Fixing Your SERP

A recent SEO project and the site had some very strange issues with it’s site links and overall SERP. I am glad to say this issue is mainly fixed due to recent SEO work and the setting up of a correct XML sitemap structure.

Site links are a little bit of an anomaly and generally show that a site has been indexed for a while and also has a certain volume of traffic. They do not necessarily drive a huge amount of traffic but they add a much fuller SERP for your brand name or main business term, assuming you have the #1 spot.

Google Webmaster tweaks and some priority within the XML site map and this issue is now almost solved. It has however revealed a blog subdomain that now needs to be removed. this use of sub-domains is something I never advise for content you wish to SEO. It is perfect for client areas and aspects of your site than need to remain private or supply an API or web service. Using them for mobile domains or to house blogs is a very bad idea and in many cases can split your SERP and half your sites power.

Next Steps

Overall this site is optimising very quickly and traffic is spiking, I will see how the next 2-3 weeks go and advise on new content and the less obvious SEO advice for the coming months.

Last Updated July 12th, 2023 by Niall Flynn. Originally published on October 2nd, 2012.