Every webpage must have a clearly defined purpose.
Informational (education, explanation)
Transactional (sales, booking, conversion)
Navigational (hub, directory, category)
Supportive (FAQ, resources, documentation)
A page without a defined intent will fail to guide users or produce meaningful outcomes.
URLs should be:
Human-readable
Predictable
Hierarchical when appropriate
Stable over time
A proper URL reflects the page’s role within the site structure and avoids unnecessary parameters or ambiguity.
A valid webpage includes:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="">
<head> with metadata
<body> containing visible content
Semantic HTML elements (header, main, section, article, footer) provide structure and meaning.
Title tag
Meta description
Character encoding
Viewport settings
Canonical URL
Open Graph metadata
Social preview metadata
Metadata defines how a page is interpreted, indexed, and shared.
Headings establish content structure.
One <h1> per page
Logical nesting (h2 → h3 → h4)
Headings describe sections, not visual styling
Proper heading hierarchy improves readability, accessibility, and search indexing.
Clear and concise language
Organized into scannable sections
Focused on user intent
Free of unnecessary repetition
Images
Icons
Illustrations
Embedded media when relevant
All content should serve a functional purpose.
Media elements must be optimized for performance and accessibility.
Compressed file sizes
Appropriate formats
Descriptive filenames
Alt text for images
Lazy loading where applicable
Poor media optimization degrades both usability and performance.
Pages should connect logically within the site.
Contextual internal links
Navigation menus
Breadcrumbs where relevant
Related content references
Internal linking establishes content relationships and improves discoverability.
Most pages include at least one interactive component:
Buttons
Forms
Links
Modals
Media controls
Interactive elements must be intuitive, accessible, and clearly labeled.
Even non-commercial pages should guide users forward.
Calls to action
Next-step prompts
Contact methods
Engagement triggers
A page should never end without direction.
Users assess credibility quickly.
Common trust elements include:
Reviews or testimonials
Author or business identification
Policies and disclosures
Real imagery and verifiable information
Trust signals support user confidence and engagement.
A proper webpage must load efficiently.
Minimal blocking scripts
Optimized assets
Efficient rendering
Server-side optimization where applicable
Performance affects usability, retention, and discoverability.
Pages must function across devices.
Responsive layout
Touch-friendly controls
Readable text sizes
Optimized mobile performance
Mobile compatibility is a baseline requirement.
Accessibility ensures usability for all users.
Semantic HTML
Sufficient contrast
Keyboard navigation
Screen-reader compatibility
ARIA attributes when necessary
Accessible pages are more usable and future-proof.
Structured data provides context to machines.
Page type identification
Entity definitions
Rich result eligibility
Content classification
Schema improves how pages are interpreted beyond plain text.
Webpages should be part of a larger system.
Categories
Tags
Collections
Parent-child relationships
Organization enables scalability and content reuse.
Proper pages support tracking and analysis.
Page views
Engagement metrics
Conversion events
Traffic attribution
Measurement enables ongoing optimization.
Every webpage must maintain user safety.
HTTPS
Secure forms
Sanitized inputs
Protected data handling
Security is foundational, not optional.
A proper webpage is designed to evolve.
Easy content updates
Modular components
Reusable layouts
Compatibility with future enhancements
Webpages should support growth, not limit it.
Webpages have a lifecycle.
Creation
Optimization
Monitoring
Updating
Archiving or repurposing
Managing this lifecycle ensures long-term relevance.
Tags: website architecturewebpage requirementswebsite fundamentalspage structurecontent hierarchyon page seotechnical seouser experience designweb accessibilitywebsite performancecontent organizationinternal linkingwebsite best practicesmodern web standardsConcordNew HampshireSoftware AppsServiceSoftware AppsSoftware AppsSoftware-Apps
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