Google listing index page and not more relevant sub page

Is this due to PR differences?

[Sunset_Jim]

Prior to August 13 or 14, whenever I conducted a search using a major key phrase, the relevant sub page on my site appeared in the top 10 search results. Since this date only my index page appears in the search results when using the same search term, except it now appears much further down the results list because the content on the index page is more general. I know my sub pages are still indexed because if I conduct a search using a unique phrase found only on a particular page, that page is listed at the top of the results list.

My question is: Why is Google listing my index page and not the more relevant sub page which is optimized for the search term? Could it be due to the fact the index page has a higher PR? This change by Google has resulted in a significant drop in my traffic.

[amazed]

you might have used the keywords too often.

I regained a contact page by limiting the keywords used but lost it again last week.

The algorithm still seems to change so your sub page might reappear without you doing anything. I do not really need the contact page in the SERP so I am leaving it as it is.

[theangler]

I have also had the same problem. One of my keywords I kept the same ranking but on some of my other keywords where I was ranked #2 and #3 my web site has moved way down on the listing. Anyone know what is going on with the Google? One month it is great the next it is terrible.

[doc_z]

Why is Google listing my index page and not the more relevant sub page which is optimized for the search term?

Without knowing details, I would guess:

- anchor text of incoming links
- PR

Also, 'optimize' using the usual (old) techniques perhaps doesn't lead to an improvement in the SERPs.