There are a few critical pages you can use to ultimately convert more of your visitors into loyal subscribers. Though it may go without saying, having more subscribers will help you become more successful as a blogger, whether you are aiming to monetize your blog or build a strong platform to earn clients with.
In this article, I’ll discuss the importance of navigation on a website, and show you a few vital pages you should consider using. Let’s get started!
The Importance of Well-Planned Menu Pages
Your website’s menu is the consistent grouping of links typically hang out around the top of your website. Your visitors rely on this navigational menu to get an understanding of the content you have to offer, and find important pages to take action on.
For the most part, menus consist of ways for visitors to access your site’s primary content. Firstly, you’ll need to choose the right information architecture before moving forward. Information architecture is the organization, structuring, and labeling content in an effective way.
Here are a few examples of organizational themes to get your creative juices flowing:
- Goal-oriented content, such as Learn and Teach.
- Categories of different target readers, such as Business Owners and Corporate Managers.
- Location-specific content, such as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
Organizing the unique sections of your blog helps your target audience better navigate your site. However, no matter what kind of website you run, there are a few one-off pages which can be useful to add!
4 Essential Pages to Help Keep Visitors on Your Blog
Now that you understand the importance of a well-planed menu, it’s time to learn about a few key pages which can help you build authority and turn your menu into a subscriber powerhouse. Keep in mind, you should be sure to include a strong call to action at the end of each of the following pages. I recommend asking the reader to subscribe or click through to learn more about your blog.
1. About Page
An about page (or some form of it) is essential for your readers and for search engines. It helps you establish trust! Your about page enables people get to know you better, laying the groundwork for a future relationship as a loyal reader or customer.
This page should include a few important details:
- Tell your story! Why did you build this website, or how did your business come to be?
- Include your credentials. Why do you have the authority to do what you do?
- Set expectations for the reader. What will they be able to accomplish by visiting your website?
You don’t have to call this an about page! Other valid name choices include Our Story or Who We Are.
2. Getting Started
Especially if you have a large blog, there is a lot of content for a new visitor to sort through. However, highlighting a few beginner-level pieces will help new readers get familiar with before diving into the rest!
A getting started page is often a delivered as a list of introductory content on your website. The intention is to bring readers up to speed so feel included in your tribe. Here is one way to structure your getting started page:
- Kick it off with a welcome message.
- Introduce them to beginner-level content available on your website.
- Link them to any external tools they’ll be expected to have if they’re following your work.
- Explain a little bit about what to expect from your website going forward.
- Wrap-up with a strong series of next steps.
The end of your getting started page is a good place to link to any social media sites you’d like them to follow, as well as include a blog subscription form. You can include this page in your menu as Getting Started, Start Here, or something along the line of New Visitors.
3. Top Resources
Useful, authoritative websites are all the rage these days. You can earn trust on your blog by compiling a list of top resources your visitors can use. For example, if you blog about audio editing, you could include links and advice regarding your favorite audio editing softwares.
A top resources page is a great contender for earning backlinks, because people tend to share highly helpful pages. Here are a few tips of how to build create this page:
- Only include resources you have personally used and can leave experienced commentary on.
- Don’t be afraid of using affiliate links, but definitely make sure you’re letting people know you earn a cut of the profits for any sales.
- If you have a lot of resources to recommend, try sorting them into useful categories to make them easier to read through.
You’ll find this also comes in handy when people write comments or email you for requests for referrals. Simply send them this link instead of rewriting your answers every time!
4. Contact Us
Finally, a contact page can go a long way towards making your site more friendly. Particularly if you’re planning on selling something, it’s always reassuring for a visitor to know they can contact you.
Unless you’re a registered business and need to uphold certain local laws, you can stick to the basics when it comes to your contact page. I recommend including:
- Your current email address.
- A simple contact form, which is easy to create in WordPress with Contact Form 7.
- The timeframe you usually get back to people within.
Being contactable makes you go from distant to approachable in an instant. You can get creative with your menu name, as long as it’s clear! For example, Send a Message, Get in Touch, or Let’s Talk.
Conclusion
Including the right pages in your blog’s navigation can help convert the maximum number of visitors to your site into subscribers. A few key pages can be the difference between a one-time visit and a long-time reader.
To recap, essential pages for your blog include:
- An about page, to introduce would-be readers to your goals.
- Getting started, to help orient new visitors.
- Top resources, a frequently visited page of your best advice.
- Guest submissions, if you accept posts from guest authors.
- Contact us, so people can reach out and ask questions.
What questions do you have about setting up these pages? Let’s discuss what works for you in the comments section below!
Image credit: Luke Palmer.