An index refers to the registration of web page information in the databases of search engines such as Google and Yahoo! JAPAN.

When a web page is registered in the index of each search engine, it appears in search results. In other words, if a page is not indexed, no matter how useful it is, it won’t have a chance to be seen by users, and it won’t receive evaluation in terms of SEO . Being indexed by search engines is essential for a website.

Therefore, this article explains the mechanism of how web pages are indexed, methods to confirm if they are indexed, and even how to deal with cases when they are not indexed.

What is an Index?

An index, derived from the English word ‘index,’ refers to a mechanism that makes it easier to find desired information. Here, we will explain both the SEO-related index and the index as a database.

Meaning of Index in SEO

Indexing refers to search engines acquiring information from web pages and registering that information in their databases. Once indexed, a web page’s existence is recognized by search engines.

To display web pages as search results on users’ screens, indexing is essential. Web pages that are not indexed are not recognized by search engines, and thus, they cannot be evaluated for SEO.

Being indexed holds significant importance for operating a website. From an SEO perspective, it’s crucial for web pages to be indexed as soon as possible after creation.

Meaning of Index in Databases

In the context of databases, an index refers to a mechanism that enhances search efficiency.

Leaving a large amount of data in a database in a chaotic state makes it challenging to return results quickly when searched. However, by indexing information, the processing of queries is expedited. In other words, the role of an index in a database is to facilitate speedy retrieval of results by search engines.

The Relationship between Crawlers and Indexes

For search engines, both crawlers and indexes are vital components. Here, we’ll explain their relationship.

Crawler

A crawler is a robot that traverses the internet, also known as crawling. Search engines like Google and Bing utilize their proprietary robot-type search engines to crawl the internet, collecting information from websites.

These search engine robots, or crawlers, access web pages while traversing the internet, gathering information. Subsequently, the data collected by the crawlers from web pages is registered in the search engine’s database according to keywords. This is the primary mechanism for indexing registration.

Coordination

Crawlers and indexes collaborate to understand the latest web information and provide appropriate search results to users. Crawlers periodically traverse the web, detecting newly added pages or updates, which are then stored in the database through indexing. Through this coordination, search engines maintain up-to-date information and respond to user search queries effectively.

The Relationship between Content Quality and Indexing

In the realm of search engine optimization (SEO), there exists a crucial relationship between content quality and indexing. Here, we’ll delve into indexing from the perspective of content quality.

Evaluation of Content Quality

Search engines don’t evaluate all websites equally. They assess the quality of each web page individually, determining indexing and ranking based on this evaluation. Pages with high-quality content, meeting users’ needs, are displayed prominently in search results.

Assessment of Uniqueness and Prevention of Duplication

Originality of content is also crucial for indexing. Search engines avoid duplicate content and prioritize pages with high uniqueness. During indexing, duplicate content is identified and excluded, increasing the likelihood of indexing for pages with high originality and credibility.

User Experience

User experience is also taken into consideration in indexing. Search engines aim to provide users with web pages that are user-friendly and easy to navigate. During indexing, factors such as responsive design and page loading speed are evaluated.

The Benefits of Indexing

Indexing holds significant importance in web marketing because it facilitates access from search engines. This leads to increased awareness of your company and its products or services among users.

By being indexed, you enhance the chances of reaching your target audience, which can ultimately lead to increased conversions and brand recognition. Next, we will discuss the methods to get indexed.

Methods to Get Indexed

Crawlers, which roam the internet, detect and gather information using the URLs of web pages. There are several ways to make your web pages detectable to crawlers, actively encouraging their visit.

Some methods to invite crawlers to your web pages include:

-Placing links on your web page

-Installing an XML sitemap

Linking on Web Pages

For web pages that do not require immediate indexing, waiting for crawlers to visit is one approach. 

Crawlers navigate the internet by following links from already indexed pages to other web pages. Since this process only involves waiting for indexing, no special actions are needed. However, newly created web pages or those with few links may be harder for robots to find, potentially delaying indexing.

Installing an XML Sitemap

An XML sitemap is a file that organizes web page information to facilitate search engine retrieval. It is called an XML sitemap because it is created in XML file format. 

It helps search engines quickly recognize new or updated pages on your site.

Sitemaps can be in various formats supported by Google as below.

-XML

-RSS, mRSS, Atom 1.0

-Plain text

Once you choose a format and create the sitemap, either manually or automatically, you can submit it by adding it to your robots.txt file or directly through Google Search Console.

For websites built with WordPress, consider creating an XML sitemap using a plugin. Plugins like XML Sitemaps or All In One SEO Pack make it easy to generate and efficiently manage sitemaps, especially when updates are made.

From an SEO perspective, it is crucial for sitemaps to be accurate and regularly updated. To minimize human errors and the workload of manual management, consider automating sitemap updates.

An HTML Sitemap

In addition to XML sitemaps, websites can also have what is known as an HTML sitemap. This is a map-like representation of the entire structure of a website, helping users navigate to the information they seek.

While XML sitemaps communicate website information to search engine bots, HTML sitemaps enhance usability for users. Both types of sitemaps are essential for websites to be valued in SEO.

Preventing Indexing

For pages like pre-release test pages or those with little content that you do not want to be indexed, or if they do not require search engine evaluation, you can opt to prevent them from being indexed.

To block indexing, use the ‘noindex’ directive, recommended by Google. You can set ‘noindex’ using a meta tag in the HTML head section or an X-Robots-Tag response header.

Note that the robots.txt file is also perceived as blocking indexing. However, using robots.txt to prevent web pages from appearing in search results is not recommended by Google.

How to Check Indexing Status

To display your website in search results, it must be indexed. There are three ways to check if your website’s pages are indexed:

-Search using ‘site:’ followed by the URL.

-Use the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console.

-Check the indexing status in Google Search Console.

Searching with ‘site:’ followed by the URL

The simplest method to check if a web page is indexed is to search in a browser using ‘site:’ followed by the specific URL. If the page is indexed, its description will appear in the search results.

However, this method is not practical for checking many web pages due to the need to enter each URL individually. For monitoring the indexing status of your web pages, it’s better to use Google Search Console.

URL Inspection in Google Search Console

Google Search Console allows you to easily check whether a page is indexed. To verify the indexing status of a specific web page, use the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console.

After logging into Google Search Console, click on URL Inspection and enter the URL of the web page you want to check. 

If the result screen shows ‘URL is indexed by Google,’ no further action is necessary.

Google Search Console’s Page Indexing Report

To quickly understand the indexing status of your entire website, use the Page Indexing Report in Google Search Console. By navigating to ‘Pages’ under the Indexing section, you can view the indexing status and any issues on your web pages all in one place.

In the Indexing ‘Pages’ section, each web page is categorized into two statuses, which are as follows:

Not Indexed: The page is not indexed.

Indexed: The web page’s indexing is complete.

Reference page: Google Search Console Help

This report shows the number of web pages that have completed indexing under the ‘Indexed’ status.

What to Do If Your Page Is Not Indexed

Google states that it can take several days to weeks for its search engine bots to visit a website. If your web page remains unindexed after some time, you should request a crawl from the search engine.

There are two ways to request a crawl:

-Request through the URL Inspection tool.

-Submit an XML sitemap.

If you have only a few pages to crawl, use the URL Inspection tool; for many pages, submitting a sitemap is more efficient.

Request through the URL Inspection tool

Check the indexing status of the specific web page in Google Search Console’s URL Inspection tool. If the result shows ‘URL is not registered with Google,’ it means the page is not indexed.

In this case, click on ‘Request indexing’ to ask for the web page to be indexed. 

Once the screen shows ‘Indexing requested,’ your request is complete.

Submit your XML sitemap

It’s essential to update the XML sitemap information whenever there are updates or changes to your website. By accessing the sitemap section in Google Search Console, you can check the status of your submitted XML sitemaps and register new ones.

When your site isn’t indexed, consider the following

Search engine bots crawl numerous sites. Sometimes, a website might be overlooked or deliberately not indexed due to certain issues. If your site hasn’t been indexed after a few days to weeks, investigate potential problems.

If your site is not indexed, review the following points; 

-Duplicate content

-Directory structure 

-noindex tags, or robots.txt files

-Potential penalties

Duplicate content

If your web page is identical to others, it might not be indexed. Ensure to check for copied content before creating web pages.

Directory Structure

Having a clear and understandable structure for your website is crucial not only for user experience but also for making it easier for search engine bots to crawl. A complex structure may prevent bots from fully indexing the site.

Consider how you guide users and aim for a simple directory structure. Utilize breadcrumbs to make the website user-friendly. Google recommends using breadcrumbs, which have become essential.

noindex and robots.txt Files

If you accidentally set noindex or configure robots.txt to block search engine bots, your pages won’t be indexed. 

Be particularly cautious with noindex settings in WordPress, as it’s easy to mistakenly apply them to unintended pages.

Frequently Asked Questions About Indexing 

Here we share common questions and answers about search engine indexing.

Q: How often is indexing updated?

A: The frequency of updates varies depending on the search engine and how often each web page is updated. Generally, pages that are updated frequently are crawled more often. This approach helps save crawler resources by focusing on high-priority pages.

Q: What should I be careful of to get indexed?

A: Improving content quality and meeting user needs are crucial. This includes using keywords appropriately, clear writing, and proper metadata settings. Also, ensure good crawlability by maintaining the correct HTML structure.

Q: Can pages be excluded from the index?

A: Yes, pages can be excluded from the search engine index. This may happen if the page violates the search engine’s guidelines or contains duplicate content.

Q: Can a deleted page be re-indexed?

A: If a page is removed from the index for some reason, update the page and ensure it is crawlable again. Trying to update content, metadata, and removing noindex tags can make it possible for the page to be re-indexed.

Summary

Being crawled and indexed by search engine bots is essential for operating a website. If not indexed, your site won’t be seen by users or evaluated by search engines, rendering the time, effort, and money spent on creating the website wasteful. To prevent situations where your site is not indexed due to any issues, make it a habit to check Google Search Console. It’s vital to use Google Search Console to ensure your website functions properly and to quickly address any arising issues. If your website is properly built, it will be crawled and indexed by search engine bots. Additionally, actively promoting your website to search engines can shorten the time it takes to be indexed. Adopt a proactive approach to get your website indexed as quickly as possible.

Author Profile

International Web Consultant Paveena Suphawet

A trilingual professional in English, Thai, and Japanese, she has numerous achievements in international SEO. She studied the latest IT technologies at Assumption International University, Thailand, and majored in International Business at the University of Greenwich, UK. Following her tenure at ExxonMobil’s Thai branch, she became a key member of Admano from its establishment.

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