A page with no internal links pointing to it, making it difficult for search engines to find.
A search engine’s crawler can have a hard time finding and indexing an orphan page because it has no path to follow. This can lead to a page having zero visibility in search results and a waste of the website’s valuable crawl budget. Orphan pages are a common technical SEO problem that can harm a website’s overall performance.
Why an Orphan Page Matters
Orphan pages are a significant SEO problem because they directly impact a site’s crawlability and indexation rate. A search engine’s crawler discovers new pages by following links from existing pages. If a page has no internal links, it may never be found by a search crawler, which means it won’t be indexed and won’t appear in search results. This can lead to a significant loss of organic traffic and revenue, especially if the page contains valuable content. It’s a key part of your website’s overall SEO health.
Across Different CMS Platforms
The management of orphan pages is a technical SEO strategy that can be applied to any CMS.
WordPress
WordPress users can easily find orphan pages by using a variety of plugins. A good SEO plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math can provide you with a report on all the orphan pages on your site.
Shopify
On Shopify, orphan pages can be a common problem with a large number of products or with a blog that has a lot of content. You can use a variety of tools to find a backlink from a relevant website. A link from a high-quality blog or a news site can significantly boost your rankings.
Wix
Wix has a streamlined, user-friendly system, but you can still optimize for orphan pages. The platform’s built-in SEO tools make it easy to manage your titles, meta descriptions, and on-page content.
Webflow
Webflow gives you granular control over your website’s design and code, which is perfect for a sophisticated SEO strategy. You can use it to create a perfectly structured page that is optimized for a specific keyword or set of keywords.
Custom CMS
With a custom CMS, you have the most control but also the most responsibility. You can build a system that automatically tracks and analyzes your SEO performance and provides your content creators with data-driven insights.
Across Different Industries
The way you use orphan pages will depend on your industry and your goals.
E-commerce
E-commerce sites often have thousands of pages, so a large number of orphan pages can be a major problem. It is crucial to ensure that all your product and category pages are properly indexed and that link authority is passed correctly.
Local Businesses
Local businesses can use a low navigation depth to build a stronger community. A local restaurant, for example, can have a node for its menu, its location, and its hours.
SaaS Companies
SaaS companies can use a low navigation depth to build a stronger brand reputation. A company that sells project management software can have a node for its features, its pricing, and its blog.
Blogs
Blogs are a great way to capitalize on a low navigation depth. A blog that writes about cooking can have a node for each of its articles.
Best Practices
- Utilize effective tools to identify: Employing tools such as Google Search Console is essential for pinpointing orphan pages on your site.
- Incorporate internal links to enhance: The most efficient method to address an orphan page is by integrating an internal link from another relevant page within your website.
- Implement a 301 redirect for permanent relocations: This strategy is the most reliable way to transfer link authority from an outdated page to a new one, ensuring continuity in SEO performance.
- Exercise caution when deleting pages: Before removing any page, analyze your analytics to confirm whether it is attracting organic traffic for alternative keywords.
- Maintain a well-organized site structure: A clear and logical structure is vital for optimizing indexation rates and preserving organic traffic.
- Steer clear of JavaScript-only navigation menus: This common oversight can render a significant portion of your content inaccessible to search engines, negatively impacting your site’s visibility.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failing to use a clear, hierarchical site structure: This can confuse a search engine and a user.
- Ignoring a user’s intent: A keyword should be used with a user’s intent in mind.
- Focusing on short-tail keywords alone: Long-tail keywords are often easier to rank for and can be a great source of organic traffic.
FAQs
How do I find orphan pages on my website?
You can find orphan pages by using a website crawling tool like SEMrush or Ahrefs. You can also check your Google Search Console for pages that are in your sitemap but are not being crawled.
What is the difference between an orphan page and a broken link?
An orphan page is a page that has no internal links pointing to it. A broken link is a link to a non-existent page. An orphan page is a crawlability issue, while a broken link is a technical SEO problem.
How do I fix an orphan page?
The best way to fix an orphan page is to add an internal link to it from another page on your site. You should also ensure that the link is relevant to the content on both pages.
Can an orphan page still rank?
An orphan page may still rank, but it can be difficult. A search engine’s crawler may not get to it, which can lead to a lower indexation rate and a loss of organic traffic.
Does an orphan page harm my SEO?
Yes. An orphan page can harm your SEO by creating a poor user experience, which can lead to a higher bounce rate. It can also lead to a wasted crawl budget and a loss of link authority.
