The 5-step page-template framework

The 5-step page-template framework

A template is a contract between data and HTML. Build it in this order so each layer has a pass/fail gate.

— Step 1: Entity definition. Name the one thing each page is about ({product} in {location}). Owner-action: write the entity sentence. Gate: if you can't say it in one line, the template is too broad.
— Step 2: Required-field map. List fields that MUST exist for the page to be worth indexing. Gate: missing any required field routes the record to noindex or 404.
— Step 3: Differentiation block. The section that uses data unique to this record — a computed stat, a comparison, a local figure. Gate: this block must be impossible to copy-paste across siblings.
— Step 4: Static value layer. Methodology, definitions, FAQ — shared, but disclosed as shared. Gate: keep under 40% of word count.
— Step 5: Linking + schema. Inject internal links and JSON-LD from the same record. Gate: schema validates, links resolve to 200.

Ship gate: don't publish until all boxes are checked.