Discovered, Currently Not Indexed: What It Means and How to Address It

What Does "Discovered, Currently Not Indexed" Mean?

This status indicates that Google has found a page on your website but hasn’t yet added it to its index. Essentially, Google knows the page exists but hasn’t taken further action, like crawling or indexing it.

This situation often arises in real estate websites due to the frequent creation and removal of listing pages. By the time Google processes these pages, they may already be set to redirect or removed from the site.

Why Does This Happen?

  • Pages are created faster than Google can process them (e.g., through bots or automation).
  • The site has no backlinks pointing to these pages.
  • Google's crawl budget for the website has been exceeded.
  • The pages lack authority or proper interlinking within the site.
  • Google places the page in a holding pattern to assess its value over time.

Steps to Address "Discovered, Currently Not Indexed"

1. Build Page Authority

Establish authority by structuring URLs and interlinking pages effectively. For example:

  • Organize content by region, community, and property types.
  • Interlink related pages to create a network of supporting documents.
  • Use descriptive URL structures (e.g., /crystal-beach/bungalows).

2. Add Backlinks

Google prioritizes pages with backlinks. To boost indexing:

  • Share pages on social media platforms like Pinterest.
  • Create blog posts linking to these pages.
  • Obtain links from external sites to improve visibility and authority.

3. Manage Crawl Budget

Your site's crawl budget determines how many pages Google can process. To optimize this:

  • Set low-priority pages, like old listings, to noindex.
  • Focus on creating static, high-quality content (e.g., blog posts and community pages).
  • Gradually introduce new pages instead of launching thousands at once.

4. Validate Fixes

Use the "Validate Fix" option in Google Search Console to prompt Google to revisit these pages. However:

  • Validate fixes for static pages you want indexed.
  • Avoid validating for transient pages like listings, as they may already be redirected or removed by the time Google indexes them.

Best Practices for Preventing This Issue

1. Avoid Overloading Google

Creating too many pages at once can overwhelm Google's crawl budget. Instead:

  • Gradually add new pages to your site.
  • Focus on quality content with a clear hierarchy.

2. Use a Sitemap

Ensure your sitemap is properly configured to guide Google to important pages. It should:

  • Include static, high-value pages.
  • Exclude unnecessary pages, like outdated listings or subdomains.

3. Optimize Content

Google evaluates content changes to prioritize indexing. Ensure:

  • Pages have updated, unique content rather than simply changing dates.
  • Large files like images and videos are optimized for faster loading.

Key Takeaways

  • "Discovered, currently not indexed" is not always an error but indicates that Google needs more time or signals to process the page.
  • Build authority through interlinking and backlinks to prioritize indexing.
  • Optimize crawl budget by managing low-priority pages and focusing on static, high-value content.
  • Use tools like Google Search Console to validate fixes and monitor progress.