Why does my home page show up in search results instead of my target page for a specific keyword?

[chunkyvittles]

I am using Wordpress and am targeting a specific keyword..and am using Yoast SEO if that question comes up.. and I am at 100% as far as what they recommend for on page optimization. The target html page is a "POST" and not a "Page" using Wordpress definitions.

Also, I am using this Pinterest style theme here http://pinclone.net/demo/ - which makes the post a sort of "pop-up"  - but I started with a different theme and the results below were always the case..so I don't know if that is a factor or not. (I promise .. this is not a clever spammy attempt to promote their theme - in fact parts of it don't even work for me yet so I would not recommend it just yet...)

I DO show up on the first page for my keyword.. however.. instead of Google showing the page

www.mywebsite.com/this-is-my-targeted-keyword-page.htm

Google shows

www.mywebsite.com

in the results instead.

The problem being - if the traffic goes only to my home page.. they will be less likely to stay if they dont find what they want immediately and have to search for it..

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[TommyTan]

Hi David,

Your home page might be receiving more backlinks than the keyword targeted page and Google might think that your home page is a better result to the searchers.

Another thought I have from what you described about the theme you used, the posts pops up on the home page.  So does that mean it is part of the home page and it doesn't have its own page.  If that is true, then it might also be a reason why Google is showing your home page and not your targeted page.

First hypothesis might be a better guess.

[chunkyvittles]

Hi and thanks TommyTan

Actually I only recently put the site up and as such..it has zero backlinks..

I think your second guess might be more likely.. but still....it was started with a different theme where this post was NOT on the home page..