who Is
Contact Us
The last section is the content (three hundred words including keywords and phrases) as well as text links.
These are all key elements required on the home page to help you get found on the web.