How to React to Google Search Console’s Indexing Report and Fix 'Not Indexed' Errors

How to React to Google Search Console’s Indexing Report and Fix 'Not Indexed' Errors

Google Search Console’s Indexing Report is an essential tool for website owners, SEO professionals, and webmasters. It provides crucial insights into how Google views and processes your site’s pages. When Google doesn’t index certain pages, it can negatively impact your search visibility and traffic. In this guide, we’ll break down the different indexing statuses, explain common "not indexed" errors, and provide actionable steps to fix them.

Understanding the Google Search Console Indexing Report

The Indexing Report in Google Search Console (GSC) categorizes your website’s pages into three main statuses:

1. Indexed – Pages successfully indexed by Google and appearing in search results.
2. Not Indexed – Pages that Google attempted to crawl but did not index for various reasons.
3. Excluded – Pages deliberately excluded from Google’s index, such as those with noindex tags.

To maximize your website’s visibility, it’s crucial to monitor the Indexing Report and address indexing issues promptly.

Common 'Not Indexed' Errors and How to Fix Them

1. Crawled – Currently Not Indexed

What It Means:

• Google has crawled the page but decided not to index it.
• This could be due to thin content, duplicate content, or low perceived value.

How to Fix It:

• Improve content quality by adding depth, images, videos, and relevant keywords.
• Check for duplicate pages and consolidate them using canonical tags.
• Increase internal linking to the page to signal importance to Google.
• Submit the URL for re-indexing via Google Search Console.
• Ensure that the page has a good user experience (UX), including fast load times and mobile responsiveness.

2. Discovered – Currently Not Indexed

What It Means:

• Google knows about the page but has not crawled it yet.
• This often happens due to low crawl priority or server issues.

How to Fix It:

• Improve website crawlability by fixing internal links and ensuring a logical site structure.
• Check server response times and optimize page load speed.
• Submit the URL manually in Google Search Console to prompt crawling.
• Generate and update an XML sitemap and submit it in GSC.
• Increase external mentions and social shares to signal importance to search engines.

3. Blocked by Robots.txt

What It Means:

• Googlebot is restricted from accessing the page due to a rule in the robots.txt file.

How to Fix It:

• Review your robots.txt file by visiting yourwebsite.com/robots.txt.
• Remove unnecessary blocking rules preventing important pages from being crawled.
• Test your robots.txt directives using the Google Robots Testing Tool in GSC.
• Ensure only irrelevant or duplicate pages are blocked (e.g., admin panels, private content).

4. Noindex Tag Present

What It Means:

• The page has a noindex meta tag, preventing Google from indexing it.

How to Fix It:

• Check the page’s source code for <meta name="robots" content="noindex">.
• Remove the noindex tag if the page should be indexed.
• Use GSC’s URL Inspection tool to verify changes and request indexing.
• Confirm that important pages are not accidentally set to "noindex" by plugins or settings.

5. Page with Redirect

What It Means:

• The page redirects to another URL, preventing it from being indexed directly.

How to Fix It:

• Ensure that redirects are intentional and necessary.
• Use 301 redirects for permanent changes and avoid redirect chains.
• Check for broken or incorrect redirects using tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs.
• Avoid unnecessary redirects that may reduce crawl efficiency.

6. Soft 404 Error

What It Means:

• Google considers the page a non-existent or low-value page, even though it loads.

How to Fix It:

• Improve content quality if the page is valuable.
• Ensure the page has a clear purpose and isn’t a placeholder.
• If the page should be removed, implement a proper 404 or 410 response.
• Check if the page has a misleading URL that does not align with content expectations.

7. Duplicate Without User-Selected Canonical

What It Means:

• Google found duplicate pages but isn’t sure which version to index.

How to Fix It:

• Specify a canonical URL using <link rel="canonical" href="preferred-page-url">.
• Consolidate duplicate content using 301 redirects.
• Use GSC’s URL Inspection tool to verify canonical settings.
• Ensure that eCommerce product pages or filtered pages do not cause unintentional duplication.

Advanced Strategies for Improving Indexing

1. Optimize Internal Linking

• Link to important pages from high-authority pages on your site.
• Use descriptive anchor text to help Google understand the page’s relevance.
• Reduce orphan pages (pages without any internal links).

2. Prioritize High-Quality Content

• Conduct keyword research and ensure pages serve user intent.
• Regularly update content to maintain relevance and freshness.
• Use structured data (Schema markup) to help Google understand page context.

3. Utilize Google’s Indexing API

• For time-sensitive content, use Google’s Indexing API to request faster indexing.
• Ideal for job listings, live event pages, or breaking news updates.

4. Address Technical SEO Issues

• Audit your site regularly using tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Screaming Frog.
• Check for mobile usability errors in Google Search Console.
• Implement lazy loading to improve page speed without affecting indexing.

5. Encourage External Links and Social Shares

• Acquire high-quality backlinks from reputable sources.
• Share content on social media platforms to drive traffic and indexing signals.
• Engage with communities and forums where relevant discussions happen.

Final Thoughts

Google Search Console’s Indexing Report is a powerful tool that helps diagnose and resolve indexing issues. By understanding the common "not indexed" errors and following best practices, you can ensure that your site remains visible and optimized for search engines. Regularly monitoring GSC, improving site structure, and enhancing content quality will contribute to better indexing and improved rankings in Google search results.

Fixing indexing issues isn’t just about making Google happy—it directly impacts your organic search visibility and website traffic. By implementing the strategies outlined in this guide, you can proactively address indexing challenges and ensure that your most valuable content is being discovered and ranked effectively.