If you’ve ever published a page you swore should rank — only to watch it sit there with low impressions, no clicks, and zero traction — you’re not alone.
In most cases, Google isn’t “penalising” you. It’s simply deciding your page doesn’t deserve attention. That’s the real pain of thin content: it doesn’t always trigger an obvious warning. It just gets quietly ignored.
And here’s the kicker: thin content isn’t only about word count. A page can be 2,000 words long and still be thin if it offers little original value, repeats what everyone else says, or fails to satisfy the searcher.
This guide shows you exactly how to spot thin content (without guessing), why Google ignores it, and what to do next — with a practical process that works for real Australian websites.
What “Thin Content” Really Means in 2026
Thin content is best understood as low-value content — pages that provide little to no helpful information, originality, or satisfying answers for users.
Thin content isn’t just “short content”
Many people assume thin = low word count. That can be true sometimes, but it’s not the full picture. A page can be “long” and still be thin if it:
• Says the same thing multiple ways without adding substance
• Copies what’s already ranking (with minor rewording)
• Avoids specifics (no examples, numbers, steps, screenshots, or proof)
• Doesn’t match the search intent (answers the wrong question)
• Feels like a generic summary rather than a solution
What Google is actually trying to rank
Google is trying to show content that genuinely helps users. That means content that:
• Directly answers the query
• Feels trustworthy and credible
• Provides a better experience than alternatives
• Demonstrates expertise through clarity, accuracy, and real-world usefulness
A simple way to think about it:
- Helpful content leaves the reader feeling “That solved it.”
- Thin content leaves the reader thinking “Is that it?”
The 3 Reasons Google “Ignores” Thin Content
When people say “Google ignores my page”, it usually means one of these outcomes:
1) It doesn’t get indexed properly (or stays low priority)
If Google sees a page as low value, it may crawl it less often, delay indexing, or treat it as low priority compared to stronger pages on your site.
This often shows up as:
• A page that exists on your site but doesn’t appear in Google results
• A page that takes ages to be indexed after publishing or updating
• A page that gets crawled infrequently
2) It’s indexed, but it won’t rank for meaningful queries
This is the classic thin-content symptom: the page exists in the index, but it gets minimal impressions because Google doesn’t see it as competitive, unique, or useful enough.
You might see:
• A trickle of impressions for low-relevance queries
• Rankings that hover on page 5–10 and never improve
• No visibility for the keyword you actually want
3) It ranks briefly, then fades
Sometimes a page pops into visibility briefly, then drops. This can happen when:
• The page doesn’t satisfy users (they bounce, don’t engage, don’t continue)
• The content doesn’t match the true intent behind the query
• Competitors are more comprehensive or credible
• Your page looks too similar to existing results
Thin Content Types You Can Spot Fast
These are common patterns agencies see repeatedly — and they’re often the reason a site ends up with dozens (or hundreds) of pages that don’t pull their weight.
The “surface-level explainer” page
It defines a term, lists a few points, and stops. No depth, no examples, no “how-to”.
Quick tell:
• It could have been written without any real experience or context.
Duplicate or near-duplicate pages
These often show up as:
• Multiple location pages that are 90% identical
• Multiple service pages that only swap a keyword
• Blog posts that repeat the same template with minor tweaks
Quick tell:
• If you removed the heading, you couldn’t tell which page you’re reading.
“SEO-first” pages built for rankings, not people
These pages often:
• Overuse keywords
• Add fluff paragraphs to hit a word target
• Don’t clearly answer questions
• Feel like a brochure, not guidance
Quick tell:
• The page tries to sound “SEO” rather than sound useful.
Thin affiliate or thin lead-gen pages
Pages designed primarily to push users to another site or to a contact form, without giving real value in the content itself.
Quick tell:
• The content exists to funnel, not to help.
Outdated pages
If the page is old, inaccurate, or references obsolete tactics, it can become thin over time — even if it was good when published.
Quick tell:
• The advice doesn’t match how people search or buy today.
The Practical Checklist to Spot Thin Content on Your Website
Use this checklist to quickly flag pages that are likely being ignored. The goal isn’t to judge your writing — it’s to identify pages that aren’t earning their keep.
Content value signals
Ask:
• Does the page fully answer the main question a searcher has?
• Does it include something unique (original examples, a process, a checklist, a local perspective, templates)?
• Would someone bookmark this, share it, or send it to a colleague?
• Does it help the reader take a next step confidently?
• Does it go beyond “what” and explain “how”, “why”, and “what to do next”?
If you answer “no” to most of these, it’s probably thin.
Intent match signals
Thin content often fails because it doesn’t match intent.
Example:
- Someone searches “thin content checklist” (they want steps and a list they can use)
- Your page provides a definition and a few generic paragraphs (not enough)
Mismatch = low satisfaction = low ranking potential.
Intent mismatches commonly happen when:
• A blog post tries to rank like a service page
• A service page tries to rank like a guide
• The page targets a keyword without understanding what the searcher expects
Quality and trust signals
Thin content often lacks signals of real expertise and credibility:
• No author attribution (or no relevant expertise)
• No examples, screenshots, or proof points
• Vague claims without specifics
• No clear “who this is for” framing
• No supporting internal links to related resources on your site
Even small credibility improvements can make a big difference, such as:
• Adding a short “how we do this” section
• Including real examples from Australian businesses
• Using practical steps rather than broad statements
Site-architecture signals
Some thin content is created unintentionally by site structure:
• Too many pages targeting the same keyword (cannibalisation)
• Tag pages or filtered pages indexed when they shouldn’t be
• Lots of “supporting” pages with no internal links pointing to them
• Auto-generated pages that add little distinct value
If a page is isolated, thin, and unimportant — it’s a candidate for consolidation or removal.
A Simple Thin Content Scoring Framework
If you want a more objective method, score each page from 0–2 on these five factors (max 10):
- Intent match
0 = unclear / wrong intent
1 = partially matches
2 = fully satisfies search intent - Uniqueness
0 = generic / repeats competitors
1 = some original insight
2 = strong original value, examples, or point of view - Depth
0 = surface level
1 = moderate depth
2 = comprehensive, covers edge cases and next steps - Trust
0 = no proof, no authority signals
1 = some credibility indicators
2 = strong expertise signals, real-world experience, specifics - Internal usefulness
0 = doesn’t contribute to conversions or topical authority
1 = helps somewhat
2 = clearly supports leads, trust, or topical coverage
Interpretation:
• 0–3: likely thin — consolidate, remove, or rebuild
• 4–6: salvageable — upgrade with intent + uniqueness
• 7–10: strong — optimise and expand strategically
This framework helps you avoid random “rewrite everything” chaos and focus on the pages most likely to create impact.
What to Do With Thin Content: Improve, Merge, or Remove
Once you’ve identified thin pages, the next step is choosing the right action — because “just add more words” is often the wrong move.
Option A — Improve (best when the topic is valuable and intent is clear)
Choose “improve” when:
• The page targets a real keyword/theme you want to own
• It already gets some impressions (even with low clicks)
• It can be made genuinely better than what’s ranking
Upgrade checklist:
• Add a clear “what you’ll learn” intro
• Include a step-by-step process
• Add examples, screenshots, templates, FAQs
• Remove filler and repetition
• Strengthen trust signals with specificity and clarity
• Add internal links to related pages so the content sits within a helpful cluster
If you want a professional team to diagnose and upgrade pages like this across your site, check out our professional SEO services in Australia.
Option B — Merge (best for cannibalisation and near-duplicates)
Merge when you have:
• Multiple pages competing for the same intent
• Multiple shallow articles that could become one definitive guide
• Multiple location/service variants that are too similar to justify separate pages
How to merge safely:
• Pick the strongest URL to keep (usually the one with links/impressions)
• Combine the best parts into a single, high-value resource
• Redirect the weaker URLs to the kept page
• Update internal links to point to the final page
• Refresh headings and structure so the new page is clearly the best answer
This approach often lifts performance because it concentrates relevance and authority into fewer, stronger pages.
Option C — Remove or deindex (best when the page has no purpose)
Remove/deindex when:
• The page has no meaningful business or topical value
• It’s outdated and not worth rebuilding
• It exists only because of tags, filters, or auto-generated pages
• It creates duplication or confusion without delivering value
The goal isn’t just “clean up”. It’s to ensure your crawl activity and site quality signals aren’t diluted by low-value pages.
How to Prevent Thin Content From Coming Back
Thin content is usually a system problem, not a writer problem. So the fix is a publishing standard.
Adopt a “people-first” publishing rule
Before publishing, you should be able to answer:
• Who is this for?
• What problem does it solve?
• What will the reader be able to do after reading it?
• What proof or experience backs this up?
If your answers are vague, the page will usually be vague too — and that’s where thin content starts.
A practical way to keep your content aligned with business outcomes (instead of “publishing for the sake of it”) is to anchor every page to a clear digital plan. The Australian Government’s guide on developing your digital strategy is a solid reference point for keeping your website content tied to real goals and measurable actions.
Create minimum standards per page type
Different pages require different depth. For many Australian businesses, these are common page types and what “not thin” looks like:
Service pages should include:
• Specific deliverables
• Process and timelines
• “Who it’s for” and “who it’s not for”
• Proof (case studies, outcomes, testimonials)
• FAQs that reflect real objections
Blog posts should include:
• A clear angle (not a generic rewrite)
• Practical steps
• Examples and decision points
• Internal links to relevant services/resources
Location pages should include:
• Genuine local relevance (examples, service coverage details)
• Unique sections per location
• Not just a suburb name swap
If you’re building standards like this and want an expert framework across the site, you can learn more about SEO services that focus on sustainable growth, not quick hacks.
AEO Section: Quick Answers to Common Thin Content Questions
What is thin content in SEO?
Thin content is content that provides little value to users — often because it’s shallow, generic, duplicative, or fails to satisfy search intent.
Is thin content just low word count?
No. Low word count can be a symptom, but thin content is really about lack of usefulness, originality, and intent satisfaction — even long pages can be thin.
Why does Google ignore my page even though it’s published?
Common reasons include:
• It doesn’t match search intent
• It lacks unique value compared to what’s already ranking
• It looks duplicative or templated
• It lacks credibility signals (experience, specificity, proof)
• It isn’t supported by internal links or topical context
Should I delete thin pages or improve them?
It depends:
• Improve when the topic matters and can become the best answer
• Merge when multiple pages compete or overlap
• Delete/deindex when the page has no real purpose
How do I find thin pages quickly?
Start with:
• Pages with impressions but very low clicks
• Pages with no impressions over time
• Pages targeting similar keywords/themes
• Pages with very high bounce and low engagement (as a clue, not a rule)
Then score and triage — don’t just rewrite blindly.
A Simple “Spot Thin Content” Workflow You Can Run This Week
If you want an actionable plan (without overcomplicating it), here’s a straightforward workflow:
Step 1 — Pull a list of pages to review
Start with:
• Pages with impressions but low clicks
• Pages with no meaningful impressions
• Pages that target similar keywords (and might be cannibalising each other)
• Old pages that don’t reflect your current services, positioning, or market
Step 2 — Score each page (out of 10)
Use the scoring framework above. Flag anything under 6.
Step 3 — Choose the action
• Improve: rebuild the page to be the best answer
• Merge: consolidate overlaps and redirect
• Remove/deindex: reduce dead weight
Step 4 — Strengthen internal linking
Make sure your strongest pages receive internal links — especially from relevant blog content, service pages, and navigation pathways.
If you want this handled end-to-end — audit, prioritisation, fixes, and content upgrades — our team provides comprehensive SEO solutions for Australian businesses that focus on measurable outcomes.
Local Note for Australian Businesses
In Australia, thin content commonly shows up in:
• “Service + city” pages copied across multiple regions
• Small business blogs written to “post something” without a clear goal
• AI-assisted content that’s readable, but generic and unoriginal
• Pages built to target keywords rather than to answer real customer questions
The fix isn’t to publish more. It’s to publish less — but better — and to turn your existing content into a smaller set of high-performing assets.
Summary (Including Link Confirmation)
If Google is ignoring your content, don’t jump straight to “we need more words”. Instead:
• Identify thin patterns (generic, duplicative, shallow, intent mismatch)
• Score pages objectively so you can prioritise
• Improve, merge, or remove based on value and overlap
• Adopt a people-first standard so thin content doesn’t keep coming back
• Tie your content output to a clear business plan using an authoritative guide like the Australian Government’s developing your digital strategy
Internal anchors used (all linked to the SEO service page):
• professional SEO services in Australia
• learn more about SEO services
• comprehensive SEO solutions for Australian businesses
External government link embedded:
• developing your digital strategy (business.gov.au)
