Keyword Cannibalization? My home page is ranking higher for a keyword that another page is targeting

[NgEF]

Hello!

My website's http://lessonsgowhere.com.sg/ and we're a marketplace for local lessons. I've been working on the site's SEO for maybe 3 to 4 months now, and am seeing some good results.

The one thing that really bugs me right now is that my homepage is ranking for a keyword that I'm trying to target with another page. Specifically, I'm targeting the group of keywords for 'cooking class', 'cooking lessons', 'cooking class singapore' with the category page: http://lessonsgowhere.com.sg/cooking-classes

However, my home page is currently ranking on the first page for local search (Google Singapore), and my category page isn't! On the other hand, the page that I'm targeting for 'baking class', 'baking lessons', and 'baking class singapore' is doing fine and is already in the top 3 positions for the entire group of keywords.

Anyone have any ideas as to what I can do?

[irapasternack]

First, I'd say it is quite normal for your homepage to outrank interior pages, even when the interior page is much more specifically optimized for the term.   Here are some thoughts:

1. Make sure there is a link straight to the Cooking section above the fold on the homepage
2. Do you have sitelinks yet in your Google results?  If so, you can demote any that are less relevant...  and make sure to leave the cooking/baking sitelinks in place.  https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/47334?hl=en
3. I would focus on adding content in the cooking section.   Beyond posts about specific classes, can you come up with a new page or 2 of general cooking content to add each month?
4. Overall, it appears the site is very new.   A steady flow of new content to the categories, along with the effects of time, should get you the results you are looking for.