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Serious Post vs. Page Issue - Advice Needed

  1. notabreed
    Member

    I originally set up my blog to be a place people can come for information on how to re-home their horse...
    I made the main articles as “pages” instead of posts. Since I have done that, I’m not allowed to use Categories or Tags. Unfortunately, what that means, is that this site rarely gets picked up in the search engines.

    All that being said, I think I will start doing “posts” as well as “pages” (they would be identical). I will re-publish the pages as posts, even though the posts are what is connected to the front page.

    It’s unfortunate that the pages don’t allow tags. I guess not many people set up a “blog” as a static page that isn’t intended on changing much?

    My one concern is that people who search for something and end up there, will comment on the post, and people who read the page won’t see the comments. Good suggestions and information will not be able to be seen or shared between the two. Hmmm… maybe I need to rethink this. How do I fix this issue? Does anyone have any suggestions?

    I do love the theme I found. I especially like the menu tabs across the top. But I can’t add posts to the menu, only pages or categories!

    Aarrrgh. I’m going around in circles here.

    Please, someone help!

    The blog I need help with is rehomeyourhorse.wordpress.com.

  2. notabreed
    Member

    The actual blog is http://rehomeyourhorse.wordpress.com/ not the NotABreed blog.
    Sorry about that.

  3. timethief
    Member

    Posts and Pages are very different.http://en.support.wordpress.com/post-vs-page/ In case your aren't clear on the distinctions between leaving a WordPress.com blog as a post based structure and making the choice to change it to a page based structure please read this > http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/2010/05/12/better-blogging-at-wordpress-com-pages-and-posts/

    You cannot post to pages. Pages are static and sit outside the blog structure. With wordpress, you use categories to organize posts into subjects and then you can add those categories to your navigation using a custom menu.
    http://wpbtips.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/posts-on-pages/
    http://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/

  4. timethief
    Member

    What’s critical is:
    (1) a clear comprehension of the differences between pages and posts > http://en.support.wordpress.com/post-vs-page/
    (2) a clear comprehension of the fact that here is only one dynamic page in a blog for posts and we cannot post to more than that one page. But we can create the appearance that we have posted to more than one page.

    We organize our posts by assigning Categories to them. When we publish a post it automatically appears on the running page for posts and also on the Categories pages and Archives pages. Note: There must be one published post in each Category in order for there to be anything to display.

    A custom menu allows you to display Categories in tabs along the horizontal navigation where normally only Pages tabs are displayed. If you wish you can also include Pages and custom links in your custom menu as well.
    http://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/

  5. notabreed
    Member

    I do understand the main differences between posts and pages.
    My initial thought process was to create pages, as I wanted them "static". I'm seeing that was possibly an error on my part.

    I guess, from what I'm thinking and from your comments, that I should go back, recreate all the pages as posts, and set up a menu according to the categories...

    Is that the bottom line?

  6. timethief
    Member

    Is that the bottom line?

    Static pages are for content that rarely, if ever, changes. You may want to have an About page and perhaps static pages for commenting policy and/or copyright and/or contact info. If so they can be included in the custom menu.

    Yes. I would go back and copy and paste the contents of the static pages into posts and assign appropriate categories and/or sub-categories to those posts. (There is no way to do this automatically.) Then I would delete the pages and set up a custom menu and include the primary categories in it with drop downs to sub-categories. Note that until there is one published post in each category they will not display on a categories or sub-categories pages.

  7. notabreed
    Member

    Well, the content is informational, so it wasn't going to change.
    If you look at the blog, you'll see what I mean... It was really intended for people looking for information on the best way to re-home a horse.

    Anyway, I'm changing it up right now. This is frustrating!
    Thanks for your advice. Much appreciated. :)

  8. timethief
    Member

    Posts have Google juice - tonnes of Google juice. Pages don't have much Google juise at all. Other bloggers don't backlink to pages. They backlink to posts. The number of backlinks a blog gets is a major factor in achieving a pagearnk and in where those posts are displayed in the SERPs (search engine page results). What you have on static pages now is what I consider to be "pillar post" content or "flagship content". Pillar posts are not your average blog post. They are usually longer, more content rich, comprehensive posts that offer great value to readers as the contents are timeless in nature. Read more here > http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/2008/05/05/blogging-characteristics-of-pillar-posts/ Read also > http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/2008/05/18/deep-link-posts-bring-your-readers-back-again-and-again/

  9. timethief
    Member

    I know this has been frustrating but I sincerely believe that if you make these changes your blog will be more user and search engine friendly. Well structured blogs that are frequently updated with fresh content attract many visitors who have used search engines to locate content on specific topics. These targeted readers are far more likely to become regular readers/subscribers who comment on your posts as well as sharing your links with others and backlinking to your posts. Making the change to a post based structure changes will mean your content will become accessible to a wider audience than the same content would ever be when placed on static pages. Hang in there. Once you are over this blogging will be more rewarding for you.

    Have you located the tutorial prepared by Staff? The Learn WordPress.com tutorial is divided into progressive levels and presented as a series: http://learn.wordpress.com/

    Best wishes with your blog. :)

  10. notabreed
    Member

    I agree with everything you've said.
    One of the big things was the use of pages allowed me to organize them in a specific order... NOT alphabetic.

    I really did think the whole thing through... I just missed the search engine function. :(

    I've actually got a fair amount of experience blogging... and I'm fairly good overall when it comes to computers / software, etc... I just goofed on that one. And I'm pissy about having to go back and republish it all. But I'm 3/4 done already... and then I just have to fix up the menus and delete the pages - you know the pages with comments on them already!! Buggar.

  11. timethief
    Member

    Hold it you can move comments manually.
    Scroll down to "Moving Comments" in this post > http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/2010/12/20/wordpress-com-comments-and-discussion-settings/

  12. panaghiotisadam
    Member

    A couple of additions to what timethief said:

    Tags aren't so important for search engines: search engines now pick the right keywords from your content. But tags or categories are useful for the global WP tag pages.

    "I can’t add posts to the menu": Yes you can. A custom menu allows you to add any combination of categories, tags, pages, posts and external ilnks.

    I wouldn't retain posts and pages with identical content. But neither would I delete the pages: if others have linked to any of these pages, deleteing them will create broken links and 404 errors: I would delete the content of the pages and replace it with a note saying that the content has been transferred to ->link to the respective post.

  13. timethief
    Member

    I would delete the content of the pages and replace it with a note saying that the content has been transferred to ->link to the respective post.

    I agree and wish I had thought of that earlier.

  14. notabreed
    Member

    THANK YOU for the moving comments link. I'm just at that stage.

    You both have given great info. I really do appreciate it.

    As for the adding posts to the menu, when I went to that menu the posts were not available. Only pages and categories. Since you can't categorize pages... I was at a loss.

    I've now recreated all the pages as posts, and have created a new menu. The only unfortunate thing is when you click on the tab for the category now, it shows ALL posts in that category. I really only wanted the one, and even set it up that each main tab is a category, then each post has its own category. Anyway, I'll play with it a bit.

    Now on to moving those comments... :)

  15. notabreed
    Member

    Oh, and excellent advice about the pages (not deleting them). I know for sure one was linked back to. I'll follow that advice. :)

  16. panaghiotisadam
    Member

    If you're not seeing all the available modules (one of which is Posts) while on the Appearance>Menus screen, click Screen Options (top right) to activate them.

  17. notabreed
    Member

    One last thing...

    Now, if you click on the tab at the top, it has a line "Archive for Category..."
    and you have to click on the title to read the whole article.

    Annoying!

    Example: http://rehomeyourhorse.wordpress.com/category/welcome/

  18. notabreed
    Member

    ^^ Sorry. That was a rant more than anything. You two have provided a HOST of great info.
    Thanks so much for your help. I really do appreciate it!!

  19. notabreed
    Member

    I'm all done, with exception of the comments and I have to run out.
    I did a quick Google search, and the posts are already showing up in the results.

    :)

    Thanks again folks!

  20. timethief
    Member

    You're welcome form me. Best wishes with your blog. :)

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