When you encounter the "Crawled – Currently Not Indexed" status in Google Search Console (GSC), it can be frustrating. This status means that Google has crawled your web page but hasn't indexed it yet. For those serious about SEO and web visibility, understanding and resolving this issue is crucial. In this blog, we'll walk through the common causes of this issue and outline six easy steps to help you fix it.
Google Search Console is a powerful tool that helps website owners monitor and improve their site’s performance in Google search results. One of the common issues users face is the "Crawled – Currently Not Indexed" status. This status indicates that Google’s bots have successfully crawled your page but have not yet included it in their index. This issue can affect your page’s visibility in search results, and understanding how to address it is key to improving your site’s SEO.
Why Indexing Matters
Indexing is a crucial part of the search engine optimization process. When a page is indexed, it means that Google has included it in its database, making it eligible to appear in search results. If a page is not indexed, it will not be visible to users searching for relevant keywords. Therefore, ensuring that your pages are indexed is essential for driving traffic and achieving better search engine rankings.
Common Causes of Indexing Issues
Before diving into solutions, it’s important to understand why your page might be in the "Crawled – Currently Not Indexed" state. Here are some common causes:
- Content Quality: Low-quality or duplicate content might not be indexed.
- Crawl Errors: Issues like broken links or server errors can prevent indexing.
- Redirect Issues: Improperly set up redirects can interfere with indexing.
- Internal Linking: Poor internal linking can affect how pages are crawled and indexed.
- Robots.txt and Meta Tags: Misconfigurations can block pages from being indexed.
- Duplicate Content: Duplicate content can confuse search engines and affect indexing.
- Page Speed: Slow-loading pages might face indexing issues.
Step 1: Check for Crawl Errors
The first step in addressing the "Crawled – Currently Not Indexed" issue is to check for crawl errors in Google Search Console. Crawl errors occur when Googlebot encounters problems while attempting to access your pages. To identify crawl errors:
- Log into Google Search Console: Navigate to the GSC dashboard for your site.
- Select “Coverage”: In the left-hand menu, click on "Coverage."
- Review Errors: Look for any errors listed under the "Errors" tab. These might include server errors, 404 errors, or issues with your page’s URL.
Addressing these errors is crucial for ensuring that Googlebot can access and index your pages. Fixing these issues often involves correcting broken links, resolving server problems, or addressing other technical issues.
Step 2: Improve Content Quality
Google values high-quality, original content. Pages with thin, low-quality, or duplicate content might not be indexed. To improve content quality:
- Create Unique and Valuable Content: Ensure that your content provides value to users and is unique compared to other content on the web.
- Use Relevant Keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords naturally to improve content relevance.
- Optimize Readability: Make sure your content is easy to read and understand, using clear headings and formatting.
By improving the quality of your content, you increase the likelihood that Google will index your pages.
Step 3: Fix Redirect Issues
Redirects are used to send users and search engines from one URL to another. However, improperly configured redirects can cause indexing issues. To address redirect problems:
- Check Redirects: Use tools like Screaming Frog or Sitebulb to analyze your redirects.
- Ensure Proper Setup: Make sure that your redirects are correctly set up and point to the intended destination. Avoid redirect chains or loops.
- Use 301 Redirects: For permanent changes, use 301 redirects to pass SEO value from the old URL to the new one.
Fixing redirect issues helps ensure that Googlebot can crawl and index your pages properly.
Step 4: Optimize Internal Linking
Internal linking helps search engines understand the structure of your site and discover new pages. If your internal linking is poor, it might impact indexing. To improve internal linking:
- Create a Logical Link Structure: Use a hierarchical structure to link related pages together.
- Use Descriptive Anchor Text: Ensure that the anchor text of your links is descriptive and relevant to the linked page.
- Update Old Content: Regularly review and update older content with links to newer pages.
Optimizing your internal linking helps Googlebot navigate your site more effectively and index your pages.
Step 5: Use URL Inspection Tool
Google Search Console’s URL Inspection tool allows you to request indexing for specific pages. To use this tool:
- Open URL Inspection Tool: In GSC, navigate to the “URL Inspection” tool in the left-hand menu.
- Enter URL: Input the URL of the page you want to check.
- Request Indexing: If the page is eligible, you’ll see an option to request indexing. Click this to notify Google of the changes.
Using the URL Inspection tool helps expedite the indexing process for individual pages.
Step 6: Update Sitemaps
Sitemaps help search engines understand the structure of your site and find new pages. If your sitemap is outdated or not submitted, it can affect indexing. To ensure your sitemap is up to date:
- Generate a Sitemap: Use tools like Yoast SEO or Google XML Sitemaps to generate a sitemap.
- Submit Sitemap in GSC: Go to the “Sitemaps” section in GSC and submit your updated sitemap.
- Monitor Sitemap Status: Regularly check the status of your sitemap in GSC to ensure it’s being processed correctly.
Updating and submitting your sitemap helps Googlebot discover and index your pages more efficiently.
Monitoring and Auditing
Even after addressing these issues, ongoing monitoring and auditing are essential. Regularly check Google Search Console for any new errors or issues. Perform routine audits of your site’s content, redirects, and internal linking to ensure everything is working as expected.
Robots.txt and Meta Tags
Sometimes, pages may not be indexed due to robots.txt files or meta tags blocking indexing. To check:
- Review robots.txt: Ensure that your robots.txt file does not disallow important pages from being crawled.
- Check Meta Tags: Verify that there are no "noindex" meta tags on the pages you want to be indexed.
Correcting any mistakes in these files helps ensure that your pages are not inadvertently blocked from indexing.
Avoiding Duplicate Content
Duplicate content can confuse search engines and hinder indexing. To avoid duplicate content issues:
- Create Unique Content: Ensure that each page on your site has unique content.
- Use Canonical Tags: Implement canonical tags to indicate the preferred version of a page if duplicates are necessary.
- Avoid Scraping: Refrain from copying content from other sites.
By avoiding duplicate content, you help search engines understand which version of a page should be indexed.
Page Speed and User Experience
Page speed and user experience are critical factors for indexing. Slow-loading pages can face indexing issues. To improve page speed:
- Optimize Images: Compress images to reduce their size.
- Minimize JavaScript and CSS: Reduce the amount of JavaScript and CSS to speed up page load times.
- Enable Caching: Use caching to improve load times for returning visitors.
Improving page speed enhances user experience and helps ensure that your pages are indexed.
Resubmitting Problematic Pages
If you've resolved issues with pages that were previously not indexed, consider resubmitting them for indexing. Use the URL Inspection tool to request indexing for these pages again. This step ensures that Google is aware of the changes and can index the pages accordingly.
Final Thoughts and Final Tips
Fixing the "Crawled – Currently Not Indexed" issue involves a combination of technical adjustments and content improvements. By following the six steps outlined above, you can address common causes of indexing problems and enhance your site’s visibility in search results. Remember to continuously monitor your site’s performance in Google Search Console, optimize content and site structure, and stay updated with SEO best practices.
With these strategies, you’ll be well on your way to ensuring that your pages are properly indexed and ranked, driving more traffic to your site and improving your overall SEO efforts.
FAQ:
1. What does “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” mean in Google Search Console?
The “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” status indicates that Google’s bots have successfully crawled your web page but haven’t included it in their index yet. This means the page is not currently visible in search results.
2. How long does it take for a page to be indexed after it’s crawled?
The time it takes for a page to be indexed can vary. It might take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Factors such as content quality, site structure, and crawl frequency can influence this timing.
3. What should I do if a page remains in the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” status for an extended period?
If a page remains in this status for a long time, review the potential issues discussed in the steps above, such as crawl errors, content quality, and redirect problems. Additionally, use the URL Inspection tool to request indexing and check for any underlying issues.
4. Can I manually request indexing for multiple pages at once?
Google Search Console allows you to request indexing for individual pages using the URL Inspection tool. For bulk requests, you should focus on improving overall site factors like sitemaps and internal linking, which can help with indexing multiple pages more efficiently.
5. How can I check if my robots.txt file or meta tags are blocking indexing?
To check if your robots.txt file or meta tags are blocking indexing:
- Robots.txt: Access the file directly from your site’s root directory and review its contents.
- Meta Tags: Inspect the page’s HTML source code for any "noindex" meta tags.
6. What are some common technical issues that can prevent a page from being indexed?
Common technical issues include crawl errors (e.g., 404 errors, server issues), improper redirects, blocking directives in robots.txt, and slow page load times.
7. How do I know if my content quality is affecting indexing?
Evaluate your content for uniqueness, relevance, and value. Google prioritizes high-quality, original content. Tools like Copyscape can help identify duplicate content issues.
8. What is the URL Inspection tool, and how do I use it?
The URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console allows you to check the indexing status of a specific URL and request indexing. Simply enter the URL in the tool to view its status and request indexing if needed.
9. How often should I update my sitemap in Google Search Console?
You should update and submit your sitemap in Google Search Console whenever you make significant changes to your site’s structure or add new content. Regular updates help Google discover and index new pages efficiently.
10. What are canonical tags, and how do they help with indexing?
Canonical tags are HTML elements used to indicate the preferred version of a page when there are duplicate or similar pages. They help prevent duplicate content issues and ensure that the preferred page is indexed.
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