Google uses crawlers (bots) to discover and index content across your website. These bots start with the homepage, then follow internal links (navigation, buttons, anchor text, etc.) to find additional pages.
Main menu and homepage are treated as high-priority areas by crawlers.
Pages linked directly from these spots are crawled more frequently and deeply.
If a page (e.g. location or service) is buried or hidden behind complex navigation or JavaScript actions (like a dropdown or dynamic load), it may be crawled less often or missed entirely.
Client takeaway: If a service or location is important for business, it should be easily accessible from the top-level navigation or home page content so Google finds and prioritizes it.
In SEO, the homepage usually has the highest authority (PageRank) on a site because:
It has the most backlinks.
It’s the entry point for crawlers and users.
When you link to other pages from the homepage (or top nav), you’re essentially saying:
"Hey Google, this page is important."
So:
Service/location pages linked from home passively inherit some of the homepage’s authority.
Pages not linked or deeply buried don’t get that benefit and are considered lower priority.
Client takeaway: Linking prominently from home or nav boosts SEO authority of key pages and makes them more competitive in rankings.
Google’s algorithm is now semantically focused meaning it looks at how clearly your content aligns with search intent.
When your homepage and main nav feature keyword-rich language (e.g., “Dryer Vent Cleaning in New Haven County”), Google:
Associates your brand with that service + location.
Understands the core focus of your site.
Improves chances of showing your business for relevant local and service-based searches.
If you tuck all this into one service page with no direct home/nav connection:
Google might not make the strong association between your brand and those keywords/locations.
You’re missing a major opportunity to signal relevance at the site level.
Client takeaway: Putting keywords in visible areas isn’t just about stuffing—it’s about signaling topical relevance to Google.
Google also considers how users behave on your site:
Do they bounce quickly?
Do they click through to relevant content?
A homepage or top nav that makes services and locations easy to find improves:
Engagement
Time on site
Conversion paths
All of these send positive engagement signals to Google.
Client takeaway: Easy access to key content helps users—and Google notices when users are satisfied.
If we place keyword/location content only on lower-level pages:
Google might not crawl them frequently.
They may struggle to rank because they aren’t well-linked or deemed important.
The homepage and site overall may lack clarity on what your business offers and where.
It’s like opening a store but keeping your signs inside the back room. People (and Google) won’t know what you sell.
Put primary services + locations in the nav and homepage, ideally with keyword clarity.
Use clear, crawlable HTML—not just dropdowns or hidden tabs.
Internally link between home → services → locations and back.