<b>Stop treating category pages like a product dump</b>

<b>Stop treating category pages like a product dump</b>
Client's category pages were 40 thumbnails and nothing else. Zero rankings for the category term itself, which is the highest-volume keyword in the niche.
The move:
— Treat the category page as a pillar. 200-400 words of real buying guidance above or below the grid.
— Internal-link from the category copy to your best 3-4 subcategories and a buyer's guide article.
— The product grid stays, but now there's a reason for Google to rank the page for "<i>category</i> + buy" intent.
— One H1 = the category term. Not "Products."
Watch the content placement. Don't shove 800 words above the grid and bury the products — users bounce, and that kills you. Short intro up top, deeper copy below the fold.