Product page optimalisation

[TiasNimbas]

Throughout the years our website kept on growing this has led to product pages that have so much sub-pages that nobody is able to really get a good idea of the product. We are working on a new website where the visitor is central. Together with a usability partner we have down sized the preferred data to fit on one page with a tabular system with a maximum of 4 taps. My question will this affect our find ability if we go from 10 to 15 sub-pages to one main page

[My-Favourite-Holiday-Cottages]

If any of those sub pages had links, are ranking e.t.c., then you're definatly going to have to look into 301s at the very least.

Any more then that I would think it best to give a more specific example or link.

[Danapollo]

While it may affect your presence higher up in the search engines - to start with - it's a perfect opportunity to develop some exciting content for that section of your website, an excuse (not that you need one) to present something new, if you will. And I don't just mean static pages, I'm talking content people can share - interesting, educational, inspiring (insert other relevant word here) content that links well throughout your website (and sends your readers/audience on a buying journey, starting at information/education, ending at checkout).

Sure, 301 the old pages to the new one to gain whatever benefit you can out of them - but make sure you don't spend all your time worrying about this... jump on the social side of things and look at how visitors are interacting with your content, then think about how they might be tempted to share it (special offers, for example...) - the opportunities are endless.

That's just my take on it. Don't spend all your time worrying about the re-structure; that's something I've just learned!