How Many Pages are too many? Following a Plan in Web Design

Feb 19, 2013

The amount of pages to add to your website should follow a strategy based upon your plan of action. Just adding page after page with no plan in mind is not going to bring optimum results. Evaluate each page according to a purpose, and make sure each page you choose to create is a page worth promoting. If you find that the page content is very similar to another page, come up with a better use of the space. Consider another page which might be more beneficial such as a “testimonials” page.  This is the type of content every user reads.
Other pages (beyond the landing page) which are beneficial might be a “documents” page featuring PDF forms for download.  A call to action page such as the “contact form” is another page which will be visited and used (having a good purpose.)

The importance of good project management: Defining a specific purpose for all website content.

Confused Web UserIf there is no goal for the website, it will show in the design and navigating through the site will be a daunting task. As users visit the site they must quickly find the answer to the question that lead them to the site in the first place. The amount of page content in the site should be based upon the smallest amount of pages necessary to cover your material in a clear and concise way, naming each page with a page title that is user friendly to the viewer. When users become confused or frustrated trying to find information, they simply leave the site and look for more user friendly content elsewhere.
It is not necessary to explain every aspect of your product or service to the point of nausea. A website should be an overview of your product or service. It should inform users of the main points about your products and services. A well written site will entice the viewer to want to learn more. He or she will complete your contact form and you’ll take it from there. We do not encourage website owners to create page after page of daunting script which will never be read unless one of your relatives finds the site.
There is an important rule to remember if you are site owner. If you offer too much information, no one will have a reason to learn more. Most sales are made with the client having some sort of direct contact. Without having this direct contact, if the client has a question or a concern, you have no way to overcome any objection that might arise.
Your website is the doorway they enter when they first find you…it should not be the entire experience. You need that direct contact to promote your business and to make the “actual sale.” If the product or service you represent requires 100 pages then so be it. However, if you can cut down the amount of pages and keep the content to a minimum, you’ll certainly gain in readership. Users will quickly discover that your site is well written, user friendly, follows a plan, and has been well thought out.

Why add your best content to the landing page?

The home page, which is also known as “The Landing Page” should be the page to list the main content.  We all know that viewers stay on an average on your site, only about thirty seconds.  It just makes sense then, that we put the most important information up front on the home page.  Bullets are great tools to use to clearly list all of your services quickly.  By doing this your visitors will have no doubt about the services offered.
Conclusion:  Use your Google Analytics and other SEO tools once the site is launched to watch the traffic to all pages.  If you discover a page that is rarely being visited, this will be a red flag for you to improve the page in question or remove it and add a page that could bring more visitors to your site.  Remember, it is not the amount of pages, but the quality of the pages available for web users.  Make it count… make it relevant and make it yours.
Hurry back for more news and views from our Design Wizards.  Please contact us for your next project.
Inside Design Orlando
 
 
 

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