How to Get Google Sitelinks and Remove Unwanted Ones

What are Google sitelinks?

Google sitelinks are extra links from the same domain that cluster under your main search result. Google generates them automatically and shows them only when it expects them to help the searcher. You cannot pick, rank, or rename them by hand. Their appearance depends on your site's structure and the query.

This guide covers one specific situation: the links that appear under your site when someone searches for your brand. We will not drift into general SEO. Instead, we combine what Google's official Sitelinks documentation says with what we see in practice.

Our team hears this question often. A client searches their own brand and sees "About" and "Contact" plus one page they never wanted. They ask, quite fairly, how to fix it. The answer takes more patience than people expect, but it is usually manageable.

How do Google sitelinks get generated, and when do they appear?

Google's systems analyze your site's link structure. Then they pick Google sitelinks from it. According to the official documentation, Google shows them only when it thinks they will be useful for the query. There is no rule like "you have enough pages, so they must appear."

In practice, several conditions work together:

• The query points to your brand or domain.
• Your homepage ranks first for that query.
• Your site offers a clear, easy-to-navigate hierarchy.
• Important pages are supported by internal links and clear headings.
• Your pages are indexed and reachable.

Google may also skip Google sitelinks entirely when its algorithms cannot find good ones. The same happens when the links do not look relevant to the query. So for a new site, "my sitelinks are missing" is usually not a bug. It is a normal waiting period.

Can you add Google sitelinks manually?

No. Google states that Google sitelinks are automated at the moment. Neither Search Console nor any other panel lets you say "these pages are my sitelinks." So be careful with anyone who promises otherwise.

If an agency claims it can "choose your sitelinks," that claim is wrong on its face. The honest version is different. You can do the structural work that raises the chance of sitelinks, but Google makes the final call.

So instead of manual control, you manage indirect signals:

1. Group your key pages in a clear menu.
2. Give every page a short, distinctive title.
3. Use descriptive anchor text in internal links.
4. Reduce unnecessary and duplicate pages.

These four steps help sitelinks, and they also improve overall site quality.

Are organic Google sitelinks the same as Google Ads sitelinks?

No, they are completely different, and mixing them up leads to wrong decisions. Google generates organic sitelinks automatically. Google Ads sitelinks are assets that an advertiser adds by hand to a paid ad.

The Google Ads Help page describes sitelinks as extra links that send people to specific pages on your site. You control their text and destination. On the organic side, however, you have no such control.

If you need help on the paid side, see our Google Ads management service. The rest of this article is only about organic results.

Why does your homepage need to rank first for your brand name?

Google sitelinks show up most often for brand or domain searches. Google understands that the searcher wants your site, so it presents the result in a richer form. If your homepage is not first for that query, your chance of seeing sitelinks drops.

First, test the brand query yourself. Search your brand name without quotes, ideally in a private window to reduce personalization. If your homepage ranks first, that is a good start. If it does not, the problem is your brand's position in search, not the sitelinks.

For example, if your brand name is an ordinary word, social profiles or other sites may outrank you. That is a branding problem first, so work on that. Strengthening brand signals will indirectly support sitelinks too.

Which site structure supports Google sitelinks?

Google recommends a logical site structure that is easy to navigate. That means clear paths from the homepage to your main sections, and sections that differ from each other. A complex, deep, repetitive structure tires both users and algorithms, so simplify it.

The setup that works in the field usually looks like this:

• The main menu holds only truly important pages.
• Each section has one clear landing page.
• Pages that cover the same topic are merged.
• Key pages receive direct links from the homepage.

For the foundation, our guide on information architecture gives you the framework. Menu design matters here as well, so read the website navigation menu design guide too.

Note that adding many items to the menu does not raise your chances. It does the opposite, because it blurs which page should stand out. In short, fewer and clearer wins. For example, a menu with five clear sections gives visitors and Google a stronger road map than a menu with twelve vague ones.

How should you write page titles and headings for sitelinks?

Google advises titles and headings that are informative, relevant, and compact. The text shown in a sitelink usually comes from the page title or the link text. So a short title that says what you offer is safer than a bare label like "Products."

We often see these mistakes:

• Using the same title on many pages.
• Stuffing the brand name and keywords together.
• Writing titles so long that the key word gets cut off.
• Titles that do not match the page content.

For writing details, see our guide on how to write a meta title and description. We will not repeat it here. For sitelinks, though, the rule is simple: each title should identify its page on its own.

Seeing the result before you publish reduces the risk of truncation. You can use our Google SERP preview tool for that. So keep the title short, put the brand last, and choose a different phrase for every page.

What should internal link anchor text look like?

Google wants the anchor text of internal links to be concise and relevant. Anchor text is one of the strongest clues about what the target page covers. Phrases like "click here" or "read more" waste that clue.

Good anchor text states the topic of the target page. For instance, writing "Web design pricing" in the menu instead of "Pricing" tells both visitors and Google what the page is. Still, do not inflate the text. A few words are enough.

Consistency matters too. If you call the same page "Contact" in one place and "Write to us" in another, the signal gets diluted. Instead, pick one main phrase per page and use it most of the time.

For the full picture, read our internal linking strategy for SEO article. Here we only cover the sitelink angle, because the topic is wide.

How do you remove an unwanted sitelink?

Google's current documentation offers two indirect options: remove the page from your site, or add noindex to it. There is no button that says "delete this sitelink." First, work out whether the real problem is an unwanted page or just a weak title.

Then work through it step by step:

1. Note which link looks wrong in the brand search and record its exact address.
2. Decide whether the page is truly unnecessary.
3. If it is, remove it and redirect to a suitable page.
4. If visitors still need it but search should not show it, add noindex.
5. Reduce internal links and menu items that point to the page.
6. Inspect the address in Search Console and request a recrawl.
7. Watch for the change with patience.

Note: blocking the page in robots.txt is not a fix by itself. A blocked page cannot be crawled, so Google may never see the noindex instruction. We explain this distinction in our noindex vs nofollow comparison.

Does the old Search Console sitelink demotion tool still exist?

Search Console once had a tool for demoting unwanted Google sitelinks. Google's current Sitelinks documentation does not mention any such tool. It lists only two removal routes: removing the page and using noindex.

So do not trust old tutorials. A recipe like "open the settings and demote the sitelink" may not match today's interface. Menu names change over time, so we do not give an exact click path. Also check the official help pages for the current state.

Search Console is still useful, though. With it, you can:

• See whether an address is in the index.
• Confirm that the noindex instruction is being read.
• Send a recrawl request.

You can learn the basics in our article on what Google Search Console is. If a new property shows nothing, our post on Search Console showing no data will guide you.

When is noindex the right fix?

Noindex fits when a page should stay on your site but stay out of search results. For example, thank-you pages, internal search results, and filter pages belong to this group. Google's documentation also names this method for removing sitelinks.

However, noindex is not a cure for everything. If the page is valuable, removing it from search costs you traffic. So ask first: does this page deserve to appear for a brand search?

Here is a short decision guide:

• If the page adds no value to visitors, remove it and redirect.
• If it adds value but does not belong in search, use noindex.
• If it is valuable but has a weak title, fix the title.
• Where it copies other content, merge the pages.

If you see a noindex status in Search Console, our post on Excluded by noindex tag explains the warning. That way, you can tell intentional noindex from an accidental one, because the two need different fixes.

What if a deleted or redirected page still shows as a sitelink?

Usually Google has simply not refreshed its old information yet. After you remove a page, Google must crawl it to notice the change. How long this takes depends on your site and the page's importance, so we do not promise a number of days.

Check these points first:

• Does the page return a proper error or a correct redirect?
• Does your site still have internal links or menu items pointing to it?
• Does the old address remain in your sitemap?
• Is the redirect chain needlessly long?

If the old address stays in your sitemap, you keep calling Google back to it. For sitemap hygiene, see our guide on sitemap lastmod tags.

If needed, inspect the page with the URL Inspection tool in Search Console and request a recrawl. We cannot promise that it speeds things up. Still, trying does no harm. Leftovers like this are common and usually fade over time.

How long do sitelink changes take to show up?

There is no fixed time. Google chooses sitelinks from signals that keep updating, so a change can take days or weeks. For that reason, changing the same setting again and again before seeing results is a mistake.

A better method is to batch your changes and then wait. Fix titles, menu, and internal links under one plan, then observe. Tiny daily tweaks also make it hard to learn which change worked.

Keep a simple log:

1. Record the sitelinks you see for your brand query, with the date.
2. Write down every change you make next to it.
3. Repeat the same search in a private window a few weeks later.
4. Compare the difference.

Even a small monthly record shows what worked. For query data, you will rely on Search Console again.

Which pages become sitelinks, and can you steer that?

For Google sitelinks, Google usually picks pages that users search for often and that have a clear place on the site. Contact, about, pricing, blog, or a service page are common examples. You cannot choose, but you can manage which pages carry strong signals.

To steer indirectly, you can do the following things:

• Place the pages you want to feature in the main menu.
• Link to the same pages directly from the homepage.
• Write their titles to be unique and clear.
• Remove unimportant pages from the menu and homepage.

The key point is that Google's choice may not match yours. That is normal, because the decision is not yours. Your goal is not control. Instead, your goal is a better chance.

Still, if you never want a page to stand out, reduce its weight in the menu. If needed, go with noindex or removal. On small business sites, this work often takes a few hours.

Does structured data produce Google sitelinks?

No. Google's Sitelinks documentation does not define a structured data method for sitelinks. So you cannot add schema markup and expect sitelinks to follow. A common myth claims that a specific markup brings them, but the documentation says nothing of the kind.

Structured data does other jobs. It describes what a page is to machines and may make some rich results possible. Yet it does not directly control which organic sitelinks appear.

Even so, tidy markup makes your site easier to understand. So treat it as general quality work, not as a sitelink guarantee.

If you want to try markup, our schema generator helps you start without writing code. Always test the result with official validation tools, though. In short, schema is helpful, but it is not a magic key for sitelinks.

How do duplicate and similar pages hurt Google sitelinks?

Google also advises avoiding repetition in your content. Pages that look too alike also blur which one should stand out. Moreover, if several pages share the same title, showing them side by side confuses users.

A typical example is three pages for the same service: one old, one new, and one built for a campaign. Google picks one of them, and it often picks the one you did not want. Merging the pages is the cleanest fix.

When merging is not possible, a canonical tag can mark the main page. See our guide on what a canonical tag is for details. Then make the titles different, too.

Cleaning up repeated pages helps the whole site, not just sitelinks. As a result, Google spends its crawl effort more efficiently. Do this once with a plan, and then later edits become easier.

Do sitelinks affect click-through rate?

Google sitelinks make a result look larger and more trustworthy, so they can help users reach the right page quickly. However, we do not cite an exact effect on click-through rate, because we have no official source for one.

A result that takes more space is more likely to catch attention. On the other hand, users can jump straight to an inner page. That may reduce homepage clicks while inner page clicks grow, so look at both.

To measure the effect, compare the brand query and page-level clicks in Search Console. When you read the result, also consider the overall trend in branded searches.

If you want to lift click-through rate in general, read how to improve organic CTR. To see how your title will look in results, try the SERP preview tool as well.

How do you monitor your brand query?

Google sitelinks are not fixed. Google can change them over time, so regular monitoring helps you catch problems early. You do not need complex tools for this.

A simple routine works like this:

1. Filter the performance data in Search Console by your brand query.
2. Look at which pages get clicks for that query.
3. Note any inner page you did not expect.
4. Run the same search by hand in a private window and record how it looks.
5. Then compare results once a month.

Keep in mind that Search Console does not offer a separate sitelinks report. Instead, you look at which pages receive brand clicks. That is the practical way to see the effect.

If a page stands out by accident, find out why. Perhaps the menu highlights it too much, or an old campaign link still sits on the homepage. Small findings like these often bring the quickest wins, because they are cheap to fix.

What checklist should you follow when sitelinks do not appear?

First, work out whether the situation is really a problem. For new, small, or rarely searched sites, missing sitelinks are usually normal. Still, go through the checks below in order, because the early items matter most.

1. Does your homepage rank first for your brand?
2. Are your pages indexed?
3. Is your main menu simple and clear?
4. Are your page titles unique and short?
5. Do your internal links use descriptive anchor text?
6. Do you have repeated pages that cover the same content?
7. Is your sitemap up to date?

Every "no" on this list is an opportunity. For instance, if you have near-identical pages, Google may hide some results. Our post on the Google "omitted some entries" notice helps with that case.

If everything checks out, waiting is what remains. So pushing on something Google decides will not bring results.

Why do big and small sites behave differently?

On a large brand's search you may see six sitelinks, while a small business shows none. That gap comes from signals more than quality. Google can tell more easily which pages work on sites that are searched often and have many pages.

Small sites have few pages and low branded search volume. So Google may lack enough data to choose links. In that case, do not inflate the site with extra pages, because thin pages add noise. Instead, make the existing pages clear and distinct.

Large corporate sites face another risk: too many pages mean too many unclear signals. There you should simplify sections, build a visible menu, and clean out old campaign pages.

In both cases the principle is the same. Identify your important pages and support them with clear titles and consistent internal links. Then wait for Google's decision, since the choice is its own. This approach works at any size; only the speed of results changes.

When should you not spend much time on sitelinks?

Google sitelinks are a nice addition for visibility, but they are not every site's first priority. If your site is new, your brand is rarely searched, or your homepage is not yet first, handle the basics first.

We suggest this order of priority:

• First, make sure your pages are indexed.
• Then get your homepage to rank first for your brand.
• Next, clarify your menu and titles.
• Finally, monitor how sitelinks look.

Also, because few users search for your brand, a sitelink problem may not cost you much. In that case, your time is better spent on content and technical health.

Still, if an unwanted page sends visitors to the wrong place, do not postpone it. For example, an expired campaign page under your brand deserves a quick cleanup. Balance is the key, so weigh cost against benefit.

Example scenario: an unrelated page shows under the brand search

This is an example scenario, not a real client case. Imagine that you search for a renovation company's brand. The sitelinks show "About" and "Contact," but also an old campaign page. The company no longer wants that page there.

Here is the path you would follow:

1. Ask whether the campaign page is still needed.
2. If not, remove it and redirect to a current service page.
3. Clean up menu and homepage links that point to it.
4. Take the old address out of the sitemap.
5. Check the brand search again after a few weeks.

So what makes the difference is not one action but consistent signals. When the menu, internal links, and sitemap all send the same message, Google's choice tends to shift. Even so, the result is never guaranteed.

Which common mistakes should you avoid with sitelinks?

The mistakes we see most often look small but damage the signal. Most come from rushed edits. The table below summarizes them and their fixes.

Most of these mistakes come from quick edits, because teams rush. Each row is an audit question for your own site. Decide which row applies to you, then close them one by one.

How can our team help with Google sitelinks?

At Talha Aslan and team, we look at organic appearance together with site structure, titles, and internal links. Sitelinks are only one part of that. First we find the real source of the problem. Then we plan the fix.

The process usually runs like this. We review the brand query and the links that show up. Next, we examine the menu and internal link structure. We also assess titles and unnecessary pages. Finally, we hand over an action list.

We do not give guarantees, because the decision belongs to Google. Still, putting the right signals in order raises your chances. If you want support, contact us through our SEO consulting page.

Also note that the information here rests on Google's official documentation. Platform interfaces and policies can change, so always check the current state on Google Search Central.