Important Notice: Google is Removing Indexed Pages – How to Check and Reclaim Your Lost Content
In recent weeks, I have been examining a variety of websites and noticed a concerning trend: numerous pages are no longer appearing in Google’s search index. This phenomenon appears across different sites, with some losing key pages — including prominent service pages — and others affected across their depth, such as deep blog articles.
This situation is atypical. Over the past year, I have not observed similar levels of page removal, which raises questions about recent changes in Google’s indexing behavior. If your website has experienced a decline in traffic and visibility, it’s prudent to investigate whether pages have been de-indexed.
How to Identify De-Indexed Pages
To determine if your site has been impacted, leverage Google Search Console:
- Navigate to the Coverage report.
- Look for the “Pages” section.
- Filter for “Crawled – currently not indexed”.
This view will help you identify which pages Google has crawled but has not included in its index. Persistent removal of important pages can negatively influence your search traffic and overall SEO performance.
Recommended Next Steps
If you find that significant pages are de-indexed, the instinct might be to resubmit them directly via Google Search Console. However, recent insights suggest a more strategic approach:
Focus on building topical authority and earning backlinks. Google’s indexing decisions are increasingly influenced by a page’s authority and relevance, which are cultivated through external signals—particularly links from other reputable sites. Instead of just resubmitting pages, aim to develop content that establishes your site as a trusted, authoritative source within your niche, encouraging Google to discover and rank your pages organically.
Final Thoughts
In summary, be aware of potential indexing issues and regularly monitor your site’s coverage reports. When pages go missing, consider strengthening your site’s overall link profile and topical relevance to facilitate better indexing and ranking. If issues persist, consult with SEO professionals who can offer tailored strategies to recover and improve your website’s visibility.
Stay vigilant and proactive to ensure your website remains prominent in search results.