Is a blogging format better than static pages?
As many may already be aware, I have been rebranding my 9-5 website.
Ok that statement may give many pause because why would someone try to rebrand a website when working a typical 9-5 job for someone else. So I will elaborate.
By 9-5, I am referring to the job that I undertake to support our family. But it is also another entrepreneurial endeavor.
I happen to work from home and have operated this business for the last 15 years or so. But I have never done any advertising and have always grown through word of mouth only keeping it small by choice. I prefer to give client individualized attention as opposed to taking a commercial approach.
But on to the real topic of this post...
Is a blogging format better than static pages? Let me explain the difference in my mind so that someone can correct me wherever I may be off course.
My example will be a service oriented company with service 1, service 2 and service 3.
Blogging Format
Obviously this is what we are taught here on WA but what I am more talking about is how we write a post and it automatically gets added to the page at the top.
So if I wrote Article 1(A1) on Service 1(S1) then A2 on S2 then A3 on S3 they would all get stacked on the home page in blog format with A3 being at the top of the page and the first to be seen.
Static Page
Static Page 1 = S1 Static Page 2 = S2 Static Page 3 = S3
Where each static page would have a ever growing content in the form of answers to FAQs regarding that particular service.
Right now I have it set up in the blogging format with the services as categories but the posts are pretty slim at anywhere from around 150-600 words (nobody would appreciate fluff here when looking for answers) and hence the thought that maybe it should be in the other format.
Questions
1. Is my theory of the static page scenario even viable?
2. Will it rank in time provided I do my kw research and follow our training?
3. Has anyone utilized this method with success?
4. Can I then schedule updates? Or would I manually go in and update the page?
5. Should I just leave it as is even though the posts are too small.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to have a read and provide any feedback.
It is greatly appreciated.
Recent Comments
30
Thanks for sharing the question and comments. Your replies were a great refresher.
Lots of information needs to be considered along they way.
Sami
It depends on your business and what you hope to get out of it.
If you have a services or e-commerce website, you'd want pages, then add a posts page called a blog.
The only real difference between a blog and other websites is that blogs are updated regularly with new content displayed in reverse chronological order (new blog posts first).
Resource What is a Page or a Post? - How to Switch a Page to a Post and Vice Versa Another guide is here
https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/what-is-a-blog-and-how-is-it-different-from-a-website-explained/
Hi Abie,
I am interested if you have an opinion on the ranking and google factors, as the posts are so short, and there is really no way to extend them without throwing in fluff.
You do not want fluff; as soon as you notice you start discussing something irrelevant, you need to stop. And as long as you have done your post justice and covered the topic well, irrelevant how short or long. Sometimes necessary here to check out the competition on Google page 1 and see what your competition has included in their posts to find angles they have not covered.
Hi Abie,
I was worried about the content's short length causing my site to rank poorly.
But I have done the due diligence on the keywords and topics.
Thank you!
I think there is much to be said for static pages where you silo the content. I'm building mine that way, with one page that will contain a blog roll once I have the static page foundation finished.
There are many experts who swear by silo structure, and for myself I think it makes it easier for readers to follow along on specific topics.
Regards,
Jason
Hi Jason,
Thank you for your help.
I am sorry, but I do not know what a silo page is?
Is that where I have the blog roll that also gets found on the category pages? Or the static pages where I add content as I go??
Sorry, I am still pretty new to all of this.
Have a wonderful day!
When you use static pages, you can silo the same focus and make it easier for both the reader and search engines to follow along.
For example, say your site has a wide area that can be covered. Using a term I've seen Partha use, there are different clusters you can target.
Under a static page silo system you would have that cluster all under one main static page, and if applicable would then add the subsequent pages under it, traditionally in a straight line down. I personally think in most cases it makes the most sense to do a pyramid type silo.
Placing yourself in the readers shoes, if there are steps to what your niche is in these clusters, you would be able to separate each cluster and link them sequentially where applicable.
I originally was exposed to this idea years ago, as it is heavily endorsed by Bruce Clay who many call the father of SEO.
Even a post on silos by Moz that recommends against the silo structure admits done properly it helps the readers navigate the site better, and they advocate using a hybrid as I mentioned that is a silo type pyramid.
Think of it like a ladder, and the information pages are rungs on that ladder that the reader (and search engines) can see more easily, although I don't know that it matters as much for the search engines now. But for the readers, I believe it always will.
Regards,
Jason
Hi Jason,
Ok, I get the premise now. I will be looking into this more before I continue. Thank you for all of your help. I appreciate it.
Have a wonderful day!
Hi Cathy. The simple answer is I don't know - I'll leave your question to be answered by those who are 'in the know'.
One thing I will chuck in the pot is a funnel. Worth considering as an addition to your armoury?
BP
Hi Paul,
Thank you. I appreciate the thought.
How would you use a funnel here?
Have a wonderful day!
Hi Cathy. I guess you're right so maybe bin the funnel idea - back to the drawing board for me. Out of blogging or a static site maybe blogging is best to provide new content. It depends on who you are selling to. I use a static site for selling my properties aboard and it's worked well for the last 15 years. All I have to do is add the HTML to the 'properties for sale' and they tend to sell. I've never found a need to blog about them as this works for me. Why fix it if it ain't broken? I think much depends on your product and who your buyers are. Funnels work for some but aren't for everyone. It might be worth putting one out there but there again it might be worth spending the time writing content for your blog instead. Horses for courses!
Have a great day also.
BP
Hi Paul,
Ya that's the thing. It's not really a blog but just in blog format. It is entirely a resource for clients to find answers to faqs.
I will need to put more thought into this.
Thank you!
See more comments
I am sure a majority of your answers below will say, it's a personal choice or whichever works best for what you want. Normally these would be the correct answers but based on what you describe, thin content of 150-600 words, I would not recommend a blogging format.
I personally use a blogging format. The nature of a blog roll, satisfies two Google ranking factors that a static page does not. Freshness and Internal Links. When Google crawls a home page that is a blog roll, it sees new updated content and each blog is an internal link.
However in your case, having content at only 150-600 words, that is too short for blogs. If these articles are answers to an FAQ, definitely do a static page for each Service. If these are answers, then updating each static page with new content would be best the user experience.
I did an FAQ page on one of my websites and would increase the word count by adding more questions and answers that were related. So it should rank over time. As for updating the pages, you should do that manually, this way you can make sure every update is as you want it.
Hello Rob,
Thank you! That answers the question and thoughts that I was having because of the thin content of the questions and answers without fluff or filler content.
Have a wonderful day!
You are welcome. Happy to have helped you.