Have you ever wondered how Google decides which pages appear in search results and which do not? The answer lies in the mysteries of the “Page Indexing” tab in Google Search Console.
In this article, we unravel everything that seems complicated and make it understandable. Think of it as a librarian deciding which books go on the shelf and which don’t. Let’s explore this digital library together.
What is the page indexing tab?
The Page Indexing tab in Google Search Console is an essential tool for Web site owners. It details the pages that Google has discovered and indexed. Only indexed pages can be visible in search results.
The three main statuses:
- Discovered pages: Pages that Google has found but has not yet checked.
- Indexed pages: Pages included in the index by Google.
- Non-indexed pages: Pages that Google has not indexed.
With these insights, you can optimize the findability of your website:
- Make sure your site is properly crawled and indexed.
- Find out which pages are not in the index and why.
- Fix problems with indexing.
The different statuses explained
Within the ‘Page Indexing’ tab, you will find the following statuses:
- Indexed: Google has found your page and included it in its index. This is ideal.
- Not indexed: Google has not yet included the page due to possible blocking, low quality or other problems.
- Error: A problem is preventing the page from being indexed. Use the error messages to resolve this.
Dealing with ‘non-indexed’ pages
If Google is not indexing your page, follow these steps:
- Ask for indexing: Use the URL inspection tool in Search Console to ask Google to re-evaluate the page.
- Control the crawl budget: Avoid waste by removing duplicate content or unnecessary redirects.
- Increase content quality: Provide original and valuable content.
- Improve internal linking: Create a clear link structure within your site.
- Obtain backlinks: Build trust with external links from reputable websites.
Practical tips for success
- Read the official Google documentation.
- Check out the article How to Fix ‘Discovered – currently not indexed’ from Ahrefs.
- Stay tuned for updates via the Google Search Blog.
- Hire an SEO specialist if you need help.
Conclusion
The Page Indexing tab in Google Search Console is an indispensable tool for making your website findable. By understanding the statuses and taking action, you increase the chances of your pages being visible in search results.
