10 Reasons Why 10 Pages Aren't Enough

Did you know the standard small business website has 10 pages of content, and will never grow beyond those 10 pages? Yet the number one way to reach your prospects and potential buyers is through content.

Written Mar 12, 2008, read 509 times since then.

Did you know the standard small business website has 10 pages of content, and will never grow beyond those 10 pages? Yet the number one way to reach your prospects and potential buyers is through content.

A standard 10 page website is a great place to start, but don't stop there. It's time to build, and create a site that attracts clients to you. Consider these 10 reasons to continue building on to your website.

1. Depth. People like investigating, and being able to discover more resources. Multiple pages allow people to drill in deeper to your site. Cover a topic in 500 to 1000 words per page; then offer your reader the chance to move to another page for even more information.

2. Resource. What makes your site valuable? People bookmark sites that have a variety of benefits and solutions. Think of how you can generate the desire to have people come back into your site again and again. Then add those pages to your site. Keep people coming back because you offer more than your competition.

3. Power. A powerful site lets people take action. What can you do to direct people to your pages that allow people to take action? Always start with your end in mind. Do you want them to sign up for a free report? Or do you want them to fill out a form for more information? Whatever your outcome, all pages should lead to that action.

4. Selection. When you head to the mall, do you buy the first thing you see, or do you look through a variety of stores to find the best deal? A variety of pages on your site allow a visitor to sort through your material, and confirm they are getting a great deal.

5. Value. Can a visitor on your site learn something new? Can they see themselves in your message, and have you provide the solution? The more value you portray, the better your chance of creating the sale.

6. Influence. Sometimes you can persuade people to take action by your stories, graphics and messages. The more personal your site becomes, the more people will look up to you as the expert. They want to know they can trust you, and get their questions answered by using your products or services. With today’s technology, you can also show your expertise by sharing content throughout the web. If someone sees your name over and over again, you’ll prove your expertise quickly.

7. Copy. Sometimes it isn't the amount of pages that has influence; it's the copy. Does your copy speak to your audience? Does it motivate them to take action? Don't be afraid of the long sales letter pages if it's appropriate for your business. Your customers should feel what you’re asking them to feel, and see you as their solution. Because good copy can change your business from “barely surviving” to “hugely thriving”, copy will be one of your better investments.

8. Professional. Is your site a sales team? Look at the message your site construes. Would you buy from you? Sometimes it takes stepping back from your business and your website, and really seeing if you are projecting a professional image. Ask your customers, your friends and your peers. Even a minor change could make all the difference in the world.

9. Connections. It’s not always about you, especially when it comes to your site. It’s about how others view you. Who thinks you offer value? Do other businesses refer you from their websites? How are you connected in the online world? The more connections – the more business.

10. Visibility. What makes you stand out from the crowd? Visibility means having a potential customer see your name again and again. With billions of pages online, you have to be where your prospects are. The more you share, the greater your visibility. And the larger your business will grow.

Learn more about the author, Lori Osterberg.

Comment on this article

Posted by Heather Ziegler, Seattle, Washington | Mar 16, 2008

I loved this article. thanks for writing it..very informative. We're in the midst of redesigning our website and making it more user friendly..we're pretty excited about the changes we'll be making and your article provided the words to which we're already thinking. thanks!
Posted by Simon Raybould, Newcastle upon Tyne United Kingdom | Mar 16, 2008

Nice points.

When you say you want to have more than 10 pages, are you including blog pages? (Or to put it another way, without a blog our site is small: including the blog it's over 100 pages by now, I'd say.)

S
Posted by Lori Osterberg, Greenwood Village, Colorado | Mar 17, 2008

Yes, I think your blog and your website are connected. Because you build the two to work together - and to market your business - they all count as "one" tool. Congrats on over 100 pages. I know that's one of the most difficult things for a business to do is to keep posting regularly.
Posted by Debbie Lacy, Seattle, Washington | Mar 18, 2008

Thank you for posting this article -- very helpful information. I was wondering if you know what a "good" percentage is for % of visitors who bookmark a site. I consistently get 34-37% who bookmark, but don't know if that's average, below average, very good... ? Your article has given me some things to think about, in particular "layering" the information more, so people who choose to can dig deeper. Great tips!

The Inspired Life: You can get there from here.
Posted by Carol Skolnick, Santa Cruz, California | Mar 18, 2008
I have more than 160 posts at my blog http://soulsurgery.blogspot.com yet my website gets more traffic, even though it's pretty static. I'm not sure there's anything scientific to this; I'm guessing that
1. not everyone in my target market has the time or inclination to read blogs, and
2. the website is for people looking for information about the work I do; the blog appeals to "fans" and current clients.
Posted by Lori Osterberg, Greenwood Village, Colorado | Mar 18, 2008

It depends on a variety of things, including your niche. I would say 34-37% bookmarking ratio is good, as it's showing you have enough information to keep about 1/3 of your visitors wanting to come back in the future. Keep in mind some people prefer bookmarking - others prefer different methods, such as RSS feeds, or ezine signups. Ultimately, its conversion to clients that matters most.
Posted by Jasmine Holmes, Gilbert, Arizona | Mar 18, 2008

Thanks for the great tips. I am a web designer and am always having to tell my clients why a website is important. And beyond that why they should be actively updating and enhancing their site. I think it is key to success in business to push your site beyond an "online brochure."

I plan to save this article and share it with clients who need incentive to build their web presence. Your points are clear, concise, and straight to the point. I could not explain this material any better than you have!
Posted by Marianna Paulson, Surrey, British Columbia Canada | Mar 19, 2008

Excellent ideas ... nice to know I'm on track and yet, at the same time, I have more work to do.