Are Homepages Very Important for Google?

A common question in SEO circles is whether homepages still hold significant importance for Google’s
rankings. With the rise of quality content on inner pages and evolving link-building strategies, the role of
homepages has been scrutinized. This post explores the current significance of homepages according to
Google’s statements and evidence.

The Evolving Role of Homepages in SEO

In the early days of SEO, homepages were the primary focus. Backlinks and directory listings often
pointed to homepages, which were considered the most authoritative pages on a site. As SEO practices
evolved, on-page optimization and the quality of inner pages became more prominent, leading to
increased importance for these pages.

Despite this shift, there is still debate about the current role of homepages in Google’s ranking system.

Signals That Homepages Remain Highly Important

Google’s representatives have consistently indicated that homepages continue to play a crucial role in
SEO:

• John Mueller noted in a 2020 video that homepages are essential starting points for Google’s
  crawling process. They help Google discover and index new or updated pages:
• “On many websites, the home page is the most important part of the website. We re-crawl that fairly often, and from there, we try to find new, updated, or important pages.”
• Gary Illyes emphasized the homepage’s role in site crawling and indexing:
• “From Google’s perspective, the homepage is the most important page on the site… We will try very hard to index or crawl and index that.”
• John Mueller also highlighted the role of homepages in understanding page authority:
• “If your homepage is generally the strongest page on your website… then that makes it a lot harder for us to understand that these stores are pretty important.”

How Google Utilizes Homepages

Based on Google’s statements, homepages contribute to SEO in several key ways:

1. Crawling: Google uses homepages as starting points for crawling and discovering new content.
2. Page Authority Flow: Homepages pass authority to linked inner pages, influencing their ranking
   potential.
3. Site Architecture: Homepages provide insights into a website’s structure and priority topics.
4. User Experience: The design and functionality of homepages impact overall website usability.
5. Trust Indicators: Elements like design and branding on the homepage contribute to site
   credibility.

Best Practices for Optimizing Homepages

To leverage the continued importance of homepages, businesses should:

• Ensure Crawlability: Make sure homepages are easily crawlable and indexable. Avoid using
  restrictive robots.txt directives or no-index tags.
• Align Links with Structure: Ensure homepage links are organized according to site structure and
  priority.
• Focus on User Experience: Create a high-quality user experience with effective design, content,
  and page speed.
• Build Authority: Obtain links to homepages from reputable directories, social accounts, and press
  mentions.
• Use Hreflang Tags: For multilingual or multi-regional sites, use hreflang tags and internal linking to
  indicate language or regional versions.
• Monitor Performance: Use analytics to track homepage performance and make data-driven
  optimizations.

Conclusion

Despite the growing influence of inner pages, homepages remain a critical element in Google’s SEO
strategy. They provide essential signals for crawling, authority, and site structure. By optimizing
homepages for crawlability, user experience, and authority, businesses can strengthen their overall SEO
efforts.

Golden Solutions, a leader in data-driven digital marketing, crafted this post. For expert help with
technical SEO audits and optimizing your online presence, reach out to us.