How to Fix CRAWLED - CURRENTLY NOT INDEXED: Solve this Common SEO Indexing Problem

Understanding Google's "Crawled but Not Indexed" Status and How to Fix It

Google's Search Console is a vital tool for website owners, providing insights into how the search engine views their site. One common issue that many encounter is the "Crawled but Not Indexed" status. This means that Google has discovered and crawled the page, but has chosen not to include it in its index. This blog post delves into the reasons behind this status and offers practical solutions to ensure your pages get indexed and have a chance to rank on Google.

Key Takeaways

• Google may choose not to index a page if it determines that it doesn't provide enough value to users.
• Improving the quality and quantity of content can help a page get indexed.
• Using canonical tags, creating internal and external links, and promoting the page on social media can also increase the chances of indexing.

Table of Contents

• Understanding "Crawled but Not Indexed"
• Improving Content Quality
• Avoiding Thin Content
• Using Canonical Tags
• Creating Internal Links
• Building External Links
• Leveraging Social Links

Understanding "Crawled but Not Indexed"

When Google crawls a page but chooses not to index it, it's usually because it has determined that the page doesn't provide enough value to users. This is different from the "Discovered but Not Indexed" status, where Google knows about the page but hasn't crawled it yet. In the latter case, the only solution is to wait for Google to crawl the page. However, for pages that have been crawled but not indexed, there are several strategies that can be employed to improve their chances of being indexed.

Improving Content Quality

One of the main reasons why a page might be crawled but not indexed is poor content quality. This is especially common with content generated by AI tools, which may not be edited sufficiently to meet Google's standards. To address this, it's important to ensure that the content is unique and provides value to the user. If necessary, the content should be rewritten or edited to improve its quality.

Avoiding Thin Content

Thin content, or content that is too short or lacks depth, can also prevent a page from being indexed. Google prefers pages that have enough content to fully explain their topic. Therefore, adding more text content to a page can help it get indexed. This doesn't mean simply padding out the content with irrelevant information, but rather expanding on the topic in a meaningful way.

Using Canonical Tags

Canonical tags are another important tool for getting a page indexed. These tags tell Google which version of a page to index when there are multiple versions available. Without a canonical tag, Google may choose to index a different version of the page, or not index the page at all.

Creating Internal Links

Internal links can also help a page get indexed. By linking to the page from other indexed pages on the same site, it signals to Google that the page is important and should be indexed. This can be particularly effective when the linking page is already well-established and has a high page rank.

Building External Links

External links, or backlinks, are another powerful tool for getting a page indexed. When other websites link to a page, it signals to Google that the page is valuable and should be indexed. While the quality of the linking site is important, even lower-quality backlinks can help a page get indexed.

Leveraging Social Links

Finally, promoting a page on social media can also help it get indexed. Google crawls many social media sites, including Twitter, and can discover pages through these platforms. Even if the page is promoted by the site owner, it can still signal to Google that the page is valuable and should be indexed.

Conclusion

While it's not possible to force Google to index a page, following the strategies outlined in this post can significantly increase the chances of a page being indexed. By improving content quality, avoiding thin content, using canonical tags, and creating internal, external, and social links, site owners can send strong signals to Google about the value of their pages. However, it's important to remember that indexing is just the first step, and ranking on Google requires ongoing effort and patience.