Google's 'Crawled — Currently Not Indexed' Status: Understanding Coverage Issues and Solutions

Imagine creating fantastic content for your website, but it remains invisible to the very audience you're trying to reach. This can be a frustrating reality for website owners who encounter the "crawled - currently not indexed" status in Google Search Console. It signifies that Google hasn't deemed your web pages worthy of inclusion in its search index. Consequently, your content won't show up in search results, hindering your website's traffic and SEO performance.

Fear not! Admiral Studios will equip you with the knowledge of how to fix crawled but not indexed. We'll find out the reasons behind Google's indexing decisions and explore actionable steps to get your web pages to the top in search results.

What Does Crawled - Currently Not Indexed Mean?

"Crawled - currently not indexed" means that a search engine, like Google, has visited a webpage (crawled it) but hasn't added it to its database for search ranking (not indexed). It's like a librarian who looked at a book but didn't put it on the library shelf where people can find it. There could be various reasons for this, such as the page being new, having low quality, or the search engine not prioritizing it. Until it's indexed, people won't find it when they search for related topics.

Crawled - Currently not Indexed vs Discovered - Currently not Indexed

As we mentioned, "crawled - currently not indexed" means that Google's web crawler has visited the page but hasn't added it to its index yet. This typically happens when Googlebot finds a page but determines it's unsuitable for indexing for various reasons like low-quality content or technical issues.

On the other hand, the page is not indexed: "discovered - currently not indexed" means that Google has found the page through various means (like external links or sitemaps) but hasn't crawled it yet. It's in the queue to be crawled, but until Googlebot visits and indexes it, the page won't appear in search results.

Why Doesn't Google Index Every Crawled Page?

Understanding Google's indexing process is crucial to addressing "crawled but not indexed" issues. Here are some key factors that influence which web pages make the cut:

• Content Quality: Google prioritizes high-quality content that offers value and satisfies user intent. Thin or duplicate content with minimal originality is less likely to be indexed.

• Technical SEO: Crawlability and indexability hinge on proper technical SEO. Factors like site speed, mobile-friendliness, and a clear sitemap all play a role.

• Page Relevance: Google strives to return the most relevant results for search queries. It might be excluded if your webpage doesn't demonstrably address the user's intent.

• Website Authority: Established websites with a strong backlink profile tend to have their content indexed more readily.

Ensuring high-quality, original content, optimizing technical aspects for crawlability and indexability, aligning content with user intent, and building website authority through backlinks can also increase the likelihood of pages being indexed.

Diagnosing the "Crawled - Currently Not Indexed" Issue

Before diving into a crawled currently not indexed fix, it's vital to pinpoint the exact cause of the indexing roadblock. Here are two primary tools to aid your diagnosis:

• Google Search Console: This free tool by Google provides valuable insights into your website's search performance. Within the "Coverage" section, you can identify URLs marked as "crawled - currently not indexed."

• URL Inspection Tool: GSC's URL Inspection Tool allows you to delve deeper into specific URLs. It can show potential indexing issues like crawl errors, mobile usability problems, or noindex directives.

By analyzing these tools, you can identify patterns and pinpoint the underlying cause of the page is not indexed: crawled - currently not indexed.

Solutions to Get Your Content Indexed

Now that you understand the potential problems, let's explore crawled not indexed solutions to get your web pages swimming in the Google search index. How to fix crawled - currently not indexed:

1. Enhance Content Quality:

• Focus on User Intent: Conduct keyword research to understand what users are searching for and tailor your content accordingly.

• Meta Tags: Well-crafted SEO meta tags can entice users to click on your search results even if you're not in the top position. Optimize your title tags and meta descriptions to be clear, informative, and relevant to the search query.

• Offer Value and Originality: Ensure your content is fresh, informative, and provides something unique or insightful compared to existing content.

• Maintain Readability: Write clear, concise, and well-structured content that caters to your target audience's reading level.

2. Optimize Technical SEO:

• Improve Site Speed: A slow website can deter Google's crawlers and hinder indexing. Utilize caching plugins, optimize images, and consider upgrading your hosting plan to fix the crawled - currently not indexed problem.

• Ensure Mobile-Friendliness: With the majority of searches originating from mobile devices, a mobile-responsive website design is paramount. Use responsive themes and test your site's mobile functionality.

• Submit a Sitemap: A sitemap acts as a roadmap for search engines, guiding them to your website's content. Submit an updated sitemap through Google Search Console.

• Fix Broken Links: Broken links can hinder crawlability and hurt user experience. Regularly audit your website for broken links and redirect them appropriately.

• Address Robot.txt and Noindex Directives: Ensure your robot.txt file and meta robots tags aren't inadvertently blocking Google from indexing your content.

3. Strengthen Website Authority:

• Build High-Quality Backlinks: Backlinks from reputable websites signal to Google that your content is trustworthy and valuable. Focus on creating link-worthy content and engage in organic link-building strategies.

• Optimize Internal Linking: Create a strong internal linking structure that connects relevant pages on your website. This helps Google understand your content hierarchy and navigate your website effectively.

4. Utilize the URL Inspection Tool:

• Validate Indexing: After implementing the above solutions, use the URL Inspection Tool in GSC to request re-indexing of your affected web pages.

• Fix Reported Issues: Address any crawl errors, mobile usability problems, or noindex directives flagged by the URL Inspection Tool.

5. Monitor and Analyze:

• Track Indexing Progress: Use Google Search Console to monitor the crawled - currently not indexed of your web pages over time. This allows you to assess the effectiveness of your implemented solutions.

• Analyze Search Performance: Utilize tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics to track your website's search traffic and identify which keywords your content ranks for. This data can inform future content strategy and optimization efforts.

6. Patience is Key:

• Indexing Takes Time: Don't expect overnight results. After implementing changes, Google can take weeks or even months to re-crawl and re-index your web pages.

• Focus on Long-Term Strategy: SEO is an ongoing process. You can ensure long-term SEO success by consistently creating high-quality content, optimizing your website's technical health, and building website authority.

The Google crawled, but not indexed status can be frustrating but not insurmountable. By understanding Google's indexing criteria and implementing the above solutions, you can effectively troubleshoot the issue and get your web pages back on track for search engine results. Remember, high-quality content, strong technical SEO, and a focus on user experience are the cornerstones of a well-indexed and successful website. By prioritizing these aspects, you can ensure your website reaches its full potential in search results.