What is an Orphan Page?

An Orphan Page is a webpage that lacks internal links connecting it to other pages within the site. This isolation makes it difficult for both visitors and search engines to find the page.

Orphan pages can happen for various reasons, such as site restructuring, overlooked pages during content updates, or errors in internal linking strategies.

Why Are Orphan Pages Bad for SEO?

Orphan pages can significantly hinder your website’s SEO performance for several reasons:

1. Reduced Indexing

Search engines rely on internal links to discover and index pages. Orphan pages, being isolated, are less likely to be crawled and indexed, which limits their visibility in search results.

2. Poor User Experience

If users can’t easily navigate to a page through internal links, it diminishes their overall experience on your site. They may miss out on valuable content, leading to higher bounce rates and lower engagement.

3. Wasted Resources

Valuable content on orphan pages may go unnoticed, wasting the effort and resources invested in creating that content.

4. Lower Page Authority

Without internal links, orphan pages do not receive link equity from other pages, reducing their authority and potential to rank well in search results.

How to Find Orphan Pages?

Identifying orphan pages is the first step to addressing the issue. Here are some methods to find these isolated pages:

  • SEO Tools: Utilize tools like Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, or SEMrush, which can crawl your website and identify pages that lack internal links. These tools provide comprehensive reports highlighting orphan pages.
  • Google Search Console: Check your coverage report in Google Search Console to determine pages that are not indexed or have crawling issues. Comparing these pages with your sitemap can reveal orphan pages.
  • Sitemap Comparison: Compare your XML sitemap with the pages indexed by search engines to find discrepancies. Pages present in the sitemap that are not indexed might be orphan pages.
  • Manual Audit: Conduct a manual review of your website’s content and internal linking structure. This approach, although time-consuming, can help you identify orphan pages that automated tools might miss.

How to Fix Orphan Pages?

Once you have identified orphan pages, the next step is to reintegrate them into your site’s structure effectively:

1. Add Internal Links

Integrate internal links to orphan pages from relevant content within your site. Ensure these links are contextually appropriate and add value to the user experience.

2. Update Navigation

Include orphan pages in your site’s main navigation, footer, or sidebar to improve their discoverability. This makes it less complicated for visitors and search engines to discover these pages.

3. Create Content Hubs

Develop content hubs or pillar pages that link to related orphan pages. This not only helps with linking but also enhances the overall site structure and user experience.

4. Regular Audits

Conduct regular SEO audits to ensure all pages are properly linked and accessible. Regularly check for and address any new orphan pages that might arise.

5. Submit Sitemaps

Ensure your XML sitemap is up-to-date and submitted to search engines. This enables search engines to locate and index all pages on your site, including previously orphaned pages.