Why Public Docs Matter: Compose.page vs Notion for Free Website Owners (2026 Deep Dive)
Public docs have become a trust and SEO lever for small sites. We compare Compose.page and Notion in 2026 and outline a practical migration playbook for free hosting users.
Why Public Docs Matter: Compose.page vs Notion for Free Website Owners (2026 Deep Dive)
Hook: Public docs are the unsung trust mechanism for small brands. They give users a lightweight space to read policies, roadmaps, and release notes — and they can be a source of traffic and conversions when done right.
2026 context
Two differentiators matter now: exportability and static performance. If your public docs get indexed or are the primary onboarding surface, they must be fast and portable. The Compose.page vs Notion comparison is the most practical place to start when choosing your docs platform — read it here.
Comparison summary
| Dimension | Compose.page | Notion |
|---|---|---|
| Static export | Strong (built for public sites) | Limited (workspaces depend on proprietary formats) |
| Performance | High (static by default) | Variable (embedded blocks, heavy JS) |
| SEO control | Good (metadata control) | Basic (SEO tweaks are harder) |
Migration playbook (for free hosts)
- Export your Notion pages as HTML and test the static build locally.
- Host the exported docs on your free site’s static path and measure TTFB.
- Compare to a native Compose.page deployment — if SEO and speed improve, consider a gradual move.
Integrations to consider
Public docs should link to your archive, release notes and shortlinks for experiments. For example, maintain an archived snapshot of important pages (follow ArchiveBox workflows: how to), and use a link management tool for marketing experiments (see Weekend Tote review here).
"Public docs are the new trust layer. If your product promises uptime or privacy, publish it where search engines and customers can verify it."
SEO & performance tips for public docs
- Serve docs from a stable canonical URL and ensure alt‑text and structured data are present.
- Prefer statically rendered pages; if using Notion exports, minify and precompute critical CSS.
- Archive important releases so you can prove historic claims — use archived exports (ArchiveBox).
Privacy and data handling
If you collect emails through docs or forms, follow up‑to‑date contact list best practices. The 2026 primer on contact privacy gives a practical checklist for consent flows and retention (reference).
Final recommendation
For teams prioritising speed, portability, and SEO, Compose.page is usually the better fit. Retain a Notion backup for internal collaboration and export regularly. Make archiving and link management part of your publishing workflow and consult the Weekend Tote review for picking a tidy link toolset (read).