The “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” error in Google Search Console can be a frustrating obstacle for website owners and SEO professionals.
This article explores the causes of this error, provides strategies for diagnosing and fixing the issue, and offers insights into how tools like Rapid URL Indexer can help.
We’ll cover best practices for improving content quality, optimizing site structure, and leveraging technical SEO techniques to encourage Google to index your pages.
Additionally, we’ll discuss advanced strategies, common mistakes to avoid, and the expected timeline for seeing results after implementing fixes.
What Is the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” Error?
The “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” error occurs when Google has crawled a page on your website but has chosen not to include it in its search index. This means that while Google is aware of the page’s existence, it has decided, for various reasons, not to make it available in search results.
How Does This Error Differ from “Discovered – Currently Not Indexed”?
The “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” error differs from “Discovered – Currently Not Indexed” in that Google has actually visited and crawled the page in the former case. In the “Discovered – Currently Not Indexed” scenario, Google has only found a link to the page but hasn’t yet crawled it. The key difference lies in the crawling action: “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” pages have been analyzed by Google’s algorithms, while “Discovered – Currently Not Indexed” pages haven’t been examined yet.
Why Is Google Not Indexing My Crawled Pages?
Google isn’t indexing your crawled pages because it has determined that they don’t meet the necessary quality or relevance criteria for inclusion in its search index. This decision is based on various factors, including content quality, uniqueness, site structure, and technical issues. Google’s algorithms aim to provide the best possible search results, so pages that don’t add value or meet certain standards may be excluded from the index.
What Are the Common Causes of This Error?
Common causes of the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” error include:
- Low-quality or thin content
- Duplicate content
- Poor site structure
- Slow page load times
- Technical issues (e.g., improper use of noindex tags)
- Low authority or trust signals
- Content that’s similar to existing indexed pages
- Outdated or irrelevant information
How Can I Diagnose the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” Issue?
Diagnosing the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” issue involves using Google Search Console and other tools to identify affected pages and analyze potential causes.
Where Can I Find This Error in Google Search Console?
You can find this error in Google Search Console by following these steps:
- Log in to your Google Search Console account
- Navigate to the “Coverage” report under the “Index” section
- Look for the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” status in the report
The Coverage report provides an overview of indexing issues on your site, including pages affected by this specific error.
How Do I Interpret the Data in the Coverage Report?
Interpreting the data in the Coverage report involves analyzing the following:
- Number of affected pages: This indicates the scale of the issue
- Trends over time: Look for patterns or sudden increases in affected pages
- Specific URLs: Examine individual pages to identify common characteristics
- Error details: Review any additional information provided by Google
By carefully examining this data, you can gain insights into potential causes and patterns across affected pages.
What Tools Can Help Me Analyze the Affected URLs?
Several tools can help you analyze affected URLs:
- Google Search Console URL Inspection Tool
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- Ahrefs Site Audit
- SEMrush Site Audit
- DeepCrawl
These tools can provide detailed information about individual pages, including content quality metrics, technical issues, and internal linking structures.
What Are the Best Practices to Fix “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed”?
Best practices to fix “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” errors focus on improving content quality, site structure, and technical aspects of your website.
How Can I Improve Content Quality to Encourage Indexing?
Improving content quality to encourage indexing involves:
- Expanding thin content with more detailed information
- Updating outdated information
- Improving readability and formatting
- Adding relevant multimedia elements (images, videos, infographics)
- Ensuring proper grammar and spelling
- Providing unique insights or perspectives on the topic
By enhancing the overall quality and value of your content, you increase the likelihood of Google indexing your pages.
Why Is Unique and Valuable Content Important for Indexing?
Unique and valuable content is important for indexing because it provides users with information they can’t find elsewhere. Google aims to deliver the best possible search results, so pages with original, high-quality content are more likely to be indexed and ranked well. Unique content also helps differentiate your site from competitors and establishes your authority in your niche.
How Does Site Structure Affect Indexing?
Site structure affects indexing by influencing how easily Google can crawl and understand your website. A well-organized site structure:
- Helps search engines discover and crawl pages more efficiently
- Distributes link equity throughout your site
- Improves user experience and navigation
- Signals the relative importance of different pages
A logical and hierarchical site structure can increase the likelihood of your pages being indexed and improve their visibility in search results.
What Role Does Internal Linking Play in Fixing This Error?
Internal linking plays a crucial role in fixing the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” error by:
- Helping search engines discover and crawl pages more easily
- Distributing link equity throughout your site
- Establishing content hierarchy and relationships
- Improving user navigation and engagement
A strong internal linking strategy can signal to Google that a page is important and worthy of indexing, potentially resolving the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” issue.
How Can Technical SEO Help Resolve This Issue?
Technical SEO can help resolve the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” issue by addressing various on-site factors that influence Google’s indexing decisions.
Why Is Page Speed Important for Indexing?
Page speed is important for indexing because it affects both user experience and search engine crawling efficiency. Fast-loading pages are:
- More likely to be crawled and indexed regularly
- Associated with better user engagement metrics
- Favored by Google’s algorithms for ranking purposes
Improving page speed can increase the chances of your pages being indexed and improve their overall search performance.
How Can I Optimize My Robots.txt File?
Optimizing your robots.txt file involves:
- Ensuring that important pages aren’t accidentally blocked
- Using the “Disallow” directive judiciously
- Specifying the location of your XML sitemap
- Avoiding conflicting directives
A well-configured robots.txt file helps search engines crawl your site more efficiently and can prevent indexing issues caused by accidental blocking.
What Impact Do Meta Robots Tags Have on Indexing?
Meta robots tags have a significant impact on indexing by providing specific instructions to search engines about how to handle individual pages. Key considerations include:
- Avoiding the use of “noindex” tags on pages you want indexed
- Using “index” tags to explicitly signal that a page should be indexed
- Combining “nofollow” with “index” when appropriate
- Ensuring consistency between meta robots tags and robots.txt directives
Proper use of meta robots tags can help resolve indexing issues and give clear signals to search engines about your desired indexing outcomes.
How Does XML Sitemap Optimization Affect Indexing?
XML sitemap optimization affects indexing by:
- Helping search engines discover and crawl your pages more efficiently
- Providing information about page importance and update frequency
- Alerting search engines to new or updated content
- Identifying the preferred versions of pages with multiple URLs
An optimized XML sitemap can improve the chances of your pages being crawled and indexed, potentially resolving “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” errors.
What Are Advanced Strategies to Address “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed”?
Advanced strategies to address “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” errors involve leveraging specific tools and techniques to improve indexing outcomes.
How Can I Use the URL Inspection Tool to My Advantage?
You can use the URL Inspection Tool to your advantage by:
- Checking the current index status of specific URLs
- Identifying crawl errors or issues preventing indexing
- Requesting recrawling of individual pages
- Viewing rendered versions of your pages as Google sees them
The URL Inspection Tool provides valuable insights into how Google perceives your pages, helping you identify and address specific indexing issues.
What Is the Google Search Console URL Removal Tool and When Should I Use It?
The Google Search Console URL Removal Tool is a feature that allows you to temporarily remove URLs from Google’s search results. You should use it when:
- You need to quickly remove outdated or sensitive content
- You want to address duplicate content issues
- You’re restructuring your site and need to remove old URLs
However, it’s important to note that this tool should be used cautiously, as it’s not a permanent solution for indexing issues.
How Can I Leverage the “Request Indexing” Feature?
You can leverage the “Request Indexing” feature by:
- Using it for new or updated high-priority pages
- Submitting pages after making significant improvements
- Requesting indexing for pages affected by the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” error
- Monitoring the results of your indexing requests
The “Request Indexing” feature can help expedite the indexing process for important pages, but it should be used judiciously and not as a replacement for overall site optimization.
What Role Does Content Pruning Play in Fixing This Error?
Content pruning plays a role in fixing the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” error by:
- Removing low-quality or outdated content that may be diluting your site’s overall quality
- Consolidating similar pages to create stronger, more comprehensive resources
- Improving the ratio of high-quality to low-quality pages on your site
- Focusing crawl budget on your most valuable content
By strategically removing or improving underperforming content, you can increase the likelihood of your remaining pages being indexed and valued by Google.
How Long Does It Take to See Results After Implementing Fixes?
The time it takes to see results after implementing fixes can vary depending on several factors, including the size of your site, the severity of the issues, and Google’s crawling frequency.
What Is the Typical Timeframe for Google to Re-crawl and Index Pages?
The typical timeframe for Google to re-crawl and index pages can range from a few days to several weeks. Factors that influence this timeline include:
- Your site’s crawl frequency
- The number of pages on your site
- The importance and authority of your site
- Recent changes or updates to your content
- The effectiveness of your sitemap and internal linking structure
In general, you might start seeing changes within 1-2 weeks, but it can take up to a month or more for Google to fully process and reflect your improvements in its index.
How Can I Monitor Progress in Google Search Console?
You can monitor progress in Google Search Console by:
- Regularly checking the Coverage report for changes in indexed pages
- Using the URL Inspection tool to check the status of specific pages
- Analyzing the Performance report for improvements in search visibility
- Reviewing the Sitemaps report to ensure proper crawling of your XML sitemap
- Setting up custom alerts for significant changes in indexing status
Consistent monitoring allows you to track the effectiveness of your fixes and make further adjustments as needed.
What Are Common Mistakes to Avoid When Fixing This Error?
Common mistakes to avoid when fixing the “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” error include overlooking important factors and relying on ineffective strategies.
Why Shouldn’t I Rely Solely on Automated Indexing Tools?
You shouldn’t rely solely on automated indexing tools because:
- They may not address the root causes of indexing issues
- Overuse can be seen as manipulative by search engines
- They don’t improve the overall quality and value of your content
- They may not align with Google’s guidelines for natural indexing
While tools like Rapid URL Indexer can be helpful, they should be used as part of a comprehensive SEO strategy rather than a standalone solution.
How Can Over-Optimization Harm My Indexing Efforts?
Over-optimization can harm your indexing efforts by:
- Triggering spam filters or penalties from search engines
- Creating an unnatural or poor user experience
- Diluting the relevance and quality of your content
- Focusing on search engines at the expense of human readers
Balanced, user-focused optimization is more likely to yield positive indexing results than aggressive, keyword-heavy tactics.
What Are the Risks of Using Black Hat SEO Techniques to Force Indexing?
The risks of using black hat SEO techniques to force indexing include:
- Potential penalties or de-indexing by Google
- Damage to your site’s reputation and authority
- Short-term gains at the expense of long-term sustainability
- Violation of search engine guidelines and best practices
Ethical, white hat SEO techniques are always preferable for achieving lasting indexing and ranking improvements.
How Can Rapid URL Indexer Help with “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” Issues?
Rapid URL Indexer can help with “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” issues by providing a targeted approach to getting your URLs indexed more quickly and efficiently.
What Advantages Does Rapid URL Indexer Offer Over Manual Methods?
Rapid URL Indexer offers several advantages over manual methods:
- Faster indexing: It can get your URLs indexed more quickly than waiting for Google’s natural crawling process.
- No Google Search Console required: You can submit URLs for indexing without needing access to Google Search Console.
- Detailed reporting: It provides comprehensive reports on the indexing status of your submitted URLs.
- Bulk submission: You can submit multiple URLs at once, saving time and effort.
- Cost-effective: With prices starting at $0.05 per URL, it’s an affordable solution for websites of all sizes.
These advantages make Rapid URL Indexer a valuable tool for addressing “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” issues, especially when combined with other SEO best practices.
How Does Rapid URL Indexer’s Pricing Model Benefit SEO Professionals?
Rapid URL Indexer’s pricing model benefits SEO professionals by:
- Offering a pay-as-you-go system with no subscription required
- Providing credits that never expire, allowing for flexible usage
- Automatically refunding credits for unindexed URLs after 14 days
- Scaling pricing based on volume, with discounts for larger purchases
- Allowing for cost-effective management of indexing for multiple clients or projects
This flexible and fair pricing model allows SEO professionals to manage indexing costs effectively while focusing on results.
Can Rapid URL Indexer Guarantee Indexing for All URLs?
Rapid URL Indexer can’t guarantee indexing for all URLs because ultimately, the decision to index a page lies with Google’s algorithms. However, Rapid URL Indexer:
- Uses safe, white hat methods to encourage indexing
- Offers a higher success rate than many manual submission methods
- Provides a 100% credit refund for URLs that remain unindexed after 14 days
- Continuously improves its methods to maximize indexing success rates
While no tool can guarantee 100% indexing, Rapid URL Indexer offers a robust solution for improving your chances of getting pages indexed, especially when combined with overall site improvements and adherence to SEO best practices.