In this weeks edition of our new series Web 101, the basic things you should be looking at if you are thinking about a new website, redesigning your current site or just want to be sure your website is as good as it can be, we look at what is actually going to be put on the website.
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Now that you have determined the purpose, audience and products of your website it is time to start determining what you are going to put on it. What are the various pages that need to be there?
This is called the site architecture. It often diagrammed out showing the different links between the pages.
Now that you know what the pages are, what are you going to say and how are you going to say it?
Here are some ways to make your pages a quick, easy and interesting read, while also making them search engine friendly:
- Start your page with your most important message. You need to get the visitor’s attention and make them want to keep reading.
- Your keywords/phrases should be used in the first sentence of the page, as the first words if possible.
- Don’t just write long pages with lots of information. Use bullet points and pictures to clarify and emphasize your point.
- Use keywords in your bullet items when you’re making your point. This is not only good for the search engines, readers often scan the bullet points first before reading the rest of the content.
- Use at least 200 words per page and try to use each keyword 2 or 3 times per 100 words without making your content sound stilted or unnatural.
- Don’t try to use all of your keywords on one page. It is smarter to optimize each page of the site for one or two words and spread the keywords over different pages.
- Use your keywords/phrases as a natural part of your content. Just be sure you use them.
- Highlight (bold) keywords in sentences where applicable
For more about writing a webpage read our article Search Engine Optimization – Page Content.