- Improved SEO: Search engine ranking may improve when low−quality content is removed from a website.
- Grateful visitors: The provision of relevant information can affect user satisfaction.
- Faster site performance: Pruning may influence website loading times.
- Developed content strategy: After pruning, there is an opportunity to identify content topics for creation.
Real−life examples:
- An education platform revises or removes courses with consistently low enrollment.
- A furniture retailer removes outdated product pages for discontinued collections.
How does content pruning improve SEO?
Search engines tend to prioritize websites that offer relevant and up−to−date content. Refreshing content can indicate to search engines that the site is actively maintained and has access to valuable information. These actions may have an impact on rankings and the number of visitors to the website.
How do you identify content that needs to be pruned?
Currently, several indicators can help you determine what content is worth updating. For instance, Google Analytics and Google Search Console tools can help you perform in−depth analysis. You can use them to identify pages with low traffic, high bounce rates, or merely low engagement. It could reflect a variance between the content and the target audience’s preferences or requirements.
What metrics should you look at when deciding what content to prune?
We recommend considering a few key metrics before deciding what content to prune.
a) Traffic: How many people are visiting the page?
b) Bounce rate: Do people leave the page quickly?
c) Time on page: How long do visitors typically stay on the page?
d) Backlinks: Do other websites link to the page?
What are the steps involved in Content Pruning?
Content pruning is a multi−step process that requires careful planning and execution.
1. Analyze: Analyze all the pages of your website.
2. Weak spots: Identify the pages that are not performing well.
3. Plan: Determine how to optimize content (e.g., delete, update, or combine).
4. Solution: Make changes to your website.
5. Progress: See if your site’s traffic and rankings improve.
How can you repurpose old content instead of deleting it entirely?
Don’t immediately delete content that has definite value, even if it’s not practical at this point. Give some thought to how you can repurpose it.
- Update it: Add new information and keywords.
- Combine it: Merge multiple short articles into one longer one.
- Change the format: Turn an article into a video or infographic.
What are some common Content Pruning mistakes to avoid?
Although content pruning is beneficial, you need to remain cognizant of some common pitfalls.
- Deleting too much at once: Start small and gradually.
- Removing valuable content: Ensure pages are no longer needed when removing them.
How often should you prune your website content?
The ideal frequency for content pruning depends on various factors. Most websites should review their content every 6−12 months. However, it depends primarily on how much content you have and how often you update it.
Conclusion
Content pruning is generally a method used in website maintenance for efficiency. Refreshing outdated or irrelevant content has the potential to influence SEO, user experience, and the overall quality of your online presence. Periodic content reviews and updates may impact the value of a website for both visitors and search engines.
