Resources

Resources

A Resources section is the single most underutilized opportunity in business web presence design. Done well, it transforms your site from a brochure into a destination — and transforms your company from a vendor into a trusted advisor.

Beyond Brochureware

Most sites begin as a homepage, a catalog or capabilities overview, a company profile, and a contact page — commonly called “brochureware.” The first step in going beyond brochureware isn’t necessarily e-commerce. A Resources section — an area that addresses common problems in your industry — is the most valuable next phase for the majority of business websites.

The strategic logic is simple: when you go beyond hawking products and services to providing genuinely useful resources for prospects and clients, you give them more reasons to return. A site people return to is a site that stays top of mind. And a company that helps buyers solve problems before a sale is the company those buyers call when they’re ready to purchase.

Start With the Buyer’s Point of View

Look at your web presence from the perspective of your buyers. What would make their life easier? What questions do they ask repeatedly? What information do they need to make a confident decision? What do you take for granted that they would find genuinely useful?

A fasteners site might offer English-to-metric conversion tools. A jeweler might show how gemstone grades are evaluated. A coin dealer might illustrate how condition grades are assigned. Whatever your industry, there is practical knowledge your buyers would value — knowledge your company already has. A Resources section is simply the vehicle for sharing it.

Links Pages as a Sub-Page

The early web’s “links page” — a list of URLs to other sites — is not a Resources section on its own, but it can be a useful sub-page within one. Curated links to industry associations, standards bodies, trade publications, user groups, and relevant nonprofits add genuine value for a buyer researching your industry. The key word is curated: links you’ve evaluated and chosen, not an exhaustive directory assembled for its own sake.

Resources in the Age of AI Search

A well-built Resources section has always helped with SEO. In 2026, it does something even more valuable: it gives AI-powered search tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI Overview something substantive to cite. When a buyer asks an AI assistant about a topic in your industry and your resource article provides the clearest answer, your company gets the citation — and the credibility that comes with it. Educational content that helps buyers is now one of the most effective visibility strategies available.