WordPress is widely considered to be the best content management system for SEO due to its ability to create HTML pages that are easy for search engines to crawl. Pages and posts are 2 default post_type items in WordPress. They offer the opportunity to add a variety of interesting content to engage site visitors and increase organic page ranking.
Pages and posts are 2 ways that WordPress is set up to publish content but it can be confusing to know when it’s best to use one over the other. Both types of content can be valuable for SEO when used in the right situation. Here’s a quick overview of when it’s best to use pages vs. posts on a WordPress site.
Target Focus Keywords with WordPress Pages
WordPress pages should generally be used for content that will always be relevant on your site and you expect visitors may want to return to. An About page is common on business WordPress sites to give a general overview of what you offer. Many visitors expect to see an About page if they’d like to learn more and it is often among the top urls for pageviews.
WordPress pages can be nested with parent pages to create a hierarchy in your site structure that helps search engine bots determine what’s most important on your site. Pages for specific services, for example, can all have a main Services page as a parent so it’s clear they’re all related.
Pages can be updated with new information but should always stay at the same url to make it as easy as possible for return visitors to find. Keeping content fresh will help show search engine bots that your site is active and help improve SEO organic page ranking.
Landing pages offer a chance to design something eye-catching with a beautiful layout and add important keywords to locations featured prominently on your site. A good WordPress page will always have a clear call-to-action so visitors know the next steps you’d like them to take after they visit your site.
Add Content for Long Tail Keywords with WordPress Posts
Posts that are published on a WordPress site will be displayed on the blog and blog modules added to specific pages. It’s important to have the most recent posts show first so new content will show on top and keep your site fresh.
Blog posts can focus on variations of your focus keywords and specific search phrases people are using to expand your search footprint. Staying up-to-date with the latest news in your industry and publishing a blog post when anything relevant to your site visitors is a great way to keep your site relevant and show the world you have something to say.
Posts can vary in length but should always be written with search intent in mind. The titles should include important keywords and be written to catch people’s attention on search engine results pages. Keeping sentences short and to the point will help make it easier for search bots and readers to understand.
Posts can be written like news articles, how-to guides, best of lists, etc. and should be written in a way that fits your brand.
Take Advantage of Other Custom Post Types
Custom post types are added to a site just like posts except they have a different post_type value in the database. Each custom post type can be configured to use a custom template and structured data so it can be indexed easily by search engine crawlers. Custom post types, like events or products can add custom functionality that improves user experience and adds more valuable content to your site.
Many plugins, like Events Calendar and WooCommerce, add custom post types that will show in a new tab in the WordPress admin dashboard. The Custom Post Type UI plugin can also be used to configure custom post types.
Maximize SEO Value
Figuring out a good combination of pages and posts with valuable content will help make your site better for visitors and improve SEO.
Landing pages should be used for information that will always be relevant to your site and give you an opportunity to impress visitors with awesome design. WordPress posts, on the other hand, include a timestamp and are displayed chronologically on the site’s blog. It’s best practice for posts to focus on topics that can be considered news and give you a chance to add content to your site that focuses on variations of important keywords for SEO.