Content Pruning
Content pruning removes or consolidates weak pages to improve overall site quality.
Definition
Pruning means deleting, redirecting, or merging underperforming content.
Why it matters
It prevents index bloat, strengthens authority, and improves crawl efficiency.
Example: Deleting thin blog posts from 2015 that bring no traffic.
Use Cases
Quality Signals
Boost average content quality.
Crawl Efficiency
Remove wasted crawl budget.
Topical Authority
Focus on strong pages.
Improve performance of remaining pages.
Traffic Recovery
Frequently Asked Questions
What is content pruning?
Removing or merging weak content.
Why prune content?
To improve crawl and rankings.
How often prune?
Yearly or after audits.
Does pruning hurt traffic?
Yes, by detecting low-value URLs.
Can AI help prune?
Yes, by detecting low-value URLs.
