What pages should my website have? is a very common question business owners ask when they consider developing a website.
If you are new to WordPress, it is important that you understand the difference between pages vs posts:
- Pages are static and contain core information about your business, that is not supposed to change very often, such as about us page, contact page or privacy policy page. WordPress pages can be displayed on the main navigation.
- Posts are used to write blog articles and include information specific to your site’s niche, with published dates in chronological order, an author name (usually) and other real-time information. Posts can’t be displayed on the main navigation, they are usually grouped inside a category like: latest news, blog, events, etc.
So a page usually contains documentation about your site (about us, contact, privacy policy, etc), while a post will contain your regular updates (blog posts).
That being said, when it comes to creating content for a new website, every business is unique (different objective, mission and purpose) and needs something different. However, visitors to your website, your potential customers, have set expectations of what information they expect to find on it and where on your website they expect to find it. This is why every website has its standard pages at their foundation.
Let’s take a look at the most important pages your business company website should have:
1. Homepage
A homepage is a must have for every website and provides a summary of who you are and what you offer. It usually includes a short description of who you are and what you do, a brief explanation of your services or products, maybe some bullet points on how your services or products will benefit your potential clients, an area listing the latest blog posts or blog highlights, featured/latest portfolio projects, slideshow of clients testimonials or reviews, links to social media.
Remember that your visitor’s top priority is to find what they are looking for quickly and easily. So from the homepage they should be able to access all of your top level information, so you must create a clear navigation area that allows users to visit your other pages.
2. About us page
You can use the about us page to give a brief summary of who you are, your company’s history, mission, values, awards or special recognition you have received, special achievements, and the ways you differ from others that provide the same product or service.
You can also tell users about the people behind the company, with biographies and pictures of the staff, or just yourself if you are a sole proprietor.
The about page is also an opportunity to showcase your most popular products/services, testimonials from satisfied customers or successful projects.
If you have a lot of content about your company, you can consider splitting it into sections/subpages listed under About us, like: company description, team, clients testimonials, achievements, photo gallery, portfolio, newsroom (post links to news articles that feature you or your business and press releases about your accomplishments).
3. Contact page
Your contact page is a must have page that shows potential customers all the ways they can get in touch with you. The contact page can include: contact form, phone and fax number, email address, physical mailing address, PO box, your business hours, your social media accounts, localization on google map, contact information for different departments, maybe FAQ.
In addition to this, I recommend you also have your phone number, email address, physical mailing address, business hours or social media icons in the footer and/or header on every page of your website, where possible.
4. Services page (if you offer services)
The services page is where you can list all the details about the services your business provides. Start the page with a brief overview or summary of your services and then list them below. If your services contain extensive descriptions, consider splitting them into sections/subpages, that become a blend of an educational page and sales page for that particular service.
Your services page should include a summary of services offered, brief descriptions for each service, links to learn more about specific services (optional), the benefits the visitor will receive from the service, subcategory or ramifications of that service or other relevant information.
5. Products page (if you offer products)
The product page is where you can offer details of the products you sell. Start the page with a brief overview or summary of your products and then list them below. If you have a large number of products or a lot of information about each product, consider dividing them into categories and adding a link to their product pages.
Your product page should include an outline of the available products, short descriptions of each product, links to product pages that contain more information, what the customer can expect by purchasing those products, the product features, photos or videos of the product, product reviews, how your products are different from the competitors’ products or other relevant information.
6. Portfolio page
A portfolio page is where you get to show off your work in any way you want and reveal to your visitors the breadth of your capabilities.
The portfolio page is typically a must have page for photographers, web designers, artists, builders, stylists, etc. Basically any field where you can show photos, videos, screenshots, or other types of samples of your work.
Try to show a diverse range of samples, because variety will provide more opportunities for your site visitors to understand and connect to your products or services.
7. Blog page
A blog page isn’t a page per say, but a collection of your blog posts. Blog posts are usually listed in reverse chronological order, with the most recent blog post appearing first, and can be grouped in subpages by category.
The blog page gives your company a voice, it creates a place where you can tell your company’s story, share your expertise and engage with your customers. The content should be related to your business and can include: answers to the questions of your audience; novelty information in your business field; latest news and accomplishments of your company (like new products or services, recent awards, new business partners, new opened location etc); case studies for successful projects.
You can share your blog posts on your social media profiles (Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest), in newsletters to your subscribers, in comments on industry blogs, on partner websites or as content contributors for bigger websites. Blog posts drive traffic and leads/sales, being one of your greatest and most affordable marketing tool.
Creating the content of your blog doesn’t need be the job of one person. Every member of your staff can get involved and share their expertise. You can even look outside your organization to other business or people whose opinions would fit well your blog and start working with them.
8. Privacy policy page
The privacy policy page is a must for every website, it informs users about the data you collect on your website as well as how you and other third-parties may use this data. Even if you are not collecting any user data, third-party tools on your website like Google Analytics can still set cookies.
On this page, let the site visitor know how any personal information and data (e.g. advertising, cookies, emails etc) collected will be used, and whether or not it will be shared with third parties.
You can get help from a lawyer to create it or you can find many privacy policy templates and generators online. Search Google for a “Privacy Policy Template,” which you can copy and modify to fit your business, or a “Privacy Policy Generator”, which will ask you a few simple questions about your business and then create a customized privacy policy page with your business name inserted in all the right places.
9. Terms and conditions page
Similar to the above mentioned privacy policy, a terms of conditions page is usually a must for most websites. This page will outline the rules a user must agree for using your website.
On this page you should include the rules and guidelines and how your website functions; notice about trademark and copyright; links to other sites clause that you are not responsible for or have control over third party links on your website; as well as mention of what state and/or country you’re operating from – this determines what laws you’re following.
Like the Privacy Policy page, you can get help from a lawyer to build it, or go to Google and find a Terms and Conditions template or generator to get the proper wording.
10. Cookie policy page
The cookie policy page is a declaration to your users on what cookies are active on your website, how they are used, how long they persist in the user’s browser and how a user can control cookies placement on their device.
You may choose to incorporate the cookie policy as a section of your privacy policy, but the content of each is different. The cookie policy deals specifically with the use of cookies on your site, whereas the privacy policy is a general document regarding all of the data processes on a website, including contact forms, mailing lists, etc. If you decide to combine them, keep in mind that cookies tend to change often. This means that the policy should be updated and revised accordingly.
If your website attracts residents from the EU or California, you might consider creating a separate cookie policy page, compliant with the European GDPR and the Californian CCPA.
For creating the cookie policy page, you can get help from a specialized company or search for a template or a generator.
Other pages
Depending on what type of website you have, you may also consider including the following pages:
- Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- Testimonials
- Call to action/landing page
- Special offers/promotions page
- Page not found page (custom 404 page)
- Sitemap
- Confirmation page
- Search result page
- Jobs or careers page
- Affiliate link disclosure
- Events page
- Press/newsroom page
- Advertising information page
- Disclaimer page
- Write for us page
- Return policy page
Now that you’re all caught up with the website pages list, it’s time to implement them on your website! Here is a summary of the above pages:
Ready to create or update your website?