In the world of SEO, encountering a "Crawled – Currently Not Indexed" status in Google Search Console (GSC) can be frustrating. This issue indicates that Google has crawled your page but has not yet indexed it, which means the page isn’t showing up in search results. Understanding and addressing this issue is crucial for maintaining your site's visibility and improving your rankings. In this guide, we’ll walk you through six easy steps to resolve this problem and ensure your content gets indexed.
1. Understanding the 'Crawled – Currently Not Indexed' Status
What Does 'Crawled – Currently Not Indexed' Mean?
When a page is marked as 'Crawled – Currently Not Indexed' in GSC, it means that Google’s bots have visited the page but have not added it to the search index. This can happen for several reasons, including issues with the page’s content, technical problems, or site architecture challenges.
Common Reasons for This Status
- Content Quality: Google might determine that the content is not valuable or relevant enough to include in its index.
- Technical Errors: Issues like broken links, server errors, or blocked resources can prevent indexing.
- Robots.txt and Meta Tags: Improper configuration of these elements can inadvertently block Google from indexing your page.
2. Step 1: Verify Page Content
Importance of Content Quality
Content quality is a key factor in SEO. Google aims to provide users with the most relevant and high-quality content. If your page content does not meet Google’s standards or is considered low-quality, it may not be indexed.
How to Check Content Quality
- Ensure Relevance and Depth: Verify that your content is comprehensive, relevant, and provides value to users. Avoid thin or duplicate content.
- Check for User Engagement: High engagement metrics like time on page and low bounce rates can indicate valuable content.
- Use SEO Tools: Tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Yoast SEO can help analyze content quality and suggest improvements.
3. Step 2: Check for Technical Issues
Identifying Technical Problems
Technical issues can prevent Google from indexing your page. Common problems include:
- Broken Links: Ensure all internal and external links on your page are functioning properly.
- Server Errors: Check for 404 errors or server issues that might hinder crawling.
- Site Speed: Slow-loading pages can impact indexing. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to analyze and improve page speed.
Tools for Diagnostics
- Google Search Console: Use the Coverage report to identify technical issues and errors.
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider: This tool can crawl your site and detect issues like broken links and server errors.
- GTmetrix: Analyze page speed and performance to ensure fast loading times.
4. Step 3: Review Robots.txt and Meta Tags
How Robots.txt and Meta Tags Affect Indexing
- Robots.txt: This file can instruct search engines to not crawl specific pages or directories. Ensure that your page is not accidentally blocked.
- Meta Robots Tags: Meta tags like noindex can prevent a page from being indexed. Ensure these tags are not used incorrectly.
Steps to Check and Correct Configuration
- Review Robots.txt File: Access your robots.txt file and ensure that it does not disallow crawling of important pages.
- Check Meta Tags: Use GSC’s URL Inspection tool to view the page’s meta tags and confirm that no noindex tags are present.
5. Step 4: Inspect and Fix Crawl Errors
Using the URL Inspection Tool in GSC
The URL Inspection tool allows you to check how Google views your page and diagnose issues. Here’s how to use it:
- Enter URL: Enter the URL of the page with the 'Crawled – Currently Not Indexed' status into the URL Inspection tool.
- Check Coverage: Review the coverage report to identify any errors or warnings.
- Request Indexing: If no errors are found, use the tool to request indexing of the page.
Common Crawl Errors and Their Solutions
- Server Errors: Fix server issues by contacting your hosting provider or addressing server configuration problems.
- Blocked Resources: Ensure that critical resources like CSS and JavaScript files are not blocked by robots.txt or other directives.
- Redirects: Ensure that redirects are properly set up and do not create redirect loops.
6. Step 5: Analyze Internal Linking
Importance of Internal Links
Internal linking helps Google discover and index pages more efficiently. It also distributes link equity across your site.
Tips to Improve Internal Linking
- Link Strategically: Ensure that important pages are linked from other relevant pages on your site.
- Use Descriptive Anchor Text: Use clear and relevant anchor text for internal links to help Google understand the context.
- Create a Site Map: A well-structured site map helps both users and search engines navigate your site.
7. Step 6: Submit a URL for Reindexing
How to Request Reindexing in GSC
- URL Inspection Tool: After fixing issues, return to the URL Inspection tool in GSC.
- Request Indexing: Click the “Request Indexing” button to prompt Google to re-crawl and re-evaluate the page.
Best Practices for Submitting URLs
- Be Patient: It may take some time for Google to re-crawl and index the page. Monitor the status in GSC.
- Verify Fixes: Ensure all issues are resolved before requesting reindexing to avoid repeated indexing problems.
- Follow Up: Regularly check the status of the page to confirm it has been indexed.
Best Practices for Preventing Future Indexing Issues
- Regular Audits: Conduct regular SEO audits to identify and fix potential issues before they affect indexing.
- Monitor GSC Reports: Keep an eye on GSC for any new errors or issues related to indexing.
- Optimize Content: Continuously improve and update content to maintain its relevance and quality.
FAQ
1. What does the 'Crawled – Currently Not Indexed' status mean in Google Search Console?
The 'Crawled – Currently Not Indexed' status indicates that Google has crawled the page but has not yet added it to its index. This means the page won’t appear in search results until it is indexed.
2. How can I check if my page content is suitable for indexing?
Ensure your page content is high-quality, relevant, and comprehensive. Tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Yoast SEO can help analyze and improve content quality. Also, check user engagement metrics and avoid duplicate or thin content.
3. What technical issues might prevent a page from being indexed?
Technical issues can include broken links, server errors, and slow loading times. Use tools like Google Search Console, Screaming Frog SEO Spider, and GTmetrix to identify and address these issues.
4. How can robots.txt and meta tags affect my page’s indexing?
Robots.txt can block search engines from crawling specific pages or directories, while meta tags like noindex prevent indexing. Ensure that these elements are correctly configured and do not inadvertently block important content.
5. What should I do if my page is still not indexed after requesting reindexing?
If your page remains unindexed, review the issues identified in GSC, ensure all fixes are applied, and monitor the page’s status regularly. Persistent problems might require further technical analysis or content improvements.
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