Summary :
Ever wondered why some of your web pages don’t appear on Google? It can be frustrating when your content seems to vanish from search results. This issue, labeled “Discovered – presently not indexed” or “Reasons for crawled not indexed” on Google Search Console, can puzzle website owners. Let me explain what this means: Google knows about your page but hasn’t added it to search results yet. Why does this happen? It could be due to various reasons, like technical issues or Google’s algorithms needing more time to review your content.
Understanding these reasons is crucial for improving your site’s visibility. Whether you’re new to managing websites or a seasoned SEO expert, knowing how to fix this issue matters. Let’s uncover these mysteries together and empower you with insights to enhance your online presence.
Importance of Resolving Indexing Issues for SEO
Resolving indexing issues is crucial for making sure your website shows up well in search results. When search engines like Google scan the web, they organize information about your site in their index. If pages aren’t indexed properly, they won’t appear when people search for related topics or keywords.
Fixing indexing problems ensures that search engines can find and understand all your web pages. Issues like blocked pages, duplicate content, or incorrect tags can confuse search engines and prevent them from fully exploring your site. By addressing the reasons for crawled not indexed pages, you help search engines navigate your site better, increasing the chances of your pages being ranked higher in search results.
Correcting indexing problems also boosts your site’s credibility and user experience. Search engines favor sites that consistently provide useful and relevant content. When your pages are indexed correctly, it shows search engines that your site is reliable and regularly updated with valuable information. This can lead to better rankings and more visibility in search engine results.
In short, addressing indexing issues is essential for maintaining a healthy website that performs well in search engines. It involves ongoing monitoring and adjustments to ensure that all your content is easily discoverable by both search engines and users searching for information online.
Why does Google not Index Some Pages?
Google’s indexing process determines which pages from your website appear in search results. However, not all pages get indexed and understanding why can be crucial for optimizing your site’s visibility:
1) Technical Issues
Pages that have technical issues like server errors, wrong redirects or very slow loading times can stop Google’s web crawler, Googlebot, from accessing and indexing them properly. Making sure your website works correctly is crucial to avoid these problems.
2) Content, Quality & Relevance
Google prioritizes indexing pages that offer high-quality, original and relevant content. Pages with thin, duplicate or low-quality content are less likely to be indexed. It’s important to focus on creating valuable content that meets the needs of your audience and aligns with search intent.
3) Crawling and Indexing Delays
New pages or pages with recently updated content may experience delays in being crawled and indexed. This delay can occur if the pages are not linked internally within your site’s structure or if your website is relatively new and hasn’t built up enough authority or trust with Google yet.
To improve your chances of Google indexing all relevant pages:
Technical Optimization
Regularly check for and fix any technical issues that could hinder crawling and indexing, such as server errors or slow loading times.
Content Strategy
Focus on creating high-quality, unique content that provides value to your audience. Avoid duplicate content and ensure each page serves a specific purpose.
Internal Linking
Ensure new pages are properly linked within your website’s structure to facilitate Googlebot’s discovery and indexing process.
By fixing these issues, you can make your website more visible in search results. This ensures that more of your important content is indexed and shows up when people search for related information. Regularly checking your site’s performance with tools like Google Search Console can help you find and fix any indexing problems quickly. Understanding the reasons for crawled not indexed pages, such as technical errors, low-quality content or blocked resources, is crucial for addressing these issues effectively.
Identifying Pages Not Indexed
If you’re curious about whether your website is on Google or not, there are some simple methods to check :
1) Check the Page Indexing Report in Google Search Console
The Page Indexing Report in Google Search Console shows which pages on your website have been indexed by Google and which have not. It displays the number of indexed pages, highlights any indexing errors, and lets you request indexing for specific pages.
How to Verify Your Website’s Indexing Status with Google Search Console?
Step 1 : Log in to your Google Search Console account.
Step 2 : Select your website from the list of properties.
Step 3 : Click on the “Indexing” tab on the left-hand menu.
Step 4 : Select “Pages” in the Index section.
It’s common for Google Search Console to sometimes show outdated information. For example, reports like “Crawled, currently not indexed” might suggest a URL isn’t indexed when it actually is upon closer inspection. This can be confusing and make it harder to optimize your website effectively.
Another challenge is that Google Search Console doesn’t provide a complete list of unindexed URLs. Each indexing report in GSC is limited to 1000 URLs, which works well for smaller websites but isn’t practical for larger, more complex sites, especially in e-commerce.
2) Explore with the URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console
The URL Inspection Tool differs from the Page Indexing Report as it gives details about whether specific URLs on your website are indexed by Google.
Using this tool, you can find out:
- If a URL is indexed or not.
- Whether any errors on the page prevent it from being indexed.
- Additional information about the URL.
- You can also ask Google to re-crawl and re-index a particular URL using this tool.
To see if your page is indexed using the URL Inspection Tool:
Step 1 : Go to your Google Search Console.
Step 2 : Enter the URL you want to check into the “inspect any URL” box.
Step 3 : You’ll find out below whether the URL is listed on Google or not.
For the URL we checked, it’s indexed and performing well. However, if the URL isn’t indexed, you’ll receive information like this:
As shown, it explains why the page isn’t indexed. To get more details, click on the “Page indexing” section.
You can also see all pages that aren’t indexed and the reasons why. Just go to Pages > Page Indexing > Why pages aren’t indexed report on Google Search Console.
3) Using the "site:" Command in Google Search
Another way to check if a website has been added to Google’s search results is by using the “site:” command, which is a tool provided by Google. This command allows you to see all the web pages from a specific website that Google has indexed.
To use this command, simply go to the Google search bar and type “site:” followed by the domain name of the website you want to check (for example, “site.com”). This will show you a list of all the pages from that website that Google has included in its search results.
You can also use this command to check the indexing status of specific pages or categories within the website. For instance, if you want to see which pages from a particular category are indexed, you can type “site.com/category” into the Google search bar.
This method helps you verify whether Google has recognized and listed your website’s pages in its search index, which is crucial for visibility and organic traffic.
Strategies to Fix Crawled not Indexed Pages
Improving Content Quality and Relevance
Enhance the quality of your content by making it informative, engaging and valuable to your audience. Ensure your content is relevant to the search queries it targets and provides clear, comprehensive answers. Regularly update your content to keep it fresh and accurate, and avoid duplicate or thin content that might reduce its value.
Optimizing Meta Tags and Page Structure
Ensure that your meta tags, including title tags and meta descriptions are well-written and relevant to the content of the page. Use clear headings and subheadings to structure your content logically. A well-optimized page structure helps search engines understand the content better and improves the chances of indexing.
Resolving Technical Issues Affecting Indexing
Address any technical problems that might prevent your pages from being indexed. This includes fixing server errors, correcting improper redirects and ensuring your pages load quickly. Use tools like Google Search Console to identify and resolve these issues, helping Googlebot access and index your pages more effectively.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Pitfalls that Prevent Pages from Being Indexed :
1) Duplicate Content
Duplicate content occurs when identical or very similar content appears on multiple URLs. This can confuse search engines about which version to index, potentially resulting in none of the duplicates being indexed.
Use canonical tags to indicate the preferred version of a page, create unique content for each page and regularly check for duplicate content using tools like Copyscape or Siteliner.
2) Poor Site Structure
A site with a disorganized structure or poor navigation can hinder Googlebot’s ability to crawl and index pages. This may result in important pages being overlooked and not indexed.
Implement a clear, hierarchical site structure with intuitive navigation. Use internal linking to connect related content and ensure every important page is reachable within a few clicks from the homepage.
3) Incorrect or Missing Meta Tags
Meta tags, particularly the robots tag, guide search engines on how to crawl and index pages. Incorrect settings can inadvertently block pages from being indexed. Missing or poorly written meta descriptions can also negatively impact how search engines view your content.
Ensure each page has appropriate and unique meta tags. Use the robots tag correctly to allow indexing where needed, and provide descriptive meta descriptions to improve visibility and click-through rates.
4) Technical Issues
Technical issues such as slow load times, server errors or improper redirects can prevent Googlebot from accessing your pages. These issues can significantly hinder indexing.
Regularly monitor your site’s performance using tools like Google Search Console and PageSpeed Insights. Fix any server errors promptly, ensure your redirects are functioning correctly and optimize your pages for faster load times.
Best Practices for Ensuring Future Indexing Success
Create Unique, High-Quality Content
Search engines prioritize indexing content that is original, valuable and relevant to users. Duplicate or thin content offers little value and is less likely to be indexed. Focus on creating comprehensive, informative and engaging content that addresses the needs and interests of your audience. Regularly update and improve existing content to maintain its value.
Organize Your Site with a Clear Structure
A well-structured site makes it easier for search engines to crawl and index your pages. Clear navigation ensures that all important content is discoverable. Design a logical site structure with a clear hierarchy. Use categories and subcategories to organize content and implement breadcrumb navigation to help users and search engines understand the site layout.
Use Accurate and Relevant Meta Tags
Proper meta tags guide search engines on how to handle your pages. Accurate meta descriptions improve how your pages appear in search results. Ensure each page has a unique meta title and description. Use robots meta tags appropriately to control indexing and crawling. Regularly review and update meta tags to reflect the content accurately.
Monitor and Fix Technical Issues Regularly
Regular monitoring helps identify and resolve issues that could prevent pages from being indexed. Use tools like Google Search Console to monitor your site’s health. Address any technical issues such as broken links, server errors or slow page speeds promptly. Conduct regular audits to ensure ongoing technical health.
Enhance User Experience
A positive user experience not only benefits visitors but also improves indexing and ranking. Search engines favor sites that are fast, mobile-friendly and easy to navigate. Optimize your site for speed by compressing images, leveraging browser caching and minimizing code. Ensure your site is mobile-friendly and responsive to different devices. Focus on creating a user-friendly design and navigation.
Regularly Update Your Content
Keeping your content fresh and up-to-date signals to search engines that your site is active and relevant, which can improve indexing. Regularly review and update older content to ensure accuracy and relevance. Add new information, update statistics and refine the writing to keep it engaging. Create a content calendar to manage updates systematically.
Conclusion
Understanding why certain pages are “crawled but not indexed” is essential for improving your website’s visibility in search engine results. Knowing the reasons for crawled not indexed pages—such as technical issues, low-quality or duplicate content and incorrect meta tags—allows you to address these problems effectively. By resolving these issues, you ensure that search engines can index your important content, which leads to better rankings and increased visibility. Regularly using tools like Google Search Console can help you identify and fix indexing problems promptly, ensuring your website remains optimized and accessible. Staying proactive about these indexing challenges is key to maximizing your site’s potential in search results.
