How to Fix Crawled Currently Not Indexed Issues in Google Search Console

Encountering the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” status in Google Search Console (GSC) can be frustrating. This status indicates that Google has crawled your page but decided not to include it in its index, preventing the page from appearing in search results. Understanding and fixing this issue is essential for maintaining your website’s visibility and traffic.

Understanding Crawled Currently Not Indexed

When Google’s crawlers visit your page, they analyze its content but may choose not to index it. This can happen due to various reasons, such as content quality, technical issues, or how well your page meets user search intent.

Common Causes and Solutions

1. Low-Quality or Thin Content

• Issue: Pages with minimal or superficial content are often deemed low-quality and may not be indexed.
• Solution: Ensure each page provides comprehensive, in-depth information. Avoid short articles or pages filled with ads and affiliate links with little original content.

2. Duplicate Content

• Issue: Identical or very similar content across pages can cause Google to skip indexing to avoid redundancy.
• Solution: Use canonical tags to indicate the preferred version of a page. Consolidate similar content into a single, more comprehensive page.

3. Content Not Meeting Google’s Standards

• Issue: Pages that violate Google’s quality guidelines, such as those with misleading information or keyword stuffing, may not be indexed.
• Solution: Align your content with Google’s guidelines, focusing on providing accurate, valuable information.

4. Crawl Budget Limitations

• Issue: Large sites may exceed their crawl budget, causing some pages to be skipped.
• Solution: Prioritize high-value pages and submit updated sitemaps to help Googlebot focus on the most important content.

5. Technical Issues

• Issue: Server errors, slow load times, or JavaScript rendering issues can prevent indexing.
• Solution: Monitor and fix server errors, optimize page speed, and ensure Googlebot can render your content.

6. Insufficient SEO Optimization

• Issue: Poorly optimized pages may not rank or get indexed.
• Solution: Optimize title tags, meta descriptions, and ensure a proper heading structure and internal linking.

7. Lack of Backlinks or Internal Links

• Issue: Pages with few or no links might be considered less valuable.
• Solution: Build quality backlinks and enhance internal linking to boost page authority.

8. Recently Published or Updated Content

• Issue: New or updated content might not be indexed immediately.
• Solution: Be patient, but ensure the content is valuable and linked internally to speed up indexing.

9. Poor User Experience (UX)

• Issue: Pages with intrusive ads or poor mobile design may be deprioritized.
• Solution: Improve site design, reduce disruptive elements, and ensure mobile-friendliness.

10. Irrelevant or Outdated Content

• Issue: Content that no longer meets user needs or search intent may not be indexed.
• Solution: Regularly update content to keep it relevant and valuable.

Fixing Crawled Currently Not Indexed Issues

1. Improve Content Quality and Depth

Action Steps

• Expand content to cover topics thoroughly.
• Use clear headings, bullet points, and multimedia to enhance readability.
• Add original insights to differentiate your content.

2. Eliminate Duplicate Content

Action Steps

• Implement canonical tags to indicate preferred pages.
• Merge similar content and ensure each page offers unique value.

3. Optimize On-Page SEO

Action Steps

• Write unique, keyword-optimized title tags and meta descriptions.
• Use proper heading structures (H1 for titles, H2/H3 for subheadings).
• Improve internal linking for better navigation and page importance.

4. Enhance Site Architecture and Navigation

Action Steps

• Organize your site with a clear hierarchy.
• Submit updated XML sitemaps to Google Search Console.
• Implement breadcrumb navigation for better user experience and search engine understanding.

5. Increase Backlinks and Internal Links

Action Steps

• Build quality backlinks through outreach and guest posting.
• Regularly add internal links from high-authority pages to boost visibility.

6. Address Technical Issues

Action Steps

• Optimize images, leverage browser caching, and minimize JavaScript for faster loading times.
• Monitor and fix server errors promptly.
• Ensure your site is mobile-friendly using responsive design.

7. Use Google Search Console Effectively

Action Steps

• Use the URL Inspection tool to request indexing after making improvements.

• Regularly review the Coverage report to identify and fix indexing issues.

• Check the Enhancements reports for suggestions related to mobile usability and structured data.

8. Enhance User Experience (UX)

Action Steps

• Improve site design to make it visually appealing and easy to navigate.
• Minimize intrusive ads that disrupt the user experience.
• Ensure your site is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.

9. Regularly Update and Maintain Content

Action Steps

• Conduct content audits to keep your information fresh and relevant.
• Update or remove outdated content to maintain accuracy.
• Continuously add new insights, data, and updates.

10. Monitor and Optimize Crawl Budget

Action Steps

• Prioritize important pages and reduce the number of low-value pages.
• Block unnecessary pages from being crawled using the robots.txt file.
• Use noindex tags where necessary to prevent indexing of low-value or duplicate pages.

Scenario: Not All URLs Should Be Indexed

Types of URLs That Shouldn’t Be Indexed

1. 404 Pages

• Description: These are URLs that lead to pages which no longer exist or were never created. When a user or a search engine bot encounters a 404 page, it indicates that the requested resource is not available.
• Reason: Indexing 404 pages serves no purpose as they do not offer any content, and their presence can negatively impact user experience and SEO.

2. Redirect URLs (3xx Status Codes)

• Description: Redirect URLs are those that automatically take users from one URL to another. Common examples include 301 (permanent) and 302 (temporary) redirects.
• Reason: These URLs should not be indexed as they are merely pathways to other content. Indexing them can create confusion and dilute the SEO value of the actual destination pages.

3. Feed URLs

• Description: Feed URLs, such as those used for RSS or Atom feeds, provide content in a format suitable for feed readers and aggregators.
• Reason: These are primarily meant for syndication and not for direct access or indexing by search engines. Indexing these URLs can lead to duplicate content issues and is generally unnecessary.

4. WebP Image URLs

• Description: WebP is a modern image format that provides superior compression for images on the web.
• Reason: WebP images are not standalone content and should not be indexed as they are typically embedded within web pages. Indexing these URLs can clutter the search index with non-essential content.

5. URLs with Query Strings

• Description: These URLs include parameters, often after a “?” in the URL, that are used to filter or sort content dynamically.
• Reason: Query string URLs can create multiple versions of the same content, leading to duplicate content issues and wasting your crawl budget. These URLs typically do not need to be indexed as the main content should be accessible through a clean URL structure.

Steps to Fix These Issues

1. 404 Pages

Action: Identify and remove internal links pointing to 404 pages. Where possible, set up a 301 redirect to the most relevant and related page. This ensures that users and bots are directed to live, useful content rather than dead ends.

2. Redirect URLs (3xx Status Codes)

Action: Review your site for any internal links pointing to URLs that redirect. Update these links to point directly to the final destination. This not only improves SEO but also enhances user experience by reducing unnecessary hops.

3. Feed URLs:

Action: Implement a noindex directive in the HTTP header response for all feed URLs. This ensures that while these URLs remain functional for syndication, they are not indexed by search engines.

4. WebP Image URLs:

Action: Simply allow WebP image URLs to be ignored by search engines. Ensure that they are embedded correctly within the content but not linked directly in a manner that could lead to indexing.

5. URLs with Query Strings:

• Action: Use the robots.txt file to block search engines from crawling URLs with query strings. For example: makefile
• php.index
• Disallow: */?*
• This helps preserve your crawl budget by ensuring that only clean, content-rich URLs are indexed. Additionally, you can use canonical tags to point search engines to the preferred version of a page.

Additional Tips to Encourage Indexing

1. Structured Data Markup

• Implement schema markup to help Google understand your content better.
• Validate your markup using tools like Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool.

2. Enhance Page Engagement Metrics

• Create engaging content to encourage users to spend more time on the page.
• Add interactive elements like videos and infographics to boost engagement.

3. Social Signals and Shares

• Promote your content on social media to increase visibility.
• Add social sharing buttons to make it easy for users to share your content.

4. Utilize Content Freshness

• Regularly update content to keep it current and relevant.
• Continuously add new, relevant content to signal activity to Google.

Conclusion

The “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” status in Google Search Console indicates that your page needs improvement to meet Google’s indexing criteria. By addressing the underlying issues, whether they relate to content quality, technical problems, or SEO optimization, you can enhance the chances of your pages being indexed and appearing in search results. Regular monitoring and proactive maintenance are essential to keep your website optimized for both users and search engines.

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