One SEO professional asked John about why their homepage is ranking instead of a details page.
They explained that for one of their clients, there are a few pages that are ranking for some specific queries.
This has been happening for two weeks. For each and every query, the homepage is getting ranked, and other pages (like details pages) disappear.
John asked for clarification if the homepage is ranking instead of the specific pages.
The SEO pro said yes and explained that earlier, they were able to rank for specific queries and specific pages.
John explained that it means that Google believes the homepage is a better match for that specific query.
It could also be that some of the information is on the homepage itself, and it could be that the more detailed page is seen as not as good a page from Google’s perspective.
Usually, it’s one of those versions. This is a situation where you can experiment with removing some of that information from the homepage, but you also have to think about what you can do to improve the detail page in this regard.
Because what you want to avoid happening is that you remove the homepage from the search results, then nothing from your site ranks for that query anymore.
John stated that strategic internal linking could be useful here, though it can be tricky to find a balance.
This happens at approximately the 50:07 mark in the video.
John Mueller Hangout Transcript
SEO Professional 6 50:07
Okay. Okay. And one last one. Recently for one of my clients, I see there were a couple of pages who were ranking for some specific queries. But I think it’s been two weeks I see for any of the queries, my homepage is getting ranked. So kind of a minor updates from the search side, and it happens all the time, that I know. But how’s that possible? Like for each and every query, there is only the–you know, my homepage is getting ranked and all of the pages are like no, like, suddenly disappear from the SERPs. How’s Google treating it?
John 50:43
So that the homepage is ranking instead of the more specific page or how do you mean?
SEO Professional 6 50:49
Yes, yes, yeah. I don’t know. But the pattern is such that earlier, we used to rank for them specific queries, specific pages, you know. We have a dedicated page, but could be a bug, I guess. But this is the usual pattern that like for all my queries, let’s say, only the homepage is seen on the SERPs for a specific position as well. It could be like for position 3, for position 10, 15, or maybe somewhere else. But basically, the homepage is getting set.
John 51:19
It’s hard to say. Usually, that means that we think the homepage is a better match for that specific query. And it could be that some of the information is on the homepage itself. It could be that the more detailed page is seen as not such a good page, from our point of view. Usually, it’s one of those versions. And it’s something where you can experiment with kind of like removing some of that information from the homepage, but you kind of have to also think about what you can do to improve the detail page in that regard. Because what you kind of want to avoid happening is that you remove the homepage from the search results, and then nothing ranks from your website for that query anymore. Yeah, it’s sometimes tricky to find that balance.
SEO Professional 6 52:14
So because this is happening, like from the last two weeks, I’ve seen the internal structure, the breadcrumbs, everything looks good to me. Trying to add some more other relevant information. But can we, you know, tell with the help of like breadcrumbs or internal links, which are the anchor text, or the thing that we are trying to match for the particular target page and rank in the SERPs? Is this still the best way, or we are still lagging from few pointers that we definitely need to focus upon?
John 52:45
I think that always helps. So internal linking is one of those ways that you can give us more information about the relative context of your individual pages. And for internal linking, we take into account things like the anchor text, which gives us a lot of information about what you think is relevant on the other page. So sometimes, with internal linking, you can help there. But especially when we’re talking about the homepage versus a detail page, if you link from the homepage with an anchor text to a detail page, then you also include that text on the homepage because it’s kind of a part of the anchor text. So it’s kind of like sometimes a bit tricky to find that balance.
SEO Professional 6 53:31
Okay, we’ll work on that point. I have got the hint. But thank you so much.