Need feedback - website content

Lynn · #1 (**permalink**) 08-09-2007, 06:46 PM

Hi - I'm totally new to this, but would like some advice. I'm a portrait painter,and thought it would be a good idea to create a "how-to" site for beginning portrait painters. There are sites out there now that teach how to paint landscapes, still lives, etc., but none for portraiture.

First, I've written a bunch of pages of instruction, I've painted a portrait and taken .jpg pics of each stage.

Is it true that I need 30 pages of content? Most sites that I've seen (the one on stomach exercises in particular) seem very short on first page content. Is the rest of their info. contained in the sidebars that you click on? Is that the format I should be using?

Thanks

Lynn

webdev · #2 (**permalink**) 08-09-2007, 07:29 PM

Hi Lynn,

Welcome! There is no set number of pages you must have to see traffic. The key is to have as many possible GOOD relevant content pages so that people searching for portrait painting find your site through search engines.

I'm sure there are sites with 1000+ pages pulls less visitors than a site which only has 100 pages. It all has to do with good unique content.

Lisa's stomach exercise site is a good example. With 40 so pages, it pulls a lot of traffic from Google. She has GOOD content pages related to her topic. People who find her site recommend it to other by linking it or by word of mouth. Google sees this and rewards her with more search engine traffic by linking her site hig in its search index.

Hope this sheds some light. I'm sure other people will expands on my points and try to clarify more.

webdev

lisa · #3 (**permalink**) 08-09-2007, 08:48 PM

Webdev summed it up well, there is no set number of pages you need. Some SBI! sites have 30, others have 300+. I was very fortunate to find a niche that allowed me to have success so quickly with only 30+ pages but I do plan to build more... I've just gotten too comfortable with its success and have been working on other things.

I think the fact that you've noticed there aren't a lot of "how to" portrait sites is a great opportunity to capitalize on that niche. When I create new sites,I try to find other themes and content that other sites don't offer so my site stands out and you're off to a good start.

lisa · #4 (**permalink**) 08-09-2007, 08:49 PM

Webdev summed it up well, there is no set number of pages you need. Some sites have 30, others have 300+. I was very fortunate to find a niche that allowed me to have success so quickly with only 30+ pages but I do plan to build more... I've just gotten too comfortable with its success and have been working on other things.

I think the fact that you've noticed there aren't a lot of "how to" portrait sites is a great opportunity to capitalize on that niche. When I create new sites,I try to find other themes and content that other sites don't offer so my site stands out and you're off to a good start.

Lajocar · #5 (**permalink**) 08-10-2007, 03:25 AM

I agree with Lisa and webdev

It does not matter the amount of pages you have as long as you have quality vs quantity content.

If you have 10 - 30 pages you can also do very well.

Bingo · #6 (**permalink**) 08-11-2007, 08:58 AM

I always aim to launch my site with approx 20-30 pages but with no particular reason. On a weekly basis I'll write a few articles to expand categories and within no time I'll have 100+ unique content pages.

Lynn · #7 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007, 07:22 PM

Sorry for not responding sooner - I was out of town. Thanks so much for the info. I'm curious about two thing at this point.

First, could you guys steer me towards examples of "good" content and "bad" or "not so good content"?

I guess I have no frame of reference for what would be perceived as bad.

Are we talking about good writing? Information that is professional and not shaky? Graphics that wow the viewer? Maybe if I see what doesn't work I'll know what does.

Second, I'm assuming that art supply companies would possibly be interested in advertising on my site. If I name them on my site, does that help draw them as an advertiser? If I name specific brushes, for example, would that increase my chances of the brush manufacturer advertising, or does Google take care of all of that?

Thanks again! I love having you guys as resources!

Lynn

Bingo · #8 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007, 07:54 PM

Welcome back Lynn.

Good content is what you thought it was as in good writing and professional.

Bad content is writing for the search engines, using too many keywords where they are not needed. One rule of thumb is read your article out loud, does it make sense?

You are correct to assume about the art supply companies. If you find any art suppliers on-line see if they have an affiliate program.

ppcFanatic · #9 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007, 10:22 PM

Also check www.associateprograms.com, join www.cj.com , www.linkshare.com and search for "art programs". I bet there are tons of affiliate programs. I think art.com has one too and that's one of the big online art sites.

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