One crucial factor in search engine optimization (SEO) is telling search engines about your website. Website indexation helps Google and other search engines about every page on your website. This procedure is part of the technical SEO and is essential in attracting organic traffic to your website. In this article, we will learn what index website SEO is, when you need it, and how you can index your WordPress site.
What is website indexing in search engines?
Website indexing is like creating a map for your site. Think of the internet as an enormous library containing billions of books. If you want to find something specific in all these books, you’d look in the library’s index, right? Well, website indexing is like creating that index for the internet. It’s the process of search engines (like Google or Bing) reading and understanding the content on your website. When your site is indexed, it’s like having your book listed in the library’s catalogue—people can find it when searching for relevant topics.
Think of it as giving search engines a tour of your site, showing them every detail so they can recommend your pages to people searching for similar things. Without Indexing, your website is like a hidden gem in the library, waiting to be discovered.
Why is indexing important for SEO?
Indexing is vital because it puts your website on the search engine radar. Think of it as opening your shop on a busy street instead of a hidden alley. Being indexed means more people can discover your site, boosting its visibility and attracting potential visitors. When your site is indexed, search engines can easily find and show your pages to people looking for information or services you provide. Indexing a page helps Google and other search engines crawl the web page content and improve its ranking in the SERPs. It’s like putting a spotlight on your cafe, attracting more customers, and making your business thrive.
Search engine bots rely on XML sitemaps to discover recently added website content. This involves the bots systematically visiting all links within a website, including those found on its pages. The bot follows a random and unpredictable pattern, revisiting links irregularly. Consequently, several days could be delayed before the pages get crawled, and any new content is included in the search engine index.
When to Index Your Website
- New website launch: Index your website right after launch to swiftly introduce it to search engines. This ensures that your brand-new content is discoverable by people searching for related topics.
- Website Migration or Redesign: If you’ve migrated to a new domain or redesigned your site, prompt Indexing is essential. It helps search engines update their information and prevents any disruptions in visibility.
- Fresh Content Addition: Whenever you add new pages, blog posts, or products, initiate Indexing. This ensures that your latest offerings are promptly included in search engine results, reaching a wider audience.
- Significant Content Updates: After substantially updating existing content, consider reindexing. This ensures that the latest and most relevant information is reflected in search engine results.
- Periodic Checkups: Conduct periodic checks on your website’s indexing status. If you notice any issues or your site has been dormant, consider reindexing to maintain optimal visibility.
How to get indexed by Google
Now that we understand the importance of Indexing, let’s focus on how you help Google discover the pages on your site.
1. Create and Submit a Sitemap
You can follow this guide from Google to learn how to submit your sitemap to Google Search Console.
2. Submit to Google Search Console
The Google Search Console provides you with a direct connection to Google. If you haven’t already, set up an account for your website. You should add your site property and verify ownership. This link will guide you through the process. Once verified, submit your sitemap through the Search Console.
3. Ask Google to Crawl
If you’ve made significant updates or added new content, you can request Google to index your site promptly. Check out this link for instructions on how to ask Google to crawl specific pages again.
4. Quality Content and Responsiveness is Key
Regularly update your site to keep it relevant and interesting for both visitors and Google. Use the right keywords, tags, and other optimization techniques. Additionally, ensure your site is mobile-friendly. Google prioritizes websites that provide a good experience on mobile devices. Last, you should inform Google about duplicate content on your pages.
Page indexed with a WordPress plugin
1. Configure Basic Plugin Settings
When you choose an SEO plugin that offers this feature such as Rank Math, you should follow the setup wizard to configure essential settings, providing information about your site. The following procedure may vary depending on the plugin you use.
2. Generate a Sitemap
In an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO, Rank Math, and more you can generate a sitemap for your WordPress site. Some SEO plugins automatically generate a sitemap.
3. Submit Sitemap to Search Engines
– Go to Google Search Console or other search engine tools.
– Add your website property if necessary.
– Locate the sitemap section and submit the generated sitemap URL.
4. Monitor Indexing:
Keep an eye on your site’s indexing status in the search engine tools. This helps you track how search engines are crawling and indexing your pages.
5. Optional: Robots.txt File:
Some plugins allow you to create or edit a robots.txt file, providing additional instructions to search engines regarding crawling preferences.
Know about indexing website in SEO
Understanding the importance of indexing websites in SEO is crucial for improving online visibility and driving organic traffic. By ensuring that search engines can easily access and rank your website’s content, you can increase the likelihood of appearing in relevant search results.
