You‘ve started your WordPress blog, you‘re cranking out great posts, and you‘re starting to get some traffic. Congrats! But are you sure your blog has all the key pages it needs to really thrive?
Many beginners assume that blog posts are all you need. But the most successful blogs have a variety of other pages that serve important purposes – from introducing the blogger to providing essential information to capturing emails to generating income.
In fact, blogs that include a robust About page get 35% more traffic on average than those without one. And sites with a clear Contact page have a 15% lower bounce rate. So yeah, these additional pages really matter!
In this post, we‘ll go through the 11 most important pages (beyond posts!) to include on your WordPress blog in 2024. These will help you build credibility, connect with readers, and set your blog up for long-term success.
1. About Page
When a new visitor lands on your blog, one of the first things they want to know is: who‘s behind this thing? That‘s the job of your About page.
Your About page should introduce YOU – the person or people behind the blog. It‘s a chance to establish your credibility, showcase your personality, and help readers feel more connected to you.
Here‘s what to include on an effective About page:
- A clear, friendly photo of you (or your team)
- Your relevant experience and qualifications
- Your blog‘s origin story – why you started it
- The mission and purpose of your blog
- What readers can expect from your blog
- Some fun personal facts or hobbies
- A call-to-action (like joining your email list)
Real-life example: Check out the About page for the blog Pinch of Yum. It has friendly photos of the husband-wife blogging team, a compelling origin story for the blog, a clear mission statement, and even a video that goes behind-the-scenes of their business. Talk about building a connection with readers!
2. Contact Page
Once readers feel like they know you from your About page, make it easy for them to reach out and connect. Enter the Contact page.
Your Contact page should include:
- A simple contact form (the WPForms plugin makes it easy to create one)
- Your email address
- Links to your social media profiles
- Any other relevant contact info (business address, phone number, etc.)
Having a clear Contact page builds trust and makes you seem more approachable to readers. In fact, 44% of website visitors will leave a site if there‘s no contact information or phone number.
So make your Contact page easy to find – put it in your main navigation menu and consider linking to it from other key pages like your About and Start Here pages.
3. Start Here Page
If a new reader lands on your blog, they may feel overwhelmed by all the different posts and categories. That‘s where a Start Here page comes in.
A Start Here page gives new readers a quick roadmap for navigating your site. It points them to your best and most helpful content so they can dive in and start learning right away.
On your Start Here page, include:
- A brief intro to what your blog covers
- Links to your most popular or important posts, organized by category
- Answers to common reader questions
- An opt-in form to join your email list
- Links to other key pages like your About and Contact pages
Example: The blog Wellness Mama has a great Start Here page that includes her most popular posts, a free 7-day challenge for new readers, and links to her social media profiles and email list. It‘s the perfect jumping-off point for a new visitor.
4. Blog Post Archive or "Blog" Page
If your blog‘s homepage is a static page (more on that later), then you‘ll need a separate page that houses all your blog posts. This is typically called your Archive or Blog page.
This page displays all your published posts in reverse chronological order. WordPress automatically creates this page for you, but you can customize how many posts appear and whether the full post or just an excerpt is shown.
Be sure to link to your Archive/Blog page clearly in your navigation menu so visitors can easily access it.
5. Resource Pages (Start Here, Tools, Freebies, etc.)
In addition to your main Start Here page, consider creating other resource pages that round up your best stuff on specific topics. These pages are a great way to showcase your expertise and provide extra value to readers.
For example, you might create pages like:
- Tools I Use: Round up your essential blogging tools and resources
- Free Downloads: Offer free ebooks, checklists, or other lead magnets
- FAQs: Answer common reader questions all in one place
These resource pages keep readers on your site longer and help establish your credibility. Plus, they‘re great for SEO – you can optimize each page around a specific keyword or topic to rank in search engines.
Real-life example: The blog Smart Passive Income has an entire "SPI Resource Guide" that includes tools, tutorials, and downloads on topics like affiliate marketing, email marketing, and podcasting. It‘s a treasure trove of valuable content that keeps readers coming back for more.
6. Cornerstone Content Pages
Speaking of SEO, one smart strategy is to create cornerstone content pages on your most important topics. These are in-depth, authoritative pages that cover a topic comprehensively.
For example, if you blog about personal finance, you might create cornerstone content pages on topics like:
- How to Create a Budget
- The Ultimate Guide to Getting Out of Debt
- How to Start Investing for Beginners
These pages should be very thorough and well-researched. Aim for at least 2000-3000 words and include lots of helpful visuals, examples, and resource links.
Then, link to these cornerstone pages from your relevant blog posts to show Google that they‘re the most important pages on your site. This can help them rank higher in search results.
Example: The blog Backlinko has a great cornerstone content page on "Link Building: The Definitive Guide." It‘s over 4,000 words long and covers everything from link building tactics to tools to advanced strategies. And it ranks #1 in Google for the keyword "link building" – that‘s the power of cornerstone content!
7. Email Landing Page
Your email list is one of your most valuable blogging assets. But to get people to sign up, you need a compelling email landing page.
This is a dedicated page that sells the benefits of joining your email list. It should include:
- A clear, benefit-driven headline
- Bullet points of what subscribers will get by signing up
- An opt-in form to collect email addresses (ConvertKit or MailChimp make it easy to create these forms)
- Social proof, like a testimonial or subscriber count
- A strong call-to-action ("Sign Up Now!")
Drive traffic to your email landing page by linking to it across your site. You can even create separate landing pages for different lead magnets or content upgrades.
Example: The blog Hungry Healthy Happy has a great email landing page that offers a free 7-day vegan meal plan in exchange for your email address. It has a clear headline, bulleted benefits, and even a mock-up of the meal plan PDF to show you exactly what you‘ll get. Smart!
8. About Page for Each Author (for Multi-Author Blogs)
If your blog has multiple authors or contributors, consider giving each one their own About page. This allows readers to learn more about each individual voice on your blog.
On each author‘s About page, include:
- A professional headshot
- Their relevant experience and qualifications
- What topics they write about
- Links to their social media profiles or personal website
- A few fun facts or hobbies
These individual About pages help readers feel more connected to your different authors. And if an author has expertise in a certain area, their About page can showcase that and build their authority.
Real-life example: The blog Scary Mommy has a great setup for its author pages. Each author has a photo, bio, and links to their latest posts. Readers can easily click through to learn more about the different voices on the site.
9. Guest Post Guidelines Page
If you accept guest posts from other bloggers, you‘ll need a page that outlines your guidelines and submission process. This saves you time by giving potential guest posters all the info they need upfront.
Your guest post guidelines page should include:
- The topics you accept guest posts on
- Your expectations for post length, formatting, images, etc.
- How to submit a guest post pitch
- What‘s in it for the guest poster (exposure, link back to their site, etc.)
- Your typical turnaround time for reviewing pitches and publishing posts
Link to your guest post guidelines page from your main Contact or About page to make it easy for potential guest posters to find.
10. Testimonials or Press Page
As your blog grows, you may start getting nice feedback from readers or even coverage from press outlets. A testimonials or press page is the perfect place to show off these endorsements.
On this page, include:
- Quotes from happy readers or customers
- Logos of press outlets that have featured you
- Links to interviews or guest posts you‘ve done on other sites
This social proof helps build your credibility and authority. When new readers see that others have had a positive experience with your blog, they‘ll be more likely to stick around and trust your advice.
Example: The blog Making Sense of Cents has a great "Press" page that features logos of major publications like Forbes, CNBC, and Business Insider that have covered the site. It‘s an instant credibility-booster for new visitors.
11. Legal Pages (Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions, Disclosures)
Finally, every blog needs a few key legal pages to comply with regulations and cover your butt. Even if your blog is just a hobby, it‘s smart to have these in place.
The main legal pages you should have are:
- Privacy Policy: Explains what personal data you collect from readers and how you use it
- Terms & Conditions: Outlines the rules for using your site and your rights as the site owner
- Affiliate Disclosure: Discloses any affiliate relationships you have and how you may earn money from your recommendations
These pages don‘t have to be super fancy – the goal is just to have the necessary information on your site. You can find templates online or work with a lawyer to draft up the proper language.
Real-life example: the blog Pinch of Yum has a simple but clear Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, and Affiliate Disclaimer linked in its footer navigation. The pages cover all the necessary bases without a lot of extra fluff.
Putting it All Together
Phew – that was a lot of pages! Creating this foundation for your blog takes some time, but trust me, it‘s worth it. Having these key pages in place sets you up for long-term blogging success.
Remember, your blog is so much more than just the posts themselves. These additional pages give you space to showcase your personality, establish your authority, and create a great experience for your readers.
As you‘re creating each page, keep a few best practices in mind:
- Use clear, skimmable formatting (headings, short paragraphs, lists)
- Optimize for relevant keywords (and include them in your page title, headings, and meta description)
- Include visuals like photos, videos, or infographics
- Make the pages easy to find by linking to them from your navigation menu or other relevant pages
And if you‘re ever feeling overwhelmed, just take it one page at a time. Start with the essentials like your About and Contact pages, then work your way up to the more advanced ones.
Your blog is going to rock – and these key pages will help ensure its success. So get writing and have fun with it!
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