Website Page Types and Methodology

A Practical Guide to Structuring, Optimizing, and Enhancing Every Page on Your Website

Building an effective website involves understanding the purpose behind each page type and applying the right mix of SEO tools, structured data (schema), and copywriting strategies. This guide provides a standardized approach, ensuring consistent language and clear stakeholder directives.

1. Methodology Overview

  1. Identify Page Purpose

    • Marketing Pages (e.g., Blog Posts): Inform, educate, or entertain.

    • Conversion Pages (e.g., Home, About, Products/Services, Contact): Drive specific actions (sign-ups, purchases, inquiries).

    • Landing Pages: Support targeted campaigns or offers with a single, clear call-to-action.

    • Knowledge Base Articles: Provide detailed explanations or troubleshooting steps.

    • FAQ Pages: Address common questions in a concise, easily searchable format.

    • Case Studies / Portfolio Pages: Showcase expertise and social proof.

    • Policy/Legal Pages: Comply with regulations and build user trust.

  2. Plan Site Structure

    • Map out how these pages connect. Use intuitive navigation and internal linking to guide users and help search engines crawl the site efficiently.

  3. Apply SEO Tools (e.g., SEMrush) Strategically

    • Keyword Research: Identify target keywords or phrases relevant to each page’s purpose.

    • Content Templates: Use recommended word counts, semantic keywords, and readability guidelines.

    • On-Page Optimization: Update meta titles, descriptions, headings, and image alt text as suggested by the tool.

    • Performance Monitoring: Revisit recommendations after publishing to refine content based on performance data.

  4. Use Schema Markup

    • Structured Data: Clarify page type, product details, reviews, FAQs, and more for search engines.

    • Multiple Schemas on a Single Page: A product page, for example, can include Product, Review, and FAQ schema if it contains relevant content elements.

  5. Balance User Experience and Search Requirements

    • Ensure that SEO efforts (keyword placement, length of copy) do not compromise readability or user-centric design.

    • Keep calls-to-action clear and front-loaded on conversion pages to guide visitors toward the desired action.


2. Marketing Pages (Blog Posts)

Purpose: Attract, engage, and educate potential customers or community members.

Key Steps

  1. Content Templates

    • Run a blog-specific template in SEMrush (or similar) to get keyword suggestions, recommended headings, and ideal word count.

  2. Copywriting

    • Maintain a clear structure with headings, bullets, or short paragraphs for easy scanning.

    • Provide in-depth, valuable insights that resonate with your audience.

  3. Schema Usage

    • Consider applying Article or BlogPosting schema for improved visibility in search results.

  4. Multiple Schemas (If Applicable)

    • If the post contains a Q&A section, incorporate FAQ schema in that area.

    • If a review or testimonial is featured, you can also integrate Review schema, though it’s more common on product or service pages.


3. Conversion Pages

(Examples: Home, About, Services/Products, Contact)

Purpose: Convert visitors into leads or customers by highlighting essential benefits, trust factors, and next steps.

Key Steps

  1. SEO Content Templates

    • Use SEMrush to identify relevant keywords (e.g., service name, location, key features).

    • Follow recommended word counts, but prioritize clarity and brevity for user experience.

  2. Copywriting

    • Craft concise yet persuasive messaging; place main calls-to-action (CTAs) prominently.

    • Focus on user benefits and address common questions or concerns.

  3. Schema Usage

    • On service/product pages, implement Service or Product schema to detail offerings.

    • If you collect reviews or ratings on these pages, add Review or AggregateRating schema.

  4. How Strictly to Follow SEMrush Guidelines

    • Aim to match recommended word counts and keyword usage, but do not force excessive text.

    • Balance SEO recommendations with a clean design and user-friendly layout to maintain optimal performance.

Example of Multiple Schemas

  • A Services page may include:

    1. Organization/LocalBusiness schema at the page level.

    2. Service schema detailing the specific service offering.

    3. FAQ schema for common inquiries about the service.

    4. Review or AggregateRating schema if testimonials or average ratings are displayed.


4. Landing Pages

Purpose: Support targeted promotions or campaigns with a single, specific goal (e.g., sign-ups, downloads).

Key Steps

  1. SEO Content Templates

    • Target long-tail keywords relevant to the offer or campaign.

    • Typically less text-heavy than blog posts; keep content concise for quick conversions.

  2. Copywriting

    • Use persuasive and benefit-driven language.

    • Repeat the CTA in logical sections; limit distractions such as excess menu links.

  3. Schema Usage

    • If the landing page features a product or service offer, you can embed Product or Offer schema.

    • If you include an FAQ section at the bottom to address concerns, add FAQ schema.

  4. Optimal Performance

    • Test variations of headline, CTA button text, and hero images.

    • Follow any relevant SEMrush suggestions, but keep the page lean and conversion-focused.


5. Knowledge Base Articles

Purpose: Provide self-service support and detailed guidance.

Key Steps

  1. SEO Content Templates

    • SEMrush often suggests question-based keywords (“How to…”) and recommended article structures.

    • Break down each step, addressing common issues or use cases.

  2. Copywriting

    • Write in clear, instructional language.

    • Use headings, bullet points, or numbered lists for easy scanning.

  3. Schema Usage

    • FAQ or HowTo schema can make instructions appear directly in search results, improving visibility.

  4. Multiple Schemas

    • If your knowledge base includes user feedback or reviews, consider adding Review schema.

    • Keep instructions at the forefront, ensuring the page remains user-friendly.


6. FAQ Pages

Purpose: Offer quick answers to common questions, reducing support queries and enhancing user trust.

Key Steps

  1. SEO Content Templates

    • Identify question-based keywords that mirror user searches (e.g., “Are your products eco-friendly?”).

  2. Copywriting

    • Keep questions and answers concise.

    • Use direct wording and highlight next steps or solutions.

  3. Schema Usage

    • Apply FAQPage schema for each question-and-answer pair.

    • If you collect user ratings for FAQs, consider adding AggregateRating schema (less common but possible).

  4. Multiple Schemas

    • If an FAQ page covers product inquiries, you may include minimal Product schema references where relevant.

    • Maintain clarity by focusing primarily on Q&A structure.


7. Case Study / Portfolio Pages

Purpose: Demonstrate your success stories, highlight real-world applications, and build credibility.

Key Steps

  1. SEO Content Templates

    • Tools may suggest a more extended format (1,000+ words), weaving in narrative elements and related keywords (e.g., “success story,” “before and after results”).

  2. Copywriting

    • Combine data (metrics, outcomes) with engaging storytelling.

    • Emphasize the client’s problem, the approach you used, and the final results.

  3. Schema Usage

    • Generally, Article schema is sufficient.

    • If case studies contain specific product or service references, you can selectively add Product or Service schema.

  4. Multiple Schemas

    • If the page includes a Q&A section about the case study, apply FAQ schema.

    • If you incorporate client feedback, consider Review schema.


8. Policy/Legal Pages

Purpose: Ensure regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) and build trust with users.

Key Steps

  1. SEO Content Templates

    • These pages typically have fewer keyword considerations, but using relevant terms like “Privacy Policy” or “Data Protection” can help with discoverability.

  2. Copywriting

    • Use straightforward legal language.

    • Provide definitions if needed, and break up long text blocks with subheadings.

  3. Schema Usage

    • Typically, no specialized schema is used here.

  4. Multiple Schemas

    • Not commonly applied on legal pages, as the main goal is transparency rather than SEO performance.


Applying Multiple Schemas on a Single Page

In many cases, a page may contain overlapping content types. For example, a product detail page can include a Q&A section at the bottom (FAQ schema) and display user testimonials (Review schema). Here’s how to approach it:

  1. Identify Each Content Block

    • Product details → Use Product schema.

    • FAQ/Customer inquiries → Add FAQ schema.

    • Ratings or Reviews → Integrate Review or AggregateRating schema.

  2. Implement Carefully

    • Ensure the markup accurately represents the on-page content; avoid “stuffing” schema tags that don’t reflect real content.

  3. Validate

    • Use Google’s Rich Results Test or Schema Markup Validator to confirm each schema is formatted correctly and does not conflict with others.


Conclusion

By following these structured guidelines—identifying page purposes, applying SEO tools (like SEMrush) for each page type, using copywriting techniques that fit the content’s goal, and leveraging the right schema (often multiple at once)—you can build a website that effectively serves users, meets search engine requirements, and drives conversions.

This knowledge base article can be shared with your team or clients to ensure everyone uses consistent terminology, understands how to incorporate SEO recommendations, and knows how and when to add multiple schema types to a single page.