Deep Page is Ranking for Main Keyword, But I Want the Home Page to Rank

[ClarityVentures]

A deep page is ranking for a competitive and essential keyword, I'd like the home page to rank. The main reasons are probably:

• This specific page is optimized for just that keyword.
• Contains keyword in URL

I've optimized the home page for this keyword as much as possible without sacrificing the integrity of the home page and the other keywords I need to maintain.

My main question is: If I use a 301 redirect on this deep page to the home page, am I risking my current ranking, or will my home page replace it on the SERPs?

Thanks so much in advance!

[AlanMosley]

I would not do that, at least until you have explored other ideas first.

Do you have a url we can check? Your internal linking can often lead to this.

[ClarityVentures]

Thanks for the response.

Here's the SERP, it's #5

[AlanMosley]

I believe i have found a problem that would lead to bad ranking of your home page.

You have 85 internal links that point to domain.com/index.htm instead of domain.com.
Fromthere they are 302 redirected to domain.com.

Link juice frows around your website though internal links, and usually a lot fo it ends back on your home page, but because of the reason above it is not getting back to your home page.

Find all links pointing to index.htm and change them.

Also you should not use 302 redirects they do not pass link juice. you ned to use 301 redirects.

Also if you enter something like domain.com/some-junk-url it redirects to your home page. search engines will dismiss mass redirects to your home page, these shoudl be redirected to a 404 not found page.

[SEO-Doctor]

Nice find...

[ClarityVentures]

Thanks for your response. I don't return the same result for domain.com/junk. Attaching screenshot.

If you don't mind me asking, what tool did you use to get that link data?

7IIbM.png

[AlanMosley]

I dont think we are on the same page, the server error you show is IIS, but the page i crawled was apache.

i dont think #5 is the same url when i search.

Can you private message me the url, if you dont want it public. thanks

[ClarityVentures]

URL sent via private message!

[AlanMosley]

Your site has the same problem, but not quite as bad. you have many links to 'domain.com/default.aspx'  and are then redirected to 'domain.com'

You also have the problem that your site can be accessed though www and non www.

both these problems are robbing your home page of rank.

you also have over 4,000 un-necessary redirects here is an example

The link to "http://www.sfpathway.com/LinkClick.aspx?link=56&tabid=36&mid=432" has resulted in HTTP redirection to "http://www.sfpathway.com/contacts".

You should point these links directly at their final destination ratehr then redierected them, each redirects leaks link juice

[ClarityVentures]

Thanks for sticking with me on this one. I recognize the things that you're talking about and you're correct on all accounts.

Thanks again.