When we use Google to search for information, we assume that we have access to the entirety of the web. However, this is far from the truth! The reality is that we’re only seeing a small fraction of the information available online. Believe or not, there’s a lot of garbage on the web.
Spam websites, free website builders, sporadic one-off blogs, and duplicate e-commerce site pages are all over the internet. The internet is becoming cluttered as a result of all of these factors, making it challenging for search engines like Google to navigate through and locate pertinent content.
Google is well aware of this problem and has developed algorithms that reward websites that are lean, efficient, and contain high quality content. Google’s algorithms don’t want to waste resources sifting through irrelevant content, so they prioritise sites that are trustworthy, to-the-point and contain valuable insightful information.
There are countless studies that show that trimming down a website and getting rid of unnecessary pages can actually boost organic traffic. This is likely due to Google rewarding the site for being lean and not letting it crawl through countless duplicated pages. Google is more likely to index the site’s valuable pages when there is less clutter.
Content Pruning
“Content pruning” is a term used to describe the process of editing a website. This entails locating and deleting pages that are not beneficial to the user. Pages with little traffic, duplicate material, or just old information may fall under this category.
By getting rid of these unnecessary pages, a website can improve its overall performance and visibility in Google. It’s important to note, however, that content pruning should be done strategically. Simply deleting pages without considering their impact on the site’s overall structure and content can actually do more harm than good.
Site Architecture and Content Pruning
It’s crucial to take the site’s architecture and the manner that pages are connected into account while editing content. When a page that is essential to the site’s structure is removed, navigation and user experience may suffer. Furthermore, eliminating pages with backlinks might cause a loss of significant link equity, which can harm the site’s SEO.
It’s crucial to approach content trimming with a plan in order to prevent these problems. Start by pointing out any pages that are obviously out-of-date or irrelevant. Next, assess pages with low traffic to see if they still contribute to the overall content strategy of the website. Last but not least, think about how eliminating each page will affect the site’s organisation, usability, and SEO.
Website owners can enhance the functionality and Google exposure of their sites by strategically trimming their material. It’s vital to keep in mind that Google’s algorithms give priority to content that is concise, effective, and of high quality. Website owners can increase traffic and visibility to their site by emphasising these features and deleting any extra pages.
