Site audits
Investigate unnecessary indexed pages
Sample duplicate or low-value URL patterns and check their indexing, traffic, and purpose. Consider consolidation, canonicals, redirects, or noindex only after reviewing the consequences; do not delete pages automatically.
The starting point
Before you begin.
Large numbers of URLs can arise from filters, search pages, tags, or duplicate page versions. The important question is whether those URLs serve a purpose and how search engines treat them.
The process
How to put it into practice.
- Identify URL patterns that may repeat content, such as filters or tag pages.
- Sample those URLs in Search Console and review their purpose, indexing, traffic, and links.
- Choose whether to retain, improve, consolidate, redirect, or exclude pages based on evidence and a reviewed plan.
Identify a URL pattern and sample it rather than making a sitewide change immediately. Review indexing, content differences, organic traffic, internal links, and any user need. Test the proposed treatment on a small set, document the decision, and monitor before expanding it.
A practical example
What this could look like.
An online store may have many filter URLs with little distinct content, but some may still be useful entry points.
Review the work.
Keep the evidence behind your decision: the pages you checked, the date range, the data source, and any assumptions. If you make a change, record what changed and check it again using the same method where possible.
Search visibility can move for many reasons, so compare relevant periods and avoid attributing an inquiry or ranking change to one action without supporting evidence.
What to keep in mind.
Removing or redirecting pages can affect visitors and search traffic; review before making changes.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions.
Should every page with low traffic be deleted?
No. A page may serve customers, support a transaction, or be new. Review its purpose and alternatives before taking action.
Does a crawl show which pages Google has indexed?
Not by itself. A crawler shows pages it can access. Use Search Console and URL inspection to investigate how Google treats specific pages.
What to do next.
Choose one relevant page or question, document what you find, and agree on the next action before expanding the work. Review the result using the data available to your business.
For the fundamentals, read what SEO is and how it works. If you need hands-on help, explore my SEO services.