A decision tree for pruning low-value pages without cutting authority

A decision tree for pruning low-value pages without cutting authority

Question: which pages to delete, redirect, or keep? Run each URL through this in order.

— Step 1: pull 12 months of clicks and impressions per URL from Search Console. Zero impressions = invisible to search.
— Step 2: if impressions are zero AND no internal links point in AND it earns no backlinks — candidate for removal.
— Step 3: before deleting, check for topical-support value: does it strengthen a cluster even without traffic? If yes, improve, don't cut.
— Step 4: if removing, 301 to the closest topical parent — never to the homepage, which dilutes relevance.
— Step 5: keep a control group of ~10% of prune candidates untouched to measure the prune's real effect.
— Step 6: re-evaluate sitewide impressions 8 weeks later against the control.

Method note: based on Search Console exports plus a held-out control — the control is what separates a real effect from a seasonal one.

Caveat: pruning effects are confounded by concurrent crawling and seasonal demand; without the control you'll misattribute changes.

Confidence: medium