Remove Landing Pages?

[ScottBaxterWW]

Howdy Guys, I've just been listening to the latest edition of whiteboard Friday regarding the over-optimization penalty. I'm just wondering if we should remove alot of make specifc landing pages... For instance we have a landing pages for our top 20 cars... For instance "bmw keyword" or "audi keyword" What do you guys think? remove them and 301 the pages to the homepage? Thanks, Scott

[Mark_Jay_Apsey_Jr.]

Whoa!!!! Take a step back.....not a black and white conversation.

• Landing pages could be providing you a lot of value if you are getting conversions and converting traffic.
• If the landing pages have unique content they can add additional seo value.
• If the landing pages are all the same and you have only changed the car make....more of an issue.
• What we have done for a number of clients in the auto dealer area is created whats called long page landing pages. So what is seen on the screen win they first land is all the pertinent information for a call to action. If they decide to scroll down to the bottom they start to see much more detailed information about the cars....(less than 12% of our auto dealer landing page traffic reads down below the first screen) This would allow you to put more automobile specific content on the same page (color, model, engine horsepower, accessories, etc.) or (car reviews and other information).....this would create unique content and then actually do the opposite of what you are worried about, those 20 pages would be providing additional SEO value.
• If the landing pages are just there because someone thought they made sense and they aren't converting traffic, then it make sense to remove them.

Before you do anything why don't you do some AB or multivariate testing on the landing pages. If this is a new concept for you, use your google adwords website optimizer o create a small test and compare what the landing pages are converting at. Send some to your home page....send some to other landing pages and see what happens. This data will help you make the right choice.....

Hope this helps.

[Jinx14678]

Hi,

As Mark says a "Knee Jerk" reaction to a Google "Talking Point" is usually a bad idea in the Search Engine World -  Not saying it is not important to listen to Google, but also have to take what they say with a grain of salt, and understand they have there own business to run with motives ect...

With that being said, Mark is correct - The way you have it is actually good for Search Engines and User Experience - As a consumer (and Search Engine) personally i think it would be better to get someone to the correct, quality non duplicate content "Landing Page" that has specific info for a specific query... Not a generic "Home Page"

So the way you have explained your information architechture, you are on the right path - the key is to just make sure you are not using "manipulatory" tactics to elevate your pages...

But as to what Google's term of the word manipulatory is, i think is opening more and more for interpretation by Google..

Hope this Helps!

[Ben-HPB]

The question I would ask is "What does your Analytics say?: First Review Like the others said, make sure if you are ranking now for them as well if they are bringing converting traffic... Keep them, if they are not ranking figure out why and maybe look for answers vs. just blowing them out...

GREAT Comments Guys... We all do not really understand where Google is headed but they are cleaning up the directory very aggressively within the last few months. Updates are always going to happen, but without looking at your own data things begin to be cloudy and people make the wrong descision based on thing said in all of these SEO articles around the web.

TEST TEST TEST..