Google sometimes shows extra sub-links under your website’s main search result. These are called sitelinks, and they help users navigate directly to important pages of your site.
You can’t turn them on manually, but you can improve your chances of getting them by following these steps:
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1. Clean Up Unnecessary Pages
• Remove or noindex test, demo, or template pages (like “I’m a product”).
• If deletion isn’t possible, hide them from menus and add a <meta name="robots" content="noindex"> tag.
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2. Optimize Page Titles & Meta Descriptions
• Give each important page a clear, descriptive title.
Example: Lessons | Joe Bobs Archery
• Write a unique meta description for every page.
Example: “Learn archery from certified instructors at Joe Bobs Archery in Kalamazoo. Classes for all skill levels.”
• Avoid duplicate or placeholder text.
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3. Strengthen Your Site Navigation
• Keep your main menu clean and simple.
• Link to your most important pages (Lessons, Events, Contact, etc.) directly from the homepage.
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4. Use Internal Linking
• Add links inside your content that point to other key pages.
Example: On the homepage, write: “Check our Events page for leagues and parties.”
• Use descriptive anchor text instead of generic “click here.”
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5. Submit & Maintain a Sitemap
• Create an XML sitemap using your website builder or plugin (like Yoast or Rank Math).
• Submit it in Google Search Console under Index > Sitemaps.
• Keep it updated when new pages are added.
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6. Monitor Google Search Console
• Check your Search Console regularly for:
– Coverage: Ensure Google is indexing the correct pages.
– Enhancements: Fix mobile or schema errors.
• You can’t pick sitelinks directly, but cleaning up weak pages prevents them from showing.
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7. Add Structured Data (Optional, but Recommended)
• Use schema markup (JSON-LD) for events, products, and business info.
• This helps Google better understand your site and display enhanced results.
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Summary
You can’t force sitelinks to appear, but by cleaning up your pages, optimizing titles, strengthening site structure, and using Google Search Console, you’ll guide Google to show your most relevant pages instead of placeholders.