So you are sitting at your computer - motivated and ready to make a website. What now?

Creating a well-structured website is crucial for engaging your audience and achieving your business goals. A strategic approach to deciding what pages your website needs will help you provide valuable content, enhance user experience, and drive conversions. In this blog post, we'll guide you through the essential steps to determine the pages your website should have.

Essentially, one of the first steps in creating a website is what we in the industry call “wireframing”. Wireframing a website involves creating a simplified visual guide that outlines the structure and layout of a web page. It serves as a blueprint for the design, highlighting the placement of key elements such as headers, navigation menus, content sections, and buttons without focusing on detailed design or aesthetic elements.

The first step of that is deciding on what pages you think you will need. As you build your website, you may get new ideas or get rid of some pages; but it always helps to start with a plan!

ONE LAST NOTE before getting into the content! It is EXPONENTIALLY harder to build a website when you do not have your business fully conceptualized. This isn’t to say that businesses don’t change/grow/adapt over time (you know mine sure has!). If your business is in the planning and early start-up phase, your next step is probably not to build a website.  If you do not have your business structure or services offered, it is honestly near impossible to build a website that consumers and customers will engage with. This will definitely be a blog post for the future: steps to outline your business. 

I digress - onto website building 🥳

Key Web Pages Every Website Should Have

There are certain pages that every website should include to provide essential information and improve user experience. Here are the must-have pages for any website.

Home Page

Your home page is the first impression visitors get of your website. It should clearly communicate who you are, what you do, and what visitors can find on your site. A well-designed home page will guide visitors to other key sections of your site.

About Us

The About Us page is where you tell your story. It’s an opportunity to build trust by sharing your company’s history, mission, values, and team members. This page helps humanize your brand and connect with your customers on a personal level, building trust and rapport.

Services/Product Page

A detailed Services or Product page is crucial for explaining what you offer. Highlight the benefits, features, and unique selling points of your products or services. Include high-quality images, descriptions, and possibly even testimonials to build credibility.

Contact Us

Make it easy for visitors to get in touch with you. The Contact Us page should include multiple contact methods, such as a contact form, email address, phone number, and physical address if applicable. A clear, accessible contact page can significantly enhance customer trust and satisfaction.

Blog/News Section

A Blog or News section allows you to share updates, insights, and valuable content with your audience. Regularly updated content can improve your site's SEO, establish your authority in the industry, and keep visitors engaged.

FAQ

An FAQ page addresses common questions and concerns that visitors might have. This can save time for both your customers and your support team by providing quick answers to frequently asked questions.

Privacy Policy/Terms of Service

To comply with legal requirements and build trust, include a Privacy Policy and Terms of Service page. These pages outline how you collect, use, and protect user data, as well as the rules and regulations governing the use of your site.

Building the Header and Footer

What good is a well-designed webpage if nobody can find it? 

Header

The header is one of the most crucial elements of your website, as it often serves as the primary navigation area and the first point of interaction for visitors.

Example of a website header, from my website:

An effective header should include the following components:

• Logo: Position your logo prominently, usually in the top left corner, to establish brand identity and provide a visual anchor for the site.

• Navigation Menu: Include a clear and intuitive navigation menu with links to the main pages of your site. For larger websites, consider using dropdown menus to organize sub-pages logically.

• Contact Information: Make it easy for visitors to reach you by including essential contact information, such as a phone number or email address. This can be especially useful for mobile users.

• Consider linking your “about us” page and “services” page as these are pages you want your clients to see most!

A well-designed header not only helps users navigate your site efficiently but also reinforces your brand's professionalism and reliability.

Footer

The footer is the section at the bottom of your website that typically includes supplementary information and links. A well-crafted footer enhances the user experience by providing easy access to important content that might not fit into the main navigation.

Here is an example of a footer, from my website:

Consider including the following elements:

• Contact Information: Reiterate your contact details, including physical address, phone number, and email address, making it easy for visitors to get in touch.

• Social Media Links: Include icons linking to your social media profiles, encouraging visitors to connect with you on different platforms.

• Newsletter Signup: If you have an email newsletter, include a signup form in the footer to capture leads and build your subscriber list.

• Secondary Navigation: Provide links to less prominent but important pages such as Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, FAQ, and other legal or informational pages.

• Copyright Information: Clearly display your copyright information to protect your content and inform users of the site's ownership.

By thoughtfully designing your header and footer, you create a cohesive and user-friendly navigation experience, ensuring visitors can easily find the information they need while reinforcing your brand's presence and credibility.

Industry-Specific Pages

Depending on your business type, you might need specific pages tailored to your industry. Here are a few examples:

• Menu for Restaurants: A dedicated page showcasing your menu with descriptions, prices, and images.

• Booking for Hotels: A page where visitors can check availability and make reservations.

• Portfolio for Creative Agencies: A section to display past work and case studies.

Importance of a Sitemap

A sitemap is a file that lists all the pages on your website. It helps search engines crawl and index your site more effectively, which can improve your SEO. Additionally, a sitemap can help visitors navigate your site, ensuring they can find the information they need quickly and easily.

Deciding on Additional Pages Based on Business Goals

Your business goals will also influence the additional pages you might need. Consider what actions you want visitors to take and what information they need to make a decision. Here are a few examples:

• Testimonials: Showcase customer reviews and success stories to build trust and credibility.

• Case Studies: Provide in-depth examples of how your products or services have solved problems for clients.

• Careers: If you're hiring, a Careers page can attract potential employees by detailing job openings and company culture.

Understanding Your Audience

Before you start building your website, it's essential to understand your target audience. Knowing who your visitors are and what they need will help you create relevant and valuable content. Consider the following:

• Demographics: Age, gender, location, and other demographic factors.

• Interests and Pain Points: What are your audience's interests? What problems are they trying to solve?

• Behaviour: How do they interact with websites? What type of content do they prefer?

• Mobile or Desktop Users: One crucial aspect of understanding your audience's behaviour is knowing whether they primarily use mobile devices or desktop computers to access your website. This information can significantly influence your website's design and functionality.

By identifying these aspects, you can tailor your website's pages to meet the expectations and needs of your audience.

FAQ

1. Why is it important to strategically decide what pages my website needs?

Strategically deciding what pages your website needs ensures that your site meets the needs of your audience, improves user experience, and aligns with your business goals. It helps you prioritize essential content, streamline navigation, and enhance overall site functionality.

2. How do I identify my target audience?

Identifying your target audience involves researching their demographics (age, gender, location), interests, pain points, and online behaviour. Use tools like Google Analytics, social media insights, and customer surveys to gather this information and create detailed audience personas.

3. What are the key web pages every website should have?

Every website should include these essential pages:

• Home Page

• About Us

• Services/Product Page

• Contact Us

• Blog/News Section

• FAQ

• Privacy Policy/Terms of Service

4. What are industry-specific pages?

Industry-specific pages are tailored to the unique needs of your business type. For example:

• Restaurants might need a Menu page.

• Hotels might need a Booking page.

• Creative agencies might need a Portfolio page.

5. What is a sitemap and why is it important?

A sitemap is a file that lists all the pages on your website. It helps search engines crawl and index your site more effectively, improving your SEO. Additionally, it aids in site navigation, ensuring visitors can easily find the information they need.

6. How do business goals influence the additional pages I might need?

Your business goals determine what additional pages can support your objectives. For instance, if building trust is a goal, you might add Testimonials and Case Studies pages. If hiring is a priority, a Careers page would be beneficial.

7. Why is knowing if my user base is mostly mobile or desktop users important?

Understanding whether your audience primarily uses mobile or desktop devices helps you optimize your site's design and functionality. Mobile users need a responsive design, fast-loading pages, and touch-friendly navigation, which can improve user experience and SEO.

8. What should be included in the header of my website?

Your website header should include:

• Logo

• Navigation Menu

• Contact Information

• Call-to-Action (CTA) Button

• Search Bar

9. What should be included in the footer of my website?

Your website footer should include:

• Contact Information

• Social Media Links

• Newsletter Signup

• Secondary Navigation (e.g., Privacy Policy, Terms of Service)

• Copyright Information

10. What is wireframing and why is it important?

Wireframing is the process of creating a simplified visual guide that outlines the structure and layout of a web page. It helps in planning the functionality and user experience of the site before moving on to detailed design and development, ensuring a well-organized and effective website.

WHEW that was a lot - did you catch all that?

THE FINALE (yay)

Determining the right pages for your website is a strategic process that requires understanding your audience and aligning with your business goals. Repetition is your FRIEND! Having multiple locations for CTA’s (call to action) and multiple ways to get to your most important pages will create a better user experience for the customer (think about a time you have had a hard time navigating a website!). By including essential pages and tailoring additional ones to your industry and objectives, you can create a user-friendly and effective website. Remember to continuously evaluate and update your content to meet the evolving needs of your visitors.

If you'd like some help to set up your website or need guidance and expertise, I offer paid consulting time that you can book here:

Happy Website Building 😊

-Brittany