Fixing Orphan Pages on WordPress

August 10, 2024

I have done my search on orphan page and how to fix it but majority of the time, these “quality articles” from search results will only offer “paid fixes” such as promoting their own tools to help you. Here at WordByWord, I don’t do that.

I wrote this to help you fix your orphan pages for free!

What Are Orphan Pages and Why Should You Care?

Orphan pages are web pages on your site that aren’t linked to from any other pages. This means they are virtually invisible to both visitors and search engines. The consequences of having orphan pages include:

Poor User Experience: Users can’t navigate to these pages easily, which can lead to frustration and a higher bounce rate.
Negative SEO Impact: Orphan pages are less likely to be crawled and indexed by search engines, which means they won’t contribute to your site’s overall SEO.

Things to Remember whenFixing Orphan Pages on WordPress

Identify Orphan Pages

Tip #1: Use Multiple Tools for Comprehensive Detection

While tools like Google Analytics and Screaming Frog are often recommended for finding orphan pages, using multiple tools will provide a more comprehensive overview. Consider using a combination of the following:

Google Search Console: Check for pages that are indexed but have zero internal links.
Ahrefs: Use their “Best by Links” report to find pages with zero internal links.
SEMrush: Their Site Audit tool also identifies orphan pages, giving you another perspective.

Unique Tip: Use Custom Database Queries

For a more granular approach, consider running custom queries directly in your WordPress database. This can help identify pages that are published but have no inbound links. If you’re comfortable with SQL, here’s a query to get you started:

SELECT wp_posts.ID, wp_posts.post_title 
FROM wp_posts 
LEFT JOIN wp_postmeta ON wp_posts.ID = wp_postmeta.post_id 
WHERE wp_posts.post_status = 'publish' 
AND wp_posts.post_type = 'page' 
AND wp_postmeta.meta_key = '_wp_old_slug' 
AND wp_posts.ID NOT IN (
    SELECT post_id 
    FROM wp_postmeta 
    WHERE meta_key = '_menu_item_object_id'
);

This query helps find published pages that aren’t part of any menu structure, making them likely candidates for orphan pages.

Analyze the Importance of Each Orphan Page

Tip 2: Consider Content Value Before Linking

Not all orphan pages are worth saving. Before you decide to reintegrate an orphan page into your site’s structure, assess its content value:

Is the content outdated or irrelevant?
Does it provide value to your users?
Is it aligned with your current SEO strategy?

If a page doesn’t add value, consider merging it with another page, redirecting it, or even deleting it.

Unique Tip: Use Google Analytics to Assess Engagement Metrics

Beyond just identifying orphan pages, use Google Analytics to check engagement metrics like bounce rate, average session duration, and conversion rate for each orphan page. This will help you prioritize which pages to reintegrate based on user behavior data.

Fixing Orphan Pages

Tip 3: Integrate Pages into Your Site’s Structure

Once you’ve identified and analyzed the importance of your orphan pages, it’s time to reintegrate them:

Add Internal Links: Identify relevant pages on your site where you can add links to the orphan pages. This will make them more accessible to users and search engines.
Update Navigation Menus: If the orphan pages are important, consider adding them to your main navigation, footer, or sidebar menus.
Create a Sitemap: Ensure that your sitemap is updated to include these pages so that search engines can find them.

Unique Tip: Leverage Content Hubs

If you have multiple orphan pages that are related to the same topic, consider creating a content hub. A content hub is a central page that links to all related content on a particular topic. This not only fixes orphan pages but also enhances the topical relevance and authority of your site.

Monitor and Maintain

Tip 4: Regularly Audit Your Site

Orphan pages can reappear over time, especially as you add new content or make changes to your site. Regular audits will help you stay on top of this issue:

Set a quarterly reminder to check for orphan pages.
Use automation tools like Screaming Frog’s scheduled crawls to get regular reports.

Unique Tip: Implement Internal Linking Best Practices

Prevent orphan pages from occurring in the first place by following internal linking best practices:

Always link to new content: Whenever you publish a new page or post, ensure that you link to it from relevant existing pages.
Use breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs help with site navigation and ensure that every page has a link back to higher-level pages.
Update old content: Periodically update old content with links to newer pages, preventing them from becoming orphaned.

How to Fix Orphan Pages on WordPress

Step1: Identify Orphan Pages

Use Plugins: Install and activate plugins like Yoast SEO or All in One SEO. These tools can help you identify pages with no internal links.
Google Search Console: Check for pages that are indexed but not receiving traffic. This could indicate they are orphaned.
Site Audit Tools: Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Screaming Frog to generate reports on orphan pages.

Step 2: Access the Orphan Page in WordPress

Once you’ve identified the orphan pages, follow these steps to edit them:

Log in to WordPress Admin: Go to your WordPress dashboard by logging in.
Navigate to Pages: From the left-hand menu, click on Pages > All Pages.
Search for the Orphan Page: Use the search bar to locate the specific orphan page you want to edit.

Step 3: Edit the Orphan Page

After locating the orphan page, you can begin editing:

Update Content: Review the content of the orphan page. Update it to ensure it’s relevant, up-to-date, and valuable to your audience.
Add Internal Links: Ensure that you add internal links within the content that point to other relevant pages on your site. This will help reintegrate the page into your site’s structure.
- Highlight the text you want to link.
- Click the Insert/edit link icon in the editor toolbar.
- Search for the page you want to link to or paste the URL.
- Click Apply.
Optimize for SEO: Ensure the page is optimized for search engines by:
- Adding meta descriptions.
- Using relevant keywords.
- Ensuring proper heading hierarchy (H1, H2, etc.).

Step 4: Reintegrate the Orphan Page

To fully reintegrate the orphan page into your website:

Add to Menus: If the page is important, consider adding it to your site’s navigation menu.
- Go to Appearance > Menus.
- Select the menu you want to add the page to.
- Find the page in the left-hand list and click Add to Menu.
- Arrange it in the desired position and click Save Menu.
Link from Other Pages: Go to other relevant pages on your site and add links to the orphan page.
Include in Sitemaps: Ensure that the orphan page is included in your XML sitemap. If you’re using a plugin like Yoast SEO, this will usually happen automatically.

Step 5: Publish and Monitor

Once you’ve made the necessary edits:

Preview the Page: Click Preview to see how the page looks before publishing.
Publish: If everything looks good, click Update to publish your changes.
Monitor Performance: After reintegrating the orphan page, monitor its performance in terms of traffic and engagement using Google Analytics or other tools.

That’s it – you can be on your way!

Hire Word by Word Solutions

Fixing orphan pages is not just about running a few tools and adding links. It’s a strategic process that requires in-depth knowledge of both technical SEO and content strategy. At Word by Word Solutions, we specialize in creating well-structured websites that provide an excellent user experience and are optimized for search engines. Here’s why hiring us makes sense:

Expertise: We have years of experience in WordPress development and SEO, ensuring that your website is both user-friendly and search engine-friendly.
Customized Solutions: We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. We tailor our approach to meet the specific needs of your website and business goals.
Ongoing Support: Fixing orphan pages is just the beginning. We offer ongoing support and audits to ensure your site remains optimized as your business grows.

Conclusion

Fixing orphan pages is essential for both SEO and user experience. By following the steps outlined in this guide and implementing the unique tips provided, you can ensure that every page on your WordPress site is valuable, accessible, and contributing to your overall online presence. And remember, if you need expert help, Word by Word Solutions is here to assist you every step of the way.

Contact Us Today

If you’re ready to optimize your WordPress site and ensure every page contributes to your SEO success, contact WordbyWord Solutions. Email us at contact@wordbywordsolutions.com to learn more about our services and how we can help your website perform at its best.