Crawled, Not Currently Indexed: Understanding and Fixing the Issue
What Does "Crawled, Not Currently Indexed" Mean?
"Crawled, not currently indexed" means that Googlebot has discovered a page on your website but decided not to include it in its index. This does not indicate an error; rather, it reflects Google's assessment of the page's value or the website's current crawl budget.
For real estate websites, this issue often arises with listing pages because they are created and removed so frequently that Google may not index them in time.
Why Pages Are Not Indexed
- Frequent creation and removal of pages (e.g., listings).
- Overloading Google with too much data at once, such as auto-generated pages.
- Insufficient backlinks pointing to the pages.
- Slow page load speeds due to large images, videos, or scripts.
- Exceeding the website's crawl budget.
Impacts of a High "Crawled, Not Indexed" Count
Having too many pages in the "crawled, not currently indexed" category can affect your site's overall crawl budget. Google may spend less time on your critical pages, delaying their indexing and ranking.
How to Fix "Crawled, Not Currently Indexed" Issues
There are several strategies to address this issue:
1. Reduce Your Crawl Budget Usage
- Set listing pages to noindex until your static pages are indexed.
- Limit the number of autogenerated pages (e.g., by bots or scripts).
- Remove unnecessary pages, such as outdated RSS feeds or excessive sitemaps.
2. Improve Page Discoverability
- Create backlinks to important pages through social media, blog posts, or platforms like Pinterest.
- Ensure your sitemap is accurate and focuses on key pages.
- Consolidate subdomains to streamline the crawling process.
3. Optimize Page Performance
- Minimize large images and videos to improve load speeds.
- Remove unnecessary scripts or plugins that slow down your site.
- Ensure your hosting environment is capable of handling your traffic and content demands.
4. Use Validation Tools
Regularly use the "Validate Fix" option in Google Search Console to check if pages are being indexed after adjustments.
Common Misconceptions
Many website owners believe that generating thousands of pages at once will result in better rankings. However:
- Exceeding the crawl budget can delay indexing of critical pages.
- Google prioritizes quality and relevance over quantity.
It’s better to focus on fewer, high-quality pages rather than overwhelming Google with excessive content.
Example of a Quick Fix
To improve indexing of important pages:
- Create a Pinterest post with a backlink to the page.
- Write a blog post linking to the page.
- Share the page on social media to drive traffic and provide signals to Google.
The Role of Sitemaps
Sitemaps are essential for guiding Google to important pages on your site. Ensure your sitemap:
- Includes only pages you want indexed.
- Is updated regularly to reflect changes on your site.
- Focuses on static pages that are unlikely to change frequently.
Final Thoughts
Addressing "crawled, not currently indexed" pages requires a mix of optimizing your website’s structure, improving page performance, and guiding Google to the most important content. By managing your crawl budget, providing backlinks, and using tools like Google Search Console, you can gradually reduce these issues and ensure your key pages are indexed.