Okay, it’s really not a secret but not a lot of folks understand the point behind having a page for every service, or product you offer. The point behind having a page for every service/product is multi-purpose in that is makes it easier for the consumer and provides more content on your website. Having more content on your website is GOLD for search engines and gives you more opportunities to come up in search which in turn leads to having more eyes on your content.
How is it easier for the consumer?
The consumers don’t want to work. Seriously, don’t make them work. You want them to come to your website, to read your blog and hopefully buy your product or service, so don’t make them work for it too. The point is to make your website as user friendly as possible.
Example showing the consumer work
Picture this, you have a services page among your other 9 pages on your website and list all of the services you offer. Within those services – say Social Media, SEO and PPC, you explain each of them in a paragraph or two. The search engines provide that page as a result for someone searching for PPC but the consumer now has to scroll to the bottom of that page in order to find (you are making them work) to content in which they are interested in finding – not good.
Example showing ease to the consumer
Now imagine a website with 10 pages, the main pages and then a services page which lists SEO, PPC and Social Media as the drop down under services. Two things here – if the search engine return that result for PPC again, as in the example above, they will land on a page that is ALL about PPC – very good! 
Then, if the consumer is on your page already and wants to search for PPC, they will see the Services page, and the drop down below that and can select that page to find all that they seek – excellent!
How does having an extra page or two make it better for SEO?
It’s about more content
Search engine optimization is all about keyword rich content, meta data and title tags and link building. Remember that example making the consumer work – it only had one page for 3 different services with a paragraph or two explaining each? Remember that example that had one page per service? Which do you think would have more content? Hopefully the single page would have more content in that you would take the time to explain in more detail about the services, or product, since you essentially have more room, you want to fill up the page, or at least the “above the fold” view. (This is the section of the website that shows to the consumer, without scrolling down to see the rest of the page.)
The meta tags make more sense
Another point would be the meta tags. These are the SEO ninja magic stuff that allows you to explain the page with a title tag (headline) and a description text – both of which show up in the Search Snippit. This is where you try to encourage the searcher to click thru to YOUR website pages to read that article, blog or page. If the meta data is explaining 3 different services (from one page like in the consumer work scenario) it will likely have less opportunity to focus on the one that may be important for the searcher – since your one page will show up, potentially, if they are searching for SEO, social media OR PPC.
However, in the less work for the consumer scenario, when the meta data for SEO shows, they will land on the SEO page, when the snippet for PPC shows, they will land on the PPC page. Make sense?
More opportunity to show up in search
Basically, like I mentioned before, it gives you MORE opportunities to show up in search, just like with blogs. If I have 5 services, that gives me opportunity for 5 pages versus someone lumping them all up in 1. Plus, if you blog weekly, that gives you another 52 potentials to show up in search.
Which would you rather have?
Would you rather have 5 pages with all services or products on 1 page; 10 pages with all services or products on their own page; or 62 pages with all your services or products on their own page and a weekly blog? SCORE More is better in this situation!
One last note…
If you have products, such as corsets like my buddy Sonya in the UK, I am not saying to have 1 page for every corset, that just doesn’t make sense. The best course of action here would be to create themes, styles or an organization to separate them out enough to make it easier for the consumer to find what they want in the most logical manner.
Create pages for your products/services to make it easier for consumers and the search engines. Click To TweetHopefully this has been helpful, please let me know if you have any questions, if you would like a marketing consult to go over your website and it’s readability or search engine optimization, as I would be happy to help.
~Kristen
Like your buddy Sony, we have collections and our customers can search in several ways. I recall when our website was being built, not understanding about the pages. Great explanation, as always.
Sonya is your buddy too! 🙂 Thanks Roz, I’m glad it is helpful and you are like Sonya, in that you have a product.. but also my buddy! 🙂
GREAT info, Kristen!
Although I think some sites overdo the “separate pages” thing and make it too easy to get lost on the site, I DEFINITELY see the value in this thanks to your post.
Now I have some work to do!
I couldn’t NOT agree MORE! So true.. as long as there is valuable content and everything is within 3 deep, the consumers can find it.. golden. Thanks!
Makes total sense! As of now we have a services page (3 ways to work with us) and I was thinking of having each of those link to a landing/sales page… but maybe I should just have 3 individual pages? Although since we are just starting out, people not only don’t what we have to offer but don’t know who we are!
Landing pages aren’t a bad thing as long as you have a purpose for them… and test them out!
As far as your services, if I understand what you mean.. you might be able to take advantage of breaking them out.. have your services that talks briefly about all 3, then have a page (drop down) for each of them providing more detail and link to them.
What a great website and instructive post! It makes us more informed on the secret to pages on the website.
Thanks Lorii
Very good explanation of the need for more pages with more detail. Before my consultation with you, Kristen, I wouldn’t have known what you were talking about, but now I do. So I encourage anyone who’s confused about this to talk to Kristen; you won’t regret it!
Awww, thanks Carol! I appreciate it and so glad you understand it more!
I agree – a page per theme/content bucket adds value to potential customers and a website. Too many of my copywriting clients start by trying to mush everything they do together on the one page until we talk it through. I liken it to going to a restaurant and ordering different dishes. It tastes a lot better having the dishes on separate plates so you can taste as much or as little as you need, than having all the dishes mixed up together on the one plate.
Yes, GREAT example.. nothing like looking at the menu on one page… if someone is looking for burgers, go there… or appetizers, etc.. great analogy.
My SEO go-to, I thank you. Love your plain as day explanations about the ninja qualities of using metatags, etc ;). I’m working on it every time I post, and with every article you write, I think I get a little better!
Awww, thanks Holly! So glad to hear and glad that you are finding value and improving!
Yes, all good reasons for having a lot of pages. It’s very worthwhile to make things easy for visitors and will encourage them to come back another time. And the SEO benefits are huge. Thanks for your usual helpful info!
You got that right Beth. Thanks so much.. as there is so much SEO benefit and the customers win!
I just heard someone tell me his website has over 500 pages. I thought that was insane until I heard how well he ranks on Google without having to do a single paid advertisement. Thanks for reinforcing the point…I’m going into a marketing meeting this afternoon now fully armed and loaded with yet more reasons why our company website needs to be updated!
Well, 500 is a lot, however, it also would depend on the business and the organization. Surely he is doing well on Google because of his content, which must be good, but guessing he does a lot of other things for his biz too if he is investing in a lot of time on his website.
I haven’t looked at OJ lately but would be happy to make recommendations.
I really look forward every week to your blog, Kristen. You’ve really, really taught me about individual pages and snippets!!
Thanks Sharon, I am so glad to hear that and glad that you are learning. Hopefully I helped with your website concern and standing up for yourself. 🙂
Definitely more pages are better, I totally get that. We ran into some issues with putting “Work With Me” in my navigation bar and had to make it a sub-page of what was an “about” page and had to become a “bio” page. Lots of design considerations and this newest page was an after thought unfortunately. I am still learning how to use SEO by Yoast and to optimize my metadata and tags and appreciate your very clear posts, that send me off to login to my site and do a bit more work on fine tuning what I already have there. Thanks Kristen! Love reading your posts.
Sorry that you had issues, but seems you made it work.
Hopefully with some of my blogs, (go back and check them out) you can understand more about SEO stuff. Glad to help and glad you love reading them. 🙂
Kristen, I love your blogs. They are so easy to read, so practical, and so easy to understand! One day, I will have enough information to use multiple pages, lol. Thank you so much for sharing this information!
I am so glad you find value and that they are easy for you Liz! You will have enough in due time.. baby steps!
How funny that this is the topic of your post – I have just been implementing meta title, focus keyword, meta description, adding extra pages, etc. to my site… perfect timing!
I sorta wondered if what I was doing was still relevant so you’ve helped me feel more sane 🙂
Thanks Natalie, I try to come up with things that will be interesting… or ones that I see that folks are struggling with. More sane? Hmm, debatable! lol
I’m still in the process of building my website and I’m glad to see this topic. When I visit someone’s website, I personally like having Menus with dropdowns so I can quickly see what the website has to offer. More pages equals more places for people to explore my website too.
Yes, that is exactly the point Kristy! Nothing like having to scroll for days to find a product/service that a company provides because they didn’t break them out! Bet you can’t wait to have your site done! Congrats and good luck!
Good info, thanks! I’ve been writing content for the Web since 1998 and I agree that having additional pages on your website for the products or services you offer is important. Good post.
Nice, great job. You a content writer for yourself and your clients… or more guest blogger type material?
Great advice and well explained. I need to add a few extra pages to my site. Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks and you are welcome! Glad it came at a good time for you!
Great point about having a page for each product or service you offer. Instead of having a customer waste time looking for the information they came on for they can find it quick and easy and feel better about the experience. May make them more likely to use your services or product and act quicker. If they are happy perhaps they will give you referrals also
I found our discussion on this very topic about a month ago to be extremely relevant. You helped me reorganize my content and shuffle my menu in such a way that makes it so much easier for my customers and prospects to find the information they need. You rock, girlfriend!
Yes, you and a few others and I, had this very same conversation, hence deciding this was time to write about it. Thanks Jackie and glad it helped!
Thanks Kristen, good advice as always. 🙂
Thanks Katarina! Glad to be of help
Hadn’t occurred to me to do this. Genius, but simple too!
Why thank you Denyse… glad you see the simple value. 😉