The Reasons for Pages Not Being Indexed by Google Search Console & How to Resolve

One of the key objectives of managing a website is to ensure that your content is indexed by search engines so that your audience can locate you with ease. However, most webmasters face the problem of their pages not being indexed by Google, which may reduce visibility and traffic. Knowing why this happens and how to fix it will go a long way in improving your SEO. In this blog post, we will explore several causes for pages not being indexed and provide practical solutions.

What is the Page Indexing of GSC?

Before looking at the reasons as to why your pages may not be indexed, first, it is important to understand what indexing means: it is the process under which search engines crawl to web pages, analyze content, and store them in databases for retrieval when users are performing relevant searches.
When a page is not indexed, it means that Google has either not discovered the page or has decided that it doesn’t deserve a place in its index for various reasons. This lack of visibility can be highly detrimental, especially when valuable content is primed to attract organic traffic.

Common Reasons Pages Are Not Indexed

Robots.txt Blocking

One of the most common reasons pages are not indexed is due to a disallow directive in the robots.txt file. The robots.txt file informs the search engine crawler which pages of your site they can/cannot access. If a page is disallowed, it will not be crawled nor indexed.

How to Resolve:

To tackle this issue, check your robots.txt file by entering yourwebsite.com/robots.txt in your browser. If the problematic page is disallowed, you’ll need to modify the robots.txt file. Make sure to allow indexing for necessary pages and re-submit the file in Google Search Console.

Noindex Tag Implementation

Sometimes, webmasters accidentally de-index their pages by placing a “noindex” meta tag in their HTML. The “noindex” meta tag is a command for search engines not to index the page. This happens during redesigns of websites and sometimes because of an oversight.

How to Resolve:

Check the HTML of the various pages for the “noindex” tag. If you find this tag and want your pages to be indexed, simply delete it or change it to “index” and save your changes. Then use the URL Inspection tool inside Google Search Console to request re-indexing.

Low-Quality Content

Google algorithms favor quality and relevant content. In case your web page contains thin content or duplicate material, low value, Google may decide to exclude the page from their index. This would involve pages with no substance or worthy value.

How to resolve:

Content in unindexed pages should be revisited and made useful for users. At least 300 words of unique, useful information are expected on the page. Enhance the content by optimizing with related keywords, avoiding keyword stuffing; add visuals to make the content more engaging and see that it meets user intent. Then, you may request indexing via Google Search Console.

How to Diagnose Indexing Issues?

Identifying the exact causes of indexing issues can often be difficult. The following are some of the best ways to diagnose problems:

Coverage Report of Google Search Console

The Coverage report is a pivotal feature in Google Search Console that shows the indexing status of all your pages. It highlights whether pages are indexed, excluded, or have errors. Look for the “Errors” or “Excluded” section to find detailed reasons for any issues, which may include status codes, crawl errors, or reasons like “Blocked by robots.txt.”

URL Inspection Tool

Another powerful tool within Search Console is the URL Inspection tool. It allows entering URLs to check their status of indexing, crawling issues, response code, and if the pages are mobile-friendly among other information. This tool immediately returns responses and helps in faster troubleshooting.

Manual Checks

Besides using Google Search Console, manually go around your website and go to non-indexed pages, assess the quality of their content, view their robots.txt settings, and check for any “noindex” instructions in the HTML source code.

Steps to Safely Re-Index

Once you have identified and fixed the issues preventing indexing, the next step will be to safely request that Google re-index your amended pages. Here are steps you should take:

Submit a Sitemap

Make sure your XML sitemap is updated and correctly reflects the structure of your website. Then, submit or resubmit the sitemap via Google Search Console to ensure Google can find your pages with ease.

Request Indexing via URL Inspection Tool

After making the changes, request the indexing of particular URLs by using the URL Inspection tool. Click the “Request Indexing” button, which notifies Google to crawl the page and reassess whether or not it meets their indexing threshold.

Results Monitoring and Analysis

After submitting your URLs for indexing, make sure to check their status in the Coverage report. Sometimes, it may take some time for Google to process your request, but tracking the results is essential to understand if your resolutions were effective.

Conclusion

Making sure your web pages are indexed by Google is vital for enhancing your site’s visibility and attracting organic traffic. By understanding the common reasons behind indexing issues—like robots.txt settings, noindex tags, and content quality—you can take proactive steps to rectify them. Additionally, utilizing Google Search Console tools enables effective diagnosis and resolution of indexing problems.
Remember, consistent indexing can take some time and even continuous SEO work, so regularly check site performance and content quality to continue increasing your search visibility. With due diligence and strategic course corrections, you will pave the way for a better indexed website.

Get Indexed Today!