When creating a new content site, how many pages of quality content should it have before its launched? Any opinions?
Depends, really. I launched www.theobservant.co.uk with only about five stories on it, but then I knew I'd be adding another one every day so it's soon built up, and it's only really now I've started getting any vaguely decent traffic, so I don't think having just that little bit to start with did any harm. Depends on the type of content really, I suppose. I know a lot of people say start with a minimum of 30 articles and stuff, but unless you know you're going to have a large number of visitors as soon as the site goes live, then I don't see why you can't be getting the site spidered while you continue to add stuff.
I remember reading somewhere that people are using the robots.txt file to block search engines until launch.
i have read a thread in webmasterworld where the poster said 100 pages before even registering the domain to have a profitable website in a year
You are an expert on the subject you are creating a site on right? Then you should know best when it's ready.
I tend to have the opinion that if your content is quality content, then your visitors will come back just to see if anything new has been added: I got my first site http://www.dogflu.ca into Google News, with only 8 articles on it. It is really your content that will determine if a first time visitor to your site bookmarks you or not.
Kashem, I read that too: http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum3/2010.htm Sure you're an expert on the subject, but the search engines arent. Thats why I wanted to know what people thought.
Maybe, but why block the search engine? Just get some OK content up, because even when the search engines find you, it will probably take ages for your site to get a good ranking position in them anyway. And you'll want to work on getting good links with other sites too, so you'll need something to show other webmasters. Just my thoughts. Darren.
Yeah, I'm of the thinking that the sooner the engines can find what you've got there, the better. If they then see there's activity every day and new stuff going up, they'll like it. If a user comes to the site and sees there's not much there, but what is there is good, and that there's new stuff being added every day or so, then I see no reason for them not to come back. I'd much prefer to find a site I liked with a small amount of content that was being added to regularly, than one with lots of content which wasn't being updated at all. A lot of people like the feeling of being "in on the ground" on new sites, if the site shows promise.
Darren, very true. You must get through the Google Sandbox anyhow, so I guess 10 or so decent pages and launch. P.S - Darren, your signature link doesnt work, the bold tags are the culprit.
i think, quality content can start with 1 article as long as you add consistently. This gets your older articles into search engines quicker, versus launching them all at once. Gives your site time to build ranking and credibility. Just depends, do you already have lots of articles written? and how long it takes to write a decent high quality article.