Bretts 26 Steps

Confused about something...

[badass101]

Hi all,

Following Bretts steps to success for a new site I'm building and I wanted clarification on something.

In step (a) where Brett talks about planning 100 pages of quality content, should this content be placed on the site before going live, or should you start with a few pages (and a reserve of say 15-20 pages) and then put one up a day?

Just wondering when I should plan to launch my site and start trying to get indexed (I would think sooner is better due to the sandbox effect, and the value of daily content updates?)

Thanks

Craig

[phantombookman]

I would (and do) start with a 15 or so then add regularly. Seems to work well for me

incidently Brett's 26 step guide is more important now than for some years, every update shows the dangers of tinkering near the edges of seo

Good luck with the site

[JerryOdom]

I usually build and add as I go. Its always worked well for me.

[rj87uk]

I think the more content you have at the start helps you build more links easier - As you can tell everyone you have loads of information pages...

[stu2]

Brett's 26 steps were written before Google Sitemaps. I would add submit your sitemap to google using their Sitemaps in the submissions part of his steps.

Why? My domain was well and truely sandboxed and after I submitted my sitemap to google, my site was totally 100% indexed within 24-72 hours.

[leadegroot]

I would get something full of content up as quickly as I could, mostly to start offsetting the aging delay.
and anyway - I usually find that a) I don't know the full shape of the site until there is something up there for me to hate and b) its easier to work on little bits than to look at a mammoth task from which you don't get anything until it is alllll finished!

[badass101]

Ok, one final thing:

If you're looking at AdWording your articles or putting an affiliate link in or two (nothing too heavy) would you do this now, or after you've got indexed, links in and popularity?

[leadegroot]

Advertising is irrelevent to link building - in fact for many people, putting advertising in early is the only time they do it. They use it instead of links until they have some.

Success of both AM and advertising is dependant on the quality of the page, so ask yourself "Will the content there return a dollar?" (not literally - whatever the appropriate amount is ;))
If the answer is 'Yes' then you can advertise or AM. If not, do some more work first.

[grandpa]

would you do this now, or after you've got indexed

Take a look at the following lines from Brett's post.

Learn the lesson of Google itself - simple is retro cool - simple is what surfers want.

Most web users don't actually read, they scan. This is why it is so important to keep low key pages today.

If you have an ecom site.. be careful not to turn your site into a brochure.

These, and much more speak to one thing. Build your pages (notice I did not say site) for your users. If you believe that AdSense or affiliates are good for your users then yes, put them on the page now. There is no reason not to, if they can enhance your users experience. I understand the motive to use them is $$. That's good. But users don't come to my site to click on the AdSense ads. They come there because I build pages, one at a time, to attract them and bring them back again.