200 links on the homepage = authority spread like margarine

200 links on the homepage = authority spread like margarine
Client's homepage linked to every category, sub-category, top product, and blog post. 200+ links. Each one got a sliver of authority. Nothing got pushed.

The fix:
— cut homepage links to ~25 priority destinations
— top categories and 3-4 strategic money pages only
— pushed the rest down to category-level hubs

Your homepage is your strongest authority source. Every link splits that power. Fewer, deliberate links = bigger push to what matters.

Caveat: don't orphan the cut pages — they still need links from their parent category. You're reshaping the flow, not deleting doors.