Introduction
The "Crawled - currently not indexed" message in Google Search Console indicates that Google has crawled a page on your website but hasn’t added it to its search index yet. While this doesn’t always indicate a problem, it means the page won’t appear in Google search results, which could affect your site’s visibility.
This article explains the potential causes, common scenarios in Newsifier, and steps you can take to address this message.
What Does "Crawled - Currently Not Indexed" Mean?
This status means Google is aware of the page and has crawled it but has decided, for now, not to include it in its search index. Google uses factors like content quality, relevance, and uniqueness to determine what content is worth indexing. Pages that remain unindexed won’t appear in search results.
Should I Be Concerned About This Message?
No Immediate Concern: It’s normal for some pages to remain unindexed temporarily, especially newly published articles. Google may need more time to evaluate them.
When to Act: If important pages remain unindexed for a prolonged period, it’s worth investigating and addressing potential issues like low-quality or duplicate content.
Common Scenarios in Newsifier Where This Message May Appear
Newly Published Articles
Why It Happens: Google often takes time to assess new content for relevance and quality.
What to Do: Be patient. If the article is valuable and unique, Google will likely index it soon.
Low-Quality or Thin Content
Why It Happens: Short or superficial articles may not meet Google’s quality standards.
What to Do: Enhance the content by adding depth, valuable insights, and user-focused information.
Duplicate or Near-Duplicate Content
Why It Happens: If the page content is too similar to other pages on your site (or elsewhere), Google may skip indexing it to avoid duplication.
What to Do: Consolidate similar pages and use canonical tags to indicate the primary version.
Pages with URL Parameters
Why It Happens: Google may treat parameterized URLs (e.g.,
?filter=recent) as duplicates of the main page.What to Do: Ensure canonical tags are properly set up to prioritize the main page version.
What Actions Should You Take?
Wait for Google to Index the Page
When to Use: For newly published content, no immediate action is needed. Crawling doesn’t always lead to instant indexing.
Pro Tip: Use the "Request Indexing" feature in Google Search Console to expedite indexing if necessary.
Enhance Content Quality
Add more detailed, user-focused, and unique information to the page.
Improve the page structure by including headings, subheadings, and media like images or videos.
Avoid Duplicate Content
Review your site for similar or duplicate content.
Consolidate pages if needed and use canonical tags to guide Google to the preferred version.
Increase Internal Linking
Link to the page from other important pages on your site.
Ensure the page is included in your site’s navigation or linked prominently to increase its value.
FAQs
Why has Google crawled my page but not indexed it?
Answer: Google may choose not to index a page due to low content quality, duplication, insufficient relevance, or because it hasn’t yet evaluated the page fully.
What happens if my page is never indexed?
Answer: If a page isn’t indexed, it won’t appear in search results, limiting its visibility. If this happens to an important page, consider improving its quality, linking to it internally, and using Google Search Console to request indexing.