Orphaned Pages

Orphaned pages are content pieces on your website that don't have any internal links pointing to them from your other content. Think of them as isolated islands that visitors can't reach by navigating through your site - they can only find these pages through direct links, search results, or external websites.

orphaned pages

Why Orphaned Pages Matter for Your Content Strategy

Finding and fixing orphaned pages is important because:

  • They limit visitor exploration: Readers can't discover these pages while browsing your site
  • They often get less traffic: Without internal links, these pages may receive fewer visitors
  • They miss SEO value: Internal links pass value to pages, which orphaned content doesn't receive
  • They create disconnected user experiences: Relevant content should connect to related topics
  • They indicate content organization gaps: A well-structured site shouldn't have many orphaned pages

Understanding the Orphaned Pages Table

What the Table Shows

The Orphaned Pages Table displays:

  • Page Name: The title of each orphaned content piece
  • URL: The web address where the content is located (if available)
  • Pagination: Controls at the bottom to navigate through multiple pages of results

Each row represents one orphaned page that exists in your content but doesn't have any internal links pointing to it.

How to Access and Use the Orphaned Pages Tool

Finding the Tool

  1. Go to the Content Analysis page
  2. Look for the section labeled "Orphaned Pages"

Using the Controls

The tool has several dropdown filters to help you focus on specific content:

  1. Project dropdown: Choose which project you want to analyze

    • By default, the first project will be automatically selected

      Cluster dropdown: Choose to view:

    • "All Clusters" to see orphaned pages across your entire project

    • A specific cluster to focus on orphaned content within just one topic area

      Publication Status dropdown: Filter by:

    • "All" to see both published and draft orphaned content
    • "Published" to focus only on live orphaned content
    • "Draft" to see only unpublished orphaned content

  1. Pagination controls: Use the Next and Previous buttons to navigate through multiple pages of results

Interpreting What You Find

Common Patterns and What They Mean


Many Orphaned Pages

If your table shows numerous orphaned pages:

What it might indicate:

  • Your internal linking strategy needs improvement
  • Content may be created without considering connections to existing material
  • Your site structure might not facilitate natural content connections
  • Older content might be getting forgotten as new content is created

Why it matters:

  • Visitors are missing potentially valuable content
  • Your content investment isn't delivering full value
  • Search engines may not recognize the importance of these pages

Few Orphaned Pages

If you have very few orphaned pages:

What it indicates:

  • Your content is well-connected
  • Your internal linking strategy is effective
  • Content creators are consciously connecting related topics
  • Your site has a cohesive structure

Why it's good:

  • Visitors can discover more of your content
  • Value flows between your pages
  • Search engines can better understand your content structure

Specific Types of Orphaned Content

Pay attention to patterns in the types of orphaned content:

  1. New content: Recently published pieces might not yet be linked from other pages
  2. Support or policy pages: These are sometimes deliberately less connected but should still be accessible through navigation menus
  3. Outdated content: Older pieces that have been superseded by newer content
  4. Specialized content: Highly specific topics that might be relevant to a narrow audience

Taking Action on Orphaned Pages

Adding Strategic Internal Links

When you discover orphaned pages, here's how to integrate them:

  1. Identify relevant connection points:
    • Look for related topics in your content where links would make sense
    • Consider where in the user journey this content would be valuable

    • Review top-performing content for opportunities to link to orphaned pages

      Add contextual links in existing content:

    • Update related content with natural links to orphaned pages
    • Use descriptive anchor text that clearly explains what the linked page covers

    • Prioritize adding links from high-traffic pages for maximum impact

      Update navigation elements:

    • Consider adding important orphaned pages to category pages
    • Update related content lists or "recommended reading" sections
    • Include in resource directories if appropriate

When to Consider Content Consolidation

Some orphaned pages might be candidates for merging with other content:

  1. Identify overlap:
    • Does the orphaned page cover similar ground as existing, better-connected content?

    • Could its unique insights enhance another page?

      Evaluate consolidation options:

    • Merge the valuable parts of orphaned content into related pages
    • Create redirects from less valuable orphaned pages to more comprehensive content
    • Update the orphaned page to provide new value and then link to it

Creating a Reconnection Plan

For a systematic approach to addressing orphaned pages:

  1. Prioritize by value:
    • Start with orphaned pages on important topics
    • Focus on pages with good traffic potential

    • Address orphaned pages with conversion elements first

      Set measurable goals:

    • Aim to reduce orphaned pages by a specific percentage each month
    • Target zero orphaned pages for your most important content clusters

    • Ensure new content gets at least 2-3 internal links upon publication

      Establish an ongoing process:

    • Check the Orphaned Pages Table monthly
    • Include internal linking in your content creation workflow
    • Review older content regularly to add links to newer related material

Common Questions

"How many orphaned pages is too many?"

While there's no exact number:

  • More than 10% of your total content being orphaned usually indicates a systemic issue
  • Important topic clusters should ideally have zero orphaned pages
  • Even a few orphaned pages that contain valuable information represent a missed opportunity

"Should I delete orphaned pages?"

Not necessarily. Consider these factors:

  • Does the page contain unique, valuable information?
  • Does it receive traffic from external sources or search?
  • Could it be updated and incorporated into your content structure?

Delete only if the content is outdated, redundant, or low-quality. Otherwise, reconnect it.


"How can I prevent creating new orphaned pages?"

Follow these practices:

  • Establish a linking policy for new content (e.g., each new piece links to at least 2-3 related pages)
  • Include an internal linking step in your content publication checklist
  • Create content with your site structure in mind
  • Regularly review your content connections
  • Keep track with the SERP360 link management tool

"What's the difference between orphaned pages and dead ends?"

  • Orphaned pages have no internal links pointing TO them (no way to reach them)
  • Dead-end pages have no internal links pointing FROM them to other content (nowhere to go next)

Both issues should be addressed for optimal user experience.

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