Checklist for Identifying and Fixing Orphan Pages

Orphan pages are web pages with no internal links, making them invisible to both users and search engines. These pages can harm your SEO by wasting crawl budget and not ranking for keywords. Here’s how to tackle them:

• Identify Orphan Pages: Use tools like Google Analytics, Search Console, Screaming Frog, or Ahrefs to find pages with no traffic or links.
• Fix Orphan Pages: Add internal links, update outdated content, or remove irrelevant pages. Use 301 redirects for duplicate or obsolete content.
• Prevent Future Issues: Conduct regular site audits, maintain a strong internal linking structure, and update your XML sitemap consistently.

Quick Tip: Regularly audit your site (monthly or quarterly) and link new content immediately to avoid orphan pages in the first place. Addressing these pages improves SEO, user experience, and site efficiency.

What Are Orphan Pages in SEO? How to Find and Fix Orphan Pages?

Identifying Orphan Pages

Now that you know what causes orphan pages, the next step is figuring out how to spot them. Here are a few methods to help you identify these pages effectively.

Using Analytics Tools

Google Analytics can help you find pages with little to no traffic. Check the ‘Behavior’ section or the ‘Landing Pages’ report. Similarly, Google Search Console‘s ‘Coverage’ report can flag pages marked as ‘Discovered – currently not indexed’ or ‘Crawled – currently not indexed.’ These are often signs of orphan pages.

Crawling the Website

Website crawling tools like Screaming Frog and Ahrefs make it easier to locate orphan pages. Here’s how to use them:

• Run a full site crawl: Perform a detailed crawl of your entire website to uncover all URLs.
• Export URL lists: Save a list of all URLs found during the crawl.
• Compare data sources: Match the crawled URLs with your sitemap and analytics data to find pages that aren’t linked anywhere.

Ahrefs even has an ‘Orphan pages’ report in its Site Audit feature to speed up the process.

Checking Sitemap and URLs

Take a close look at your XML sitemap and compare it to your site’s actual structure. Export all sitemap URLs, test their accessibility, and cross-check them against your crawl data. This will help you pinpoint any pages that aren’t properly linked.

It’s a good idea to combine these methods and run audits every 3–6 months. Once you’ve identified orphan pages, the next step is to reintegrate them into your site structure.

Fixing Orphan Pages

Once you’ve found orphan pages, it’s time to bring them back into your site’s structure in a clear and organised way.

Adding Internal Links

Start by linking to these pages from high-traffic areas of your site. Use clear, relevant anchor text to guide users and search engines effectively. Focus on linking from pages that already attract strong organic traffic to help share their authority with the previously neglected pages.

Handling Outdated Pages

Not every orphan page is worth saving. For content that’s outdated or no longer relevant, here are some options:

Action	Best Use Case	SEO Benefit
301 Redirect	When there’s an updated version of the content	Retains link equity
Delete & Remove	For irrelevant or duplicate pages	Helps reduce crawl inefficiencies
Update & Reintegrate	For outdated but still useful content	Enhances overall content quality

Updating Navigation

Improve navigation by adding key orphan pages to menus, category pages, or even your XML sitemap. This makes them easier to find for both users and search engines. This step is especially critical since orphan pages can make up over 70% of the pages Google crawls ^[2], which can hurt your site’s crawl efficiency.

Once you’ve addressed the current orphan pages, take steps to ensure new ones don’t appear in the future. A proactive approach will save you time and keep your site organised.

Preventing Future Orphan Pages

Staying on top of orphan pages helps protect your site’s SEO and ensures it stays easy to navigate for users.

Regular Site Audits

Plan audits based on how often you update your content and the size of your site. This helps keep your site structure in good shape.

Audit Frequency	Key Focus Areas
Monthly	Content updates
Quarterly	Internal links
Bi-weekly	Navigation health

While audits are essential, pairing them with internal linking efforts ensures your site stays organised long-term.

Consistent Internal Linking

Good internal linking starts with a clear content workflow. Every time you publish new content, link it to relevant pages on your site right away.

Here’s how to keep your internal linking strong:

• Build a content map to show how pages connect.
• Use clear, descriptive anchor text for links.
• Add new pages to your XML sitemap.

When you combine internal linking with a well-thought-out site hierarchy, you create a smooth experience for both users and search engines.

SEO Best Practices

Structure your site like a pyramid: the homepage at the top, followed by categories and subcategories. This layout helps both users and search engines find their way around easily.

Key tips to follow:

• Check and fix broken links regularly.
• Use breadcrumb navigation for pages deeper in the structure.
• Keep an eye on crawl performance using Google Search Console.

Professional Assistance for Orphan Pages

Addressing orphan pages can be challenging, especially for large websites with frequent updates. While regular audits and internal linking can help, working with experts ensures a more thorough and efficient solution.

Why Work with E-Web Marketing

E-Web Marketing uses a data-focused approach to tackle orphan pages. Their method involves careful analysis and targeted actions, including:

Audit Component	Purpose	Benefit
Technical Crawls	Spot pages with no connections	Gain a clear view of your site’s structure
Sitemap Analysis	Compare indexed vs. live pages	Find content gaps and missed opportunities
Internal Link Review	Assess link distribution	Improve authority flow across your website

This method not only identifies orphan pages but also establishes strategies to prevent future issues, ensuring your site stays in top shape.

Services Offered by E-Web Marketing

E-Web Marketing provides tailored solutions to resolve orphan page problems. Their expertise includes:

• Thorough site structure analysis and crawling
• Optimising navigation and integrating content seamlessly
• Continuous monitoring to maintain site health
• Customised strategies for websites of all sizes and complexities

Their pricing varies depending on your site’s needs and scope, but the focus remains on reintegrating orphaned pages and boosting your site’s performance and user experience. By partnering with E-Web Marketing, you can ensure your site operates efficiently while delivering a better experience for visitors.

Conclusion

Key Points

Orphan pages can negatively impact your website’s performance, and addressing them is crucial. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Aspect	Challenge	Solution
Detection	Missing from site navigation	Conduct regular technical crawls and analytics checks
Impact	Hurts SEO performance	Use strategic internal linking
Prevention	Isolated content	Maintain a consistent site structure

Next Steps

Now that you understand the challenges and solutions, it’s time to take action. Start by auditing your site to locate orphan pages. Use tools like technical crawlers or analytics platforms to identify pages that aren’t linked within your website’s structure.

Once identified, fix these pages by adding internal links that connect them to relevant parts of your site. To prevent new orphan pages, ensure internal linking is part of your content creation process and maintain a well-organised site structure.

If your website is large or has a complex setup, getting professional help can save time and effort. Experts like E-Web Marketing can assist with identifying orphan pages, fixing them, and setting up strategies to prevent the issue in the future. A well-structured website will not only perform better in search rankings but also provide a smoother experience for your visitors.

FAQs

How to identify orphan pages?

Here’s a straightforward way to figure out which pages on your site are orphaned:

• Export a list of all pages from your analytics tool or CMS.
• Cross-check this list with data from crawling tools like Botify to spot pages without internal links.
• Log your findings in a spreadsheet for easy tracking and analysis.
• Take action by adding internal links, updating content, or removing unnecessary pages.

For a more organised process, use this table to guide your audit:

Step	Tool/Method	What to Do
Discover Pages	Analytics Export	Get a full list of URLs
Analyse Links	Crawling Software	Locate unlinked pages
Check Links	Internal Link Checker	Identify pages missing inbound links
Review Content	Manual Review	Evaluate the importance of each page
Fix Issues	CMS/Website Editor	Add links or update/remove content

After identifying orphan pages, check out the “Fixing Orphan Pages” section for specific steps to integrate them back into your site structure.