Indexing issues can significantly impact your website’s visibility on search engines. Google Search Console provides detailed insights and notifications about such issues, allowing webmasters to take corrective actions. This article will cover common indexing issues in Google Search Console, explain their causes, and provide detailed solutions to resolve them.
Common Page Indexing Issues and Their Solutions
1. Page with Redirect
Description: This issue means that the page you’re trying to get indexed is redirecting to another page. Instead of displaying its own content, it automatically sends users (and search engines) to a different URL.
Solution:
- Check Redirects: Ensure that the redirects are intentional and lead to relevant content.
- Update Internal Links: Make sure internal links point directly to the final URL instead of the redirected URL.
- Use 301 Redirects: For permanent redirects, use 301 status codes to indicate that the page has moved permanently.
Impact: Search engines can’t index the content of a redirected page because they are sent elsewhere. Make sure your most important pages don’t unintentionally redirect.
2. Excluded by ‘noindex’ Tag
Description: A ‘noindex’ tag in your page’s code tells search engines not to index this page. This tag is useful when you don’t want specific content to appear in search results.
Solution:
- Remove ‘noindex’ Tag: If you want the page to be indexed, remove the ‘noindex’ tag from the HTML or HTTP headers.
- Check Robots.txt: Ensure that the robots.txt file doesn’t block the page.
- Update Meta Tags: Verify that the correct meta tags are used to allow indexing.
Impact: Pages with a ‘noindex’ tag won’t be shown in search engine results. Ensure that only pages you don’t want to be found (like login pages or certain private content) have this tag.
3. Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag
Description: This indicates that the page is considered a duplicate of another page, and a canonical tag correctly points to the main (canonical) version of the content.
Solution:
- Verify Canonical Tags: Ensure the canonical tags on your pages correctly point to the preferred version of the page.
- Fix Canonicalization Issues: Make sure there are no conflicting canonical tags on the page.
- Use Self-Referencing Canonicals: On the preferred version of the page, use self-referencing canonical tags.
Impact: This helps search engines understand which version of the page to index and rank, preventing duplicate content issues.
4. Not Found (404)
Description: A 404 error means the page couldn’t be found on the server. This often happens when a page has been deleted or the URL is incorrect.
Solution:
- Fix Broken Links: Update or remove broken links pointing to 404 pages.
- Create Custom 404 Pages: Design a user-friendly 404 page that helps visitors navigate to other parts of the site.
- Redirect Removed Pages: If a page has been removed, consider redirecting it to a relevant, existing page.
Impact: Users and search engines can’t access the content, leading to a poor user experience and potentially lost traffic. Regularly check for and fix 404 errors to ensure all your content is accessible.
5. Blocked Due to Other 4xx Issue
Description: This indicates a client error other than 404, such as 403 (Forbidden) or 410 (Gone). These errors occur when the server can’t process the request due to a client-side issue.
Solution:
- Check Permissions: Ensure that the page permissions are set correctly and are accessible to both users and search engines.
- Fix Server Errors: Resolve any server-side errors causing 4xx status codes.
- Update Security Settings: Adjust security settings that may inadvertently block Googlebot.
Impact: Like 404 errors, these prevent search engines from accessing the content. Identifying and resolving these errors can help ensure your site is fully indexed.
6. Soft 404
Description: A soft 404 happens when a page appears to be a 404 error but returns a 200 (OK) status code. This usually occurs when a page displays a “not found” message without properly indicating it to search engines.
Solution:
- Update Status Codes: Ensure that pages showing ‘not found’ messages return a 404 or 410 status code.
- Improve Content: Enhance the content of the page to make it more valuable and relevant, avoiding the appearance of a soft 404.
- Use Redirects: Redirect users to relevant pages if the original content is no longer available.
Impact: Search engines may get confused, thinking the page has valid content when it doesn’t. Ensure that true 404 pages return the correct status code.
7. Duplicate Without User-Selected Canonical
Description: This means there are multiple versions of a page without a canonical tag to indicate the preferred version.
Solution:
- Add Canonical Tags: Use canonical tags to indicate the preferred version of a page to search engines.
- Consolidate Duplicate Content: Merge duplicate content into a single, authoritative page.
- Check URL Parameters: Ensure URL parameters are not creating unnecessary duplicates.
Impact: Search engines might not know which version to index, leading to potential issues with duplicate content. Use canonical tags to specify the preferred version of your pages.
8. Crawled – Currently Not Indexed
Description: This indicates that Google has crawled the page but decided not to index it yet. This could be due to low-quality content, duplicate content, or other reasons.
Solution:
- Improve Page Quality: Enhance the content quality and relevance of the page to encourage indexing.
- Check for Errors: Ensure there are no technical issues preventing indexing, such as slow load times or mobile usability problems.
- Build Internal Links: Increase internal linking to the page to highlight its importance.
Impact: These pages won’t appear in search results. Review these pages to ensure they provide value and meet Google’s quality guidelines.
9. Duplicate, Google Chose Different Canonical Than User
Description: This means Google has decided that a different page is the canonical (primary) version, despite your selection.
Solution:
- Review Canonical Tags: Ensure the canonical tags correctly indicate the preferred URL.
- Eliminate Duplicate Content: Remove or consolidate duplicate content that might confuse search engines.
- Use Google Search Console: Submit the preferred URL through Google Search Console’s URL Inspection tool to encourage reindexing.
Impact: This can lead to your preferred page not being indexed. Ensure your canonical tags are correctly set and the content is distinctive enough to be recognized as the primary version.
10. Discovered – Currently Not Indexed
Description: Google has found the page but hasn’t yet crawled or indexed it. This could be due to a large number of pages or low prioritization.
Solution:
- Optimize Content: Improve the content quality and ensure it’s valuable and unique.
- Increase Backlinks: Gain more backlinks to boost the page’s authority and encourage indexing.
- Regular Updates: Regularly update the page to signal its relevance to search engines.
Impact: These pages aren’t in the search index, so they won’t appear in search results. Ensure your site is well-optimized and valuable content is easy for Google to prioritize.
Conclusion:-
Addressing indexing issues in Google Search Console is crucial for ensuring that your website appears in search results and reaches your audience. By understanding and resolving common problems such as redirects, ‘noindex’ tags, canonical tag issues, 404 errors, and others, you can significantly improve your site’s visibility and performance.
Take the time to regularly monitor Google Search Console, fix any issues as they arise, and follow best practices for SEO. Doing so will help ensure that your website remains accessible, relevant, and highly ranked on Google. Whether you’re a seasoned webmaster or new to managing a website, these steps will guide you toward a more successful online presence.