Since its launch in Could additionally 2003, WordPress has change into the most-outmoded web content platform globally. The WordPress platform powers nearly 37% of the cease 1 million trafficked websites, per BuiltWith records.
Given the low payment (you if truth be told best pay for web hosting), ease of set up and utilize and flexibility, WordPress is spellbinding for websites of all sizes, from personal blogs to enterprise agencies.
Count me as a fan. I’ve advocated for its utilize, going support to virtually the initiating of its existence in 2003.
I’ve worked on many WordPress websites, and one of the most long-established questions I light accumulate is ready pages versus posts – which one wants to be outmoded?
Earlier than answering that query, let’s review how WordPress pages and posts vary.
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WordPress pages
Pages in WordPress are intended to get content that can presumably well very effectively be concept to be more “evergreen,” such as the dwelling page, product/provider pages, or about us-form content.
Pages is most likely nested to kill a directory structure by making one page the “guardian” of 1 other.
In overall, pages can no longer leverage categories, tags and authors and are in overall no longer included in RSS feeds from the earn content.
WordPress posts
Posts in WordPress link the platform support to its roots as a running a blog platform. Posts were intended to get news-linked, time-soft, and varied content that can presumably well very effectively be associated with websites that are strictly blogs.
Posts are time-driven and can leverage categories, tags, and authors for archive pages and on-build of abode search. Posts are included in RSS feeds.
Content authors can make posts seem in a directory structure by developing categories, that will likely be in guardian/minute one relationships, and extending the structure within the Permalinks settings within the WordPress settings.
One a truly worthy thing to take into account: Each pages and posts are content for your users and the quest engines.
The web content proprietor sets their look and utilize. Pages and posts is most likely outmoded interchangeably for any reason – despite the indisputable truth that it’s a terrible thought to mix equal content between the 2 formats.
| WordPress pages | WordPress posts |
| Meant for evergreen content | Meant for news or “blog” content – very time-driven |
| Could additionally additionally be nested together in guardian/minute one arrangements to kill a directory structure | Can fit into a directory structure the utilize of categories that is most likely nested in guardian/minute one relationships |
| Can not leverage categories, tags or authors | Leverages categories, tags, and authors |
| Can not utilize RSS feeds to share content | Can utilize RSS feeds to share content |
| Could additionally additionally be styled any approach the earn content proprietor desires | Could additionally additionally be styled any approach the earn content proprietor desires |
| Is believed to be content to the earn content company and serps | Is believed to be content to the earn content company and serps |
Evolving ideas
In the previous, I most in overall if truth be told handy that “evergreen” content be created as pages. These would contain objects like the dwelling page, product/provider pages and “about us,” and a lot others.
Other news-linked, time-soft, instructive, blog-form content would be created as posts. As mentioned above, this follows what most comprise in tips the draw of pages and posts.
Even supposing this approach of working is light reasonably safe, I’ve been rethinking this advice currently.
Why?
An even replace of websites I’ve worked on currently comprise had terrible records architecture.
For a lot of these websites, most, if no longer all, content is within the earn content’s root folder. Some websites comprise content on the same subject blended between pages and posts. The extinct pronounce is relatively easy to repair, the latter, no longer so significant.
Section of the pronounce is that WordPress is jam to position all content at the earn content’s root by default. One more segment is a misunderstanding of how pages and posts are intended to characteristic.
My ideas now are a minute bit varied if a build of abode is being constructed from scratch or undergoing a huge reorganization.
In that case, I even comprise two ideas per the kind of content that can comprise the majority of the earn content:
- For websites with a majority of evergreen-form content, I counsel the positioning be all pages.
This enables pages to be constructed and nested together in guardian/minute one relationships to manufacture a logical folder structure. Although there may be effectively timed blog-form content, pages will work reasonably effectively except there may be an absolute need for tag or author connections. - For websites with a majority of effectively timed, blog-form content, I counsel the positioning be all posts.
This enables for content to be organized alongside class lines. Posts also enable for tag and author archives to be outmoded. This form of setup also permits for easy RSS feeds. The dwelling page is most likely jam up to mark the most fresh posts to inspire salvage it unique with the most modern records.
Either of these arrangements would work effectively this potential that of pages and posts are precise content to web content company and serps. Each content formats is most likely styled to suit the wants of the earn content.
If forms and varied interactive gains are mandatory, they is most likely applied equally effectively to pages or posts.
From an SEO perspective, the content format on the support end is inappropriate – it’s what is supplied to users and search engine spiders that issues.
Should I uproot every thing and replace the structure of my build of abode?
As I screen above, I counsel building this sort of structure on a new build of abode or if a build of abode is undergoing fundamental work like a re-platforming onto a new theme or migration to a new kill.
If your web content is working effectively and you don’t glimpse any fundamental considerations, it’s OK to take an “If it ain’t broke, don’t repair it” approach.
Righteous concept
The dear reason within the support of my altering ideas is the lack of a logical directory structure on many websites I toughen. While it’s reasonably imaginable to kill a logical structure with a combine of pages and posts, it’s undoubtedly a ways more superb to jam up and withhold if the positioning is jam up with all one form of content.
Opinions expressed on this article are these of the customer author and no longer necessarily Search Engine Land. Workers authors are listed here.
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About The Writer
Elmer Boutin is VP of Operations at WrightIMC, a Dallas-primarily based totally fleshy-provider digital marketing agency. Following a profession within the US Military as a translator and intelligence analyst, he has worked in digital marketing for over 25 years doing every thing from coding and optimizing websites to managing on-line recognition administration efforts as an autonomous contractor, company webmaster, and in agency settings. He has sizable abilities and abilities working for agencies of all sizes, from SMBs to Fortune 5-sized companies, including Wilsonart, Banfield Pet Health center, Nook Bakery Cafe, Ford Motor Company, Kroger, Mars Corporation, and Valvoline; optimizing websites specializing in native, e-commerce, informational, academic and global.
