If you’ve recently added new content or made significant updates to your website, it’s a good idea to request Google to index your pages. This helps search engines quickly discover and include your new or updated pages in search results. Using Google Search Console, you can easily request indexing of specific URLs. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to request Google to index your pages effectively.
Step 1: Access Google Search Console #
To start, open Google Search Console.
- Go to Google Search Console.
- Log in with your Google account (use the account associated with your website).
Tip: #
- If you haven’t added your website to Google Search Console, follow the steps to verify your site first.
Step 2: Enter the URL You Want to Index #
Use the URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console to request indexing for specific pages.
How to Use URL Inspection: #
- Click on URL Inspection from the left-hand menu.
- Enter the full URL of the page you want to index (e.g.,
https://yourdomain.com/new-page). - Press Enter or click the Search Icon.
Tip: #
- Make sure the URL is correct, including the https or http prefix and any subdomains (e.g.,
www).
Step 3: Check the Indexing Status #
Google Search Console will display the current indexing status of the URL.
Possible Statuses: #
- URL is on Google: The page is already indexed.
- URL is not on Google: The page has not been indexed yet.
- Indexed, but blocked by robots.txt: The page is indexed, but parts may be blocked from crawling.
Tip: #
- If the page is already indexed, you can still request a fresh crawl if you’ve made significant updates.
Step 4: Request Indexing #
If the page is not indexed or needs reindexing, you can request Google to crawl it.
How to Request Indexing: #
- Click on Request Indexing.
- Google will begin testing the URL for potential issues (this may take a few minutes).
- Once the test is complete, you’ll see a confirmation message that the request has been received.
Tip: #
- Requesting indexing does not guarantee immediate inclusion in search results, but it speeds up the process.
Step 5: Monitor the Indexing Status #
It may take a few hours or days for Google to index the page. You can monitor the status in Google Search Console.
How to Check Indexing Status: #
- Go to Coverage in Google Search Console.
- Look for the Excluded and Indexed sections.
- Check if the requested URL appears in the Indexed list.
Tip: #
- Use the URL Inspection Tool again after a few days to verify the updated indexing status.
Step 6: Submit Your Sitemap (Optional) #
Submitting your website’s sitemap helps Google discover all your pages, making it easier to index new content.
How to Submit a Sitemap: #
- Go to Sitemaps in Google Search Console.
- Enter your sitemap URL (e.g.,
https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml). - Click Submit.
Tip: #
- Regenerate your sitemap in OzSpeed’s hPanel if you’ve made significant changes to your website.
Troubleshooting Tips #
- Page Not Indexed After Request:
- Check for noindex tags or
robots.txtrules that might be blocking Google from indexing the page. - Use the Coverage Report in Google Search Console to identify any errors.
- Check for noindex tags or
- URL Marked as Duplicate Content:
- Set a canonical URL for the page in OzSpeed’s hPanel to help Google understand which version to index.
- Slow Indexing:
- Build more internal links pointing to the page to help Google discover it faster.
- Share the URL on social media platforms or include it in newsletters to drive traffic and encourage Google to crawl it.
Additional Tips: #
- Use Internal Linking: Link to the new page from existing high-traffic pages on your site to help Google discover it faster.
- Share on Social Media: Posting the new URL on social media can encourage faster crawling by search engines.
- Keep Your Content Fresh: Regularly update your content, as Google favors frequently updated pages for indexing.
