Core pages essential for a successful website roadmap

Core pages essential for a successful website roadmap Welcome back to our website roadmap! Today, let’s talk about making websites work well. You see, when we design a website, the actual pages matter a lot. But which pages are super important for a great user experience and to show up well on Google, you may ask? Well, it’s all about finding the right balance. If we create designs without thinking about what people like and what Google looks for, visitors might skip your site and go to another. Now, there are six pages that every good website should have. Websites can be big or small, but having around four to 10 pages usually works best. Let’s break it down. UX and SEO and Why They Matter in Website Roadmap First, some context. A well-organized website structure is like a good map—easy to navigate and satisfying to explore. Why does this matter? Firstly, it makes things easy for visitors, allowing them to move around effortlessly and find what they’re looking for. Secondly, it’s a win-win for user experience (UX) and search engine optimisation (SEO). When a website provides a great user experience, search engines like Google notice and rank it higher. This means more visibility in search results, leading to increased organic traffic. During the design phase, using content mapping is crucial to ensure all important information is present and easily accessible. It’s also vital to organise page URLs logically, helping both users and search engines understand the site’s architecture. When your website is ready to launch, creating a sitemap that outlines your site’s structure and submitting it to Google speeds up the process of getting your site indexed. Remember, Steve Jobs said it best: “You’ve got to start with the customer experience and work backwards to the technology.” So, how do we achieve this harmony between UX and SEO? SEO and UX Are Now Best Friends As implied, gone are the days when SEO was a game of keyword stuffing and link building, disregarding the user’s journey on your website. Today, search engines have evolved, and they’re not just looking at your keywords, but they’re evaluating how users interact with your site. This shift has brought SEO and UX together as inseparable allies. Let’s expand a bit more, just to give you some more background, and then we move on. Website Roadmap Essentials Before & Now Relevance Trumps Keywords Old SEO: It used to be all about cramming as many keywords as possible into your content, regardless of how it affected the overall user experience. Modern Approach: Search engines now prioritise relevance. The context of the user’s query matters more than the sheer quantity of keywords. This means your content should genuinely answer user queries, creating a win-win for both SEO and UX. User Intent Takes the Spotlight Old SEO: The focus was on ranking for specific terms, often at the cost of understanding user intent. Modern Approach: Search engines now strive to understand what users are truly looking for. This means your content should align with and fulfil user intent, making your website more valuable to visitors and search engines alike. Mobile Optimization Is Non-Negotiable Old SEO: Mobile-friendliness was a nice-to-have; it didn’t significantly impact rankings. Modern Approach: With the surge in mobile users, search engines heavily prioritise mobile-friendly sites. A seamless mobile experience not only enhances user satisfaction but also positively influences your SEO rankings. Quality Content Is King (and Queen) Old SEO: Quantity often took precedence over quality. More pages, more content, more chances to rank. Modern Approach: Search engines now emphasise high-quality content. Well-researched, relevant, and engaging content not only keeps users on your site longer but also signals to search engines that your content is worth promoting. “You’ve got to start with the customer experience and work backwards to the technology”. – Steve Jobs The Core Pages for an Optimal Website Roadmap Now that you see why SEO and UX are like two peas in a pod, it’s clear that having a website that works well and is easily discovered online involves investing in both. Let’s refocus and explore the essential core pages that every website should include. 1. Homepage Consider your homepage as the welcoming front door to your digital space. It’s the initial handshake between your business and the visitor. By incorporating a visually striking hero image, a unique header, and a clear call to action (CTA) above the fold, you’re setting the stage for immediate engagement. As users continue scrolling, strategically unveil essential information about your product, service, or company. This layout is designed to keep visitors intrigued and encourage them to explore further, enhancing the likelihood of conversion. 2. Products or Services Page The products or services page serves as a showroom for what your business offers. For products, it’s an opportunity to provide in-depth details and introduce pricing transparency. When dealing with services, guide users through a step-by-step breakdown of the process. This approach builds trust early in the user journey, simplifying decision-making for your visitors. 3. About Page Beyond being a company biography, the About page is a chance to differentiate your business from competitors. Highlight the background, values, and principles of your team. Crucially, maintain a customer-centric tone. Instead of mere self-promotion, emphasise how your team’s expertise uniquely positions them to address the customer’s needs. This approach fosters trust and communicates a commitment to solutions-oriented service. 4. Contact Page The contact page is more than a collection of contact details, it’s a strategic platform to streamline communication channels. Include an email address for those preferring written communication, a phone number for immediate conversations, and a physical location with business hours for transparency. Don’t overlook the significance of an online contact form – a straightforward method for visitors to initiate contact directly from your website. 5. Privacy Policy/Terms and Conditions Page Addressing legal considerations is also quite important. The privacy policy should clearly outline how personally identifying information is handled. While terms and conditions may not be legally