How to fix URLs that are not indexed by Google
How to fix URLs that are not indexed by Google
1. Access the Google Search Console: Sign in or create a free account on the Google Search Console. This will allow us to view data and reports related to our website.
2. Verify ownership of your website: Make sure we have verified ownership of the website where the URLs in question are located. This step is crucial for accessing the necessary data.
3. Navigate to the Index Coverage Report: In the Google Search Console dashboard, go to the "Index" section and select "Coverage." This report provides valuable information about the indexing status of our website's URLs.
4. Analyze the issues in the table: In the Coverage report, we'll find a table listing the issues Google encountered when trying to index our URLs. Let's carefully review this table and look for URLs marked as "Not indexed" or with other issues.
5. Evaluate the issues: Take a closer look at the issues mentioned in the table for each URL. Google provides specific details and explanations for each problem. Understand the nature of the problem for each URL.
6. Decide whether to fix the URLs: Based on the issues identified, we need to determine if it's necessary to fix the URLs. Some issues might be intentional, like pages we don't want to be indexed (such as private content). In those cases, no action is needed. However, if the URLs are pages we want to be indexed but are encountering errors, we should proceed with fixing them.
7. Resolve the issues: If we decide to fix the URLs, let's investigate the specific problem for each one and take appropriate actions. The solutions will vary depending on the issue. For example, if there's a crawl issue, we need to ensure the URL is accessible to search engine bots by checking for server or configuration problems. If the URL appears as a Soft 404, we should review the page content to ensure it provides the proper response for non-existent pages.
8. Request indexing: After we've resolved the issues, we can request Google to re-crawl and re-index the fixed URLs. We can use the Google Search Console's URL Inspection tool for this. Simply enter the URL and click on the "Request indexing" button.
9. Monitor the indexing status: Keep an eye on the Index Coverage Report to see if the fixed URLs are successfully indexed by Google. Please note that it may take some time for the changes to be reflected in search results.
By following these steps, we can assess the issues with the URLs and determine whether they need fixing or if the lack of indexing is intentional. Let's ensure our website is well-optimized for search engines and provides the best possible user experience.