Pillar Posts: How Many Supporting Posts Are Enough?

byjohn1812

778 followers

3 months ago

When it comes to building a strong content strategy, pillar posts and supporting posts work hand-in-hand.

However, a common question that pops up is: "How many supporting posts do I need?"

The short answer is: "As many as you need to fully explain the topic."

But let’s break that down, because it’s not just about writing lots of articles—it’s about writing the right ones.

To explain this, I’ll use a couple of analogies that hopefully make the idea clear.

First a quick recap - What Are Pillar and Supporting Posts?

A Pillar Post is a comprehensive, in-depth article that covers a broad topic. It’s the foundation of a topic cluster and usually targets a competitive keyword.

Supporting Posts dive into specific subtopics related to the pillar post. They provide detail that the pillar post can’t cover without becoming overwhelming.

Think of the pillar post as the main hub, and the supporting posts as the spokes that give the hub strength and structure.

Analogy 1: Building a Garden Shed

Imagine your website is about building a garden shed.

Your pillar post could be titled: “How to Build a Garden Shed.”

To fully explain the shed building process, you need several supporting posts, such as:

Now here’s the key point:

If you skip one of these supporting posts—say the, “3. How to Install the Roof”—your shed building process is literally incomplete.

By leaving out essential supporting posts, readers will either be left confused or forced to look elsewhere for the missing information.

Bottom Line:
The shed isn’t finished until all the critical parts are in place. Your content isn’t finished until all the key subtopics are covered.

Analogy 2: Hosting the Perfect Dinner Party

If DIY isn’t your thing, try this example:

Imagine your pillar post is: “How to Host the Perfect Dinner Party.”

For complete coverage, you’ll need supporting posts like:

Again, if you cover just some of the key subtopics, and you leave out important pieces, your audience will feel like something’s missing—and they’ll go elsewhere to find it.

So, How Many Supporting Posts Do You Need?

There’s no magic number, but consider this:

1. What Does Your Reader Need to Fully Understand the Topic?

Ask yourself: “If I were a complete beginner, what would I need to know to take action or feel confident about this topic?”

2. Break the Topic into Logical Subtopics

Think of your pillar post as the big picture. The supporting posts are the zoomed-in details.

3. Are There Obvious Gaps?

If you’ve written a pillar post but readers are asking lots of follow-up questions, that’s a sign you’re missing supporting content.

Similarly, if your internal links feel forced or you struggle to connect posts naturally, you might need more related content.

The Key Takeaway

The number of supporting posts isn’t about hitting a quota. It’s about making sure your topic is fully covered.

• Would you build a shed without a roof?
• Would you serve a three-course meal without dessert?
• Then why publish a pillar post without the supporting articles that make it complete?

Your pillar/supporting post content strategy isn’t finished until all key topics are covered.

What’s Next?

Look at the most important pillar posts on your website:

• Does it have all the ‘walls, roof, and windows’ it needs?
• Is your ‘dinner party’ missing dessert?

If your answer is that key elements are missing, you know what to write next.

Best wishes

John