How Do I Break up Big Web Pages into Multiple Pages?

[mchumor]

I have 170 computer cartoons on 17 web pages where each page has 10 cartoons on it. Page 1 has the 10 best cartoons on it, page 2 has the next 10 best, etc.

https://mchumor.com/computer-cartoons-pg1.html

I’m always adding new cartoons. If a cartoon is really good, I want to put it on page 1, but then I have to move a cartoon to page two and then shuffle every cartoon on all the other pages.

Is there a way of making one huge page with 170-plus cartoons on it where I put some code in after every 10 cartoons telling it to create a “next page” button or a page 1, page 2, page 3 button?

I hope this make sense. I think there’s a term for the kind of page I’m talking about, but I don’t know what it is, so I don’t even know what to search for.

Thanks!

[Nancy OShea]

You need a database driven web site to do that. 

How good are you with advanced coding?

And which coding languages are you able to use with your hosting plan?

[mchumor]

I'm not sure what a database driven web site is. I can do some coding. I'm working in Dreamweaver and GoDaddy hosts my site. Can you direct me to either a video or directions for doing this? Thank you for replying.

[Nancy OShea · Accepted solution]

Basically, your catalog of cartoons (image location, descriptions, keywords, etc...) are entered into an online database (MySQL).  Programming (PHP & Javascript code) pulls selected content out of the database and generates web pages on the fly.   Data can be searched, sorted and organized in many ways.  For example, you can specify to show 5, 10 or 20 items per page with previous and next buttons leading to more content.   In a nutshell, that's what a dynamic web site can do that ordinary static sites can't.

This is not a beginner's project.  It takes advanced coding skills and a good understanding of databases and server-side programming to build the architecture.   But it's doable if you have the coding skills and a deep desire to learn.

Based on what you've told us so far,  I think this is more than a little beyond your pay grade.   You might need to think about hiring an experienced web developer to help you set this up with a backend CMS you can use to maintain it. 

Nancy

[mchumor]

Yowza. Thanks. I guess for now I'll just continue shifting cartoons by hand.

[Nancy OShea]

Have you considered putting your work on Adobe Stock?

Cartoons Funny photos, royalty-free images, graphics, vectors & videos | Adobe Stock

Or

Adobe Portfolio | Build your own personalized website

Behance

Nancy

[mchumor]

Thanks for the suggestions. I didn't realize anyone could submit to Adobe Stock. I'll definitely look into it.

[EbaySeller]

While you're looking into it you should also look into the fact that Adobe only gives you 33% commission for photos and vector art you sell on Adobe Stock. You'll also be directing your audience to a platform that hosts work from potential competitors. Is that something you want?

Theresa, you already have a blog on thekomic.com that shows the latest post with all the older posts pushed back to page 2,3,etc. Why not use the same method for your homepage? The system is already in place on your website(s). Why not implement what you already have?

[mchumor]

Thanks for the input. My blog is on a Wordpress site, while my cartoons are on an HTML Dreamweaver designed site. I hired a Portland, OR web design company to create a site for my cartoons on Wordpress and it was a dismal failure. I went from 900 page views a day to three. I almost went bankrupt. Consequently, I went back to my old site. I currently have 4,500 cartoons on it spread over 1,000-plus pages, so any changes beyond adding code to the template would be a huge undertaking. Then again, with another 5,000 plus cartoons to upload, well, that's going to be another huge undertaking if I'm having to shuffle around pages and cartoons.

[EbaySeller]

mchumor  wrote

My blog is on a Wordpress site

This answers your question earlier about what a database-driven site is. Your original question of how to break up multiple web pages has been answered in this same regard.

I think what you should be asking is how you can convert your current static, html cartoon site to a database-driven site like Wordpress without impacting the current traffic you receive. You can't necessarily blame that on Wordpress or a web design company. Both of those avenues could provide a method to avoid lost traffic problems, but it involves more work to ensure pages are redirected appropriately and indexed search results are retained in search engines.

It may boil down to what you're willing to pay a web design company. It may also be something a web design company would not provide service for since it's more SEO work than web design work. Either way you'd likely have to shell out more $ for those services. For matters involving SEO and web visitor traffic concerns of a redeveloped website it would be best to consult someone experienced with SEO. As recommended earlier: you might be better off hiring a professional web developer and/or SEO specialist. Don't blame the professional for lack of results though. Remember, you get what you pay for! If you're not paying a professional much in relation to current market value then don't expect to receive much in return.

[mchumor]

I agree that you shouldn't expect to pay a web designer peanuts and get results. I paid my designer almost $9,000, $4,000 more than they bid.