Understanding Google Search Console Indexing: When Is a Page Truly Indexed?
Navigating the intricacies of website indexing can sometimes lead to confusions, especially when tools like Google Search Console (GSC) present seemingly conflicting information. If you’ve recently added your website to GSC as a domain property and are observing puzzling indexing statuses, you’re not alone. Let’s explore the typical behaviors and what they mean for your site’s SEO health.
Adding a Domain Property and Initial Indexing Status
When you register your website as a domain property in Google Search Console, the platform begins processing the vast array of data associated with your site. During this initial phase, you may see a message such as “Processing data, please check again in a day or so” within the Indexing overview panel. This simply indicates that Google is gathering and analyzing your website’s information, and there’s usually no cause for concern at this stage.
Using the URL Inspection Tool: A Closer Look
One of GSC’s powerful features is the URL Inspection tool. When inspecting your homepage URL (which, in this case, is the primary domain property URL), you might notice that after a few moments, it reports the page as “Indexed.” This suggests that Google has successfully crawled and recognized this specific URL as part of your site.
Why does this happen? Typically, the URL Inspection tool queries Google’s index directly, providing real-time status for that particular URL. If Google indicates that your homepage is indexed, it confirms that your main page is accessible and recognized by Google’s search engine.
Sitemap URLs and Indexing Status
Contrasting this, URLs obtained from your sitemap.xml file may still display as “Not yet indexed” in GSC. This discrepancy is common during the initial indexing phase or when Google is processing new or updated URLs. Sitemap submissions guide Google to crawl your site more efficiently, but they don’t guarantee immediate indexing.
Is This Normal?
Yes. It is standard behavior for Google Search Console to show that your main domain URL is indexed while individual pages listed in your sitemap are still pending indexing. Google prioritizes crawling and indexing pages based on various factors such as site structure, crawl budget, and page authority.
What Should You Do?
- Be patient. Indexing all pages, especially larger sites, takes time.
- Ensure your sitemap.xml is correctly formatted and submitted in GSC.
- Use the URL Inspection tool periodically to monitor specific URLs.
- Check for any crawl errors or manual actions that may impede indexing.
Conclusion