SEO Essentials: 15 Pages to You Should Include on Your Website
By: Seomul Evans
Submitted: 2009-09-18 01:05:24 | Word Count: 709
You can use every SEO tool and trick in the book, but if your website is sloppy, difficult to navigate, poorly constructed, or devoid of pertinent information, all the SEO in the world isn’t going to make a visitor to your site stick around long enough to find out about your products and services. As you’re constructing your website, be sure to include these 15 pages:
1. Homepage. This is obvious but true. You should have a simple, clean, easy to navigate homepage that shows your visitors that they are dealing with a seasoned professional who can deliver what they need.
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2. Products. Each product or service that you offer warrants its own page, both for clarity and for SEO purposes. Each page should begin with an overview of the product and then continue on with details. Give as much information as possible. Your visitors don’t want to wait until they can ask you questions over the phone tomorrow. If they find out they’re going to have to wait, they’ll likely go to your competitors.
3. Contact Page. This should include email, phone number, and a physical address at a minimum. Customers will be more comfortable doing business with you if they sense that you’re willing to make yourself available. This information should also be at the bottom of every page of your website.
4. Prices. When it’s possible, include prices of products and services. If you can’t be specific, at least list a price range.
5. Testimonials. Get testimonials from satisfied customers and from others in your market niche. Be sure to get permission from the person to use his or her full name. This increases credibility. Before and after pictures, if appropriate, are also a great tool.
6. FAQs. Gather up a list of all the questions you’ve been asked about your business or product and then compile them, along with their answers, on an FAQ page.
7. Response Forms. These are necessary if you’re trying to create a mailing list. People may not be comfortable providing a lot of information, so consider only asking for a name and email address.
8. About Us. This is a great way to build credibility and to help your potential customers along in their journey towards trusting you. Include a photo and a short bio, plus contact information and qualifications.
9. Guarantee. Hopefully you already offer a money back guarantee of some sort. One of the pages on your site should outline your guarantee and provide pertinent information about what that guarantee entails. If you don’t offer a money back guarantee, consider it seriously.
10. Search Function. Sometimes your potential customers aren’t interested in looking around your website and just want to find what they’re looking for…fast. This is where a search function comes in.
11. Site Map. This is another way to accommodate that weary customer who just wants to get in and get out as quickly as possible. Plus, it’s a great SEO tool in that it helps search engines index your site more quickly.
12. Media. This is another great way to build credibility. Include any media coverage of your business or employees, including print articles, features, photos, etc.
13. News. Another good credibility builder. Customers want to deal with professionals who are on the cutting edge of their market niche and who are active within their chosen field. A good way to show this to potential customers is to post news about your business or industry. It gives you the appearance of involvement and authority within your industry.
14. Store. In many cases, you can provide customers the opportunity to purchase your product any time of day or night, and customers love this kind of convenience. Just make sure your store is easy to navigate and that the process of making a purchase is simple.
15. Links. This is both a great credibility builder and SEO tool. Links to other companies in your market niche often result in reciprocal links to your site, and they give the impression of being active in your niche. Both are important to the success of your business.
If you need more guidance in constructing your website, consult with an SEO professional or internet marketing expert. You’ll be glad you did!
