Recently, while working on a project for a large ecommerce store, I encountered a particularly puzzling issue that tends to be more common than you might expect. The issue was the “Discovered – Not Currently Indexed” status in Google Search Console.
Despite the meticulous planning and execution of their SEO strategy, some of the store’s product pages weren’t getting indexed, throwing a wrench in the gears of what was otherwise a high performing website.
Understanding “Discovered – Not Currently Indexed”
Before tackling the solutions, let’s get a grip on what this status means. It indicates that while Google’s crawler has discovered the page, it has not deemed it worthy of indexing. This could be due to several factors, including page quality issues, site-wide crawling errors, or simply content that doesn’t sufficiently differentiate itself from existing material on the web or the website itself.
Step 1: Examine the Robots.txt File
First things first, check the robots.txt file. It’s imperative to ensure that this file isn’t inadvertently blocking Google from crawling the page. This can be verified through the “robots.txt Tester” tool available in Google Search Console.
Step 2: Use the URL Inspection Tool
You can also use the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console to examine the current indexing status of the page. This feature provides insights into whether the page can be indexed and will offer feedback if there are detectable issues blocking the indexing process.
Step 3: Enhance Page Quality
Google may bypass indexing pages that appear to offer low value or that do not enhance the user’s search experience. Focus on boosting the content quality on page by ensuring it is unique, engaging, and thoroughly addresses the user’s intent. Also, consider technical performance aspects like loading speed and mobile responsiveness.
Step 4: Address Duplicate Content
If your content too closely mirrors other pages either on your site or elsewhere on the internet, Google might choose to ignore it. Not every page is going to be indexed on a large website so ensure content is unique and use canonical tags to point to the most authoritative page if there are pages that could be seen as duplicates.
Step 5: Bolster Internal Linking
A strong internal linking architecture not only aids user navigation but also helps Googlebot’s discovery and indexing processes. Ensure key pages are interlinked appropriately, drawing on more significant pages for support.
Step 6: Submit and Update Your Sitemap
Submitting a sitemap via Google Search Console is a foundational step in promoting content discovery. Make sure your sitemap is current and free from errors, reflecting any new pages and changes.
Step 7: Encourage External Links
Backlinks from credible sources can encourage Google to index your page, signalling that your content is valuable. Focus on acquiring quality backlinks through reputable and relevant channels.
Step 8: Request Re-Crawling
After making updates, use the “Fetch as Google” option in Google Search Console to ask Google to re-crawl the page. This can sometimes help accelerate the indexing process.
Step 9: Be Patient and Monitor
After you’ve implemented these strategies, keep an eye on the page’s status in Google Search Console. Remember, indexing can take some time, particularly for newer sites or those in competitive industries.
Conclusion
The “Discovered – Not Currently Indexed” status is a common hurdle, but it’s one that can usually be overcome with strategic SEO. By focusing on providing unique, high-quality content and ensuring your site is easily navigable by Google’s bots, you can improve your chances of getting your pages indexed more promptly. Remember, SEO is a marathon, not a sprint, and requires ongoing adjustments and patience.
