Wordpress Uploaded Images Can Destroy SERPs

by howto
11 replies
  • SEO
  • |
Hi everyone, I have a blog in which the posts contain a lot of images. I have noticed via my analytics and testing, that often an image inserted into the post can rank higher than the actual post itself. Occasionally when this happens it makes the post not rank as Google must think the image page is the main page.

I made a post containing 10 images and a brief description at the top. The page was #3 on Google for a week then suddenly dropped off Google. However the individual image pages were still indexed and receiving traffic. The only way I found to resolve the issue was to create 2 or 3 backlinks to the main post page and then silo a link to it from another internal page.

I am really baffled to why this is happening. Has anyone else had problems with this? Is there a way to make posts take priority in the SERPS over my images without the bother of link silo and backlinking? Is there even a benefit to wordpress creating these individual pages for images? IMO I can't see having a page with only the image can be a benefit.
#destroy #images #serps #uploaded #wordpress
  • Profile picture of the author retsek
    If I understand correctly, your images in wordpress have been given "attachment URLs", so that they now have a page of their own ?

    If that's is so, then it's bad practice. Attachment URLs shouldn't be used in most cases and they certainly shouldn't be indexed. Set your images to use the "File URL".

    The Wordpress SEO plugins lets you redirect attachment urls to the parent post. So you should look into that.

    As to why it happened, it might indicate that your posts are over-optimized and so less optimized pages (such as the attachment urls) are now outranking them.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6259779].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Sounds like your passing to much authority to the image pages.

    Do you have links on the image pages pointing at the post page?

    Do you want your images to rank?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6259786].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author howto
      Originally Posted by retsek View Post

      If I understand correctly, your images in wordpress have been given "attachment URLs", so that they now have a page of their own ?

      If that's is so, then it's bad practice. Attachment URLs shouldn't be used in most cases and they certainly shouldn't be indexed. Set your images to use the "File URL".

      The Wordpress SEO plugins lets you redirect attachment urls to the parent post. So you should look into that.

      As to why it happened, it might indicate that your posts are over-optimized and so less optimized pages (such as the attachment urls) are now outranking them.
      Yeah I figured it may not have been a good idea. It isn't something I set up the blog to specifically do. Seems Wordpress and my Thesis theme took it upon themselves to do so.

      Think it would be a good idea to try and figure out a way to no index these attachment pages?

      Originally Posted by yukon View Post

      Sounds like your passing to much authority to the image pages.

      Do you have links on the image pages pointing at the post page?

      Do you want your images to rank?
      Well having the images rank is nice I suppose as they bring in some traffic however if it's to the detriment of my full posts I would prefer not to.

      No there are not links pointing to the original post. I can set this up maybe but it depends if doing that or no indexing / removing them is a better idea.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6259862].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author yukon
        Banned
        Originally Posted by howto View Post

        Well having the images rank is nice I suppose as they bring in some traffic however if it's to the detriment of my full posts I would prefer not to.

        No there are not links pointing to the original post. I can set this up maybe but it depends if doing that or no indexing / removing them is a better idea.
        You have plenty of options to pick from, just depends on what you want to do.

        I was just looking at 4 of my own keywords in Google SERPs, I've got the pages & images setup where 1 page (per keyword) is ranking #1 with 4 Google Sitelinks & also 3-4 thumbnail images in Google organic SERPs (not Google Images). Basically I own those keywords in the SERPs.

        The only things I'm doing for these 4 keywords is:
        • Internal Links
        • Keyword page Titles + <h1>
        • Keyword Image Alt text

        If your running a separate page for the image it does have benefits for creating higher PR pages to put on standby for boosting new pages relevancy/authority.

        [related link]
        http://www.warriorforum.com/adsense-...ml#post5631079
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6260047].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author howto
          Originally Posted by yukon View Post

          You have plenty of options to pick from, just depends on what you want to do.

          I was just looking at 4 of my own keywords in Google SERPs, I've got the pages & images setup where 1 page (per keyword) is ranking #1 with 4 Google Sitelinks & also 3-4 thumbnail images in Google organic SERPs (not Google Images). Basically I own those keywords in the SERPs.

          The only things I'm doing for these 4 keywords is:
          • Internal Links
          • Keyword page Titles + <h1>
          • Keyword Image Alt text

          If your running a separate page for the image it does have benefits for creating higher PR pages to put on standby for boosting new pages relevancy/authority.

          [related link]
          http://www.warriorforum.com/adsense-...ml#post5631079
          Very interesting indeed. I don't use the same image on multiple pages so that tactic in your link doesn't work for my specific case, however it was some useful knowledge never the less thanks!

          If anyone is interested I have found a fix for easily adding a 301 redirect from those attachment pages Wordpress creates. Download a plugin called: "robots meta" go into its settings and go down to permalink settings. Next check the box that says "Redirect attachment URL’s to parent post URL".

          I am not on the hunt for a way to remove the links on all images inserted into my posts. If anyone knows of an plugin to do it or way to code this please let me know.

          Edit: I have a terrible feeling that I am going to have to go remove all these links off 800 images by hand. Sometimes I wish I had a time machine so I could go back in time and punch myself in balls for making silly mistakes!
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6260161].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author radivoj
    Well I have sites ranked #1 with about 10 images relative to the subject which definitely give visitor better experience, usually I don't link from image I just add kw LSI relative to the niche not every image contain same keyword I never had any problem so far...site having just content without any image would always have poor conversion rate as visitors wouldn't stay long on the site...image can say hundreds words..
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6259880].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author howto
      Hmm 301 redirects of all image pages to the main posts? Good or bad idea? That way I keep the link juice from people backlinking to my image pages.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6259901].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author lovboa
    Banned
    There was a thread a while back, I'm sure some of you will remember, I forget who the OP was but I remember it was a reputable post on WF.

    It was about him going from #4-5 spot to #1 with one thing he did and shared on WF.
    He added an image to his post and made the alt tag as the main keyword. He then made the link to the image to the same page it was on, but made it open in new window by adding target="_blank"

    I tried it and I didn't see immediate boost in ranking like he did, but it's been helpful.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6259922].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ThatAblaze
    I would say good idea so long as you take care not to 301 the image file's url.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6259935].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author howto
      Originally Posted by lovboa View Post

      There was a thread a while back, I'm sure some of you will remember, I forget who the OP was but I remember it was a reputable post on WF.

      It was about him going from #4-5 spot to #1 with one thing he did and shared on WF.
      He added an image to his post and made the alt tag as the main keyword. He then made the link to the image to the same page it was on, but made it open in new window by adding target="_blank"

      I tried it and I didn't see immediate boost in ranking like he did, but it's been helpful.
      Very interesting, however the question would be if this did work; would it still be relevant with the new Google changes? AFAIK you can't pass link juice back to the same page.

      I however don't feel it is very user friendly either, if people click on an image they generally want to just see it larger. Any regular internet browser history clearer could tall you this... if you know what I mean lols. I think it may annoy users if I did that.


      Originally Posted by ThatAblaze View Post

      I would say good idea so long as you take care not to 301 the image file's url.
      Yes I agree. Ideally I would like that when someone clicked on the image it took them directly to the actual image file.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6259947].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ThatAblaze
    Well, howto, here is what I would do:

    I use a plugin called Redirection. It allows you to redirect with wildcards, even on top of existing pages. The regular expression syntax can take some getting used to. If you like you can post an example of your image url (without the domain) and the image page url and I'll try to come up with a regular expression that will do the redirect.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6260490].message }}

Trending Topics