Fixing Google's 'Crawled – Currently Not Indexed': A 5-Step Guide

Ever wondered why Google crawls your website but doesn’t show your pages in search results? It’s a common issue, but don’t worry – we’ve got a straightforward guide to help you out. In this blog post, we’ll break down the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” dilemma and give you five easy steps to fix it.

1. What’s the Issue? Understanding “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed”:

   • Your site got a visit from Google, but your pages aren’t showing up in search results.
   • Example: Imagine you have a new blog post, but when you search for it, Google seems to have missed it.

2. Spotting the Problem: Common Causes:

   • Check for a ‘noindex’ tag in your webpage’s code – it’s like telling Google not to include your page in search results.
   • Example: Your CMS might have an option to set a page as ‘noindex,’ which unintentionally hides it from search engines.

3. Fixing Meta Tags and Robots.txt: Make Sure Google Understands:

   • Update your meta tags to accurately describe your content.
   • Check your robots.txt file for unintentional restrictions on crawling.
   • Example: If your meta description is missing or misleading, Google might struggle to index your page properly.

4. Sorting Out Canonicalization Issues: Help Google Pick the Right Page:

   • Understand how canonical tags impact indexing.
   • Resolve conflicts or mistakes in your canonical tags.
   • Example: If you have multiple pages with similar content, a proper canonical tag tells Google which one to index.

5. Google Search Console Magic: Monitoring and Requesting Indexing:

   • Use Google Search Console to identify issues and monitor your site’s status.
   • Request indexing for specific pages using the URL Inspection tool.
   • Example: If you see a ‘Crawled – Currently Not Indexed’ status in Google Search Console, it’s time to take action.

6. Smart Sitemaps and Proactive Prevention:

   • Double-check your sitemap for accuracy and completeness.
   • Keep an eye on Google’s guidelines for updates on best practices.
   • Example: Submitting an updated sitemap to Google ensures it knows about all your awesome content.

7. Success Stories: Learning from Others:

   • Hear about websites that fixed their ‘Crawled – Currently Not Indexed’ issues and saw improvements.
   • Example: A small business website updated its meta tags and requested indexing, leading to increased visibility and more traffic.