Crawled But Not Indexed, what does Google say?

Crawled But Not Indexed: Why Your Webpages Aren’t Ranking in Search Results

Ever put heaps of effort into crafting a fantastic webpage, only to find it’s mysteriously absent from Google search results? It’s a gutting experience, especially when organic SEO is a core part of your digital plan here in NZ. If this sounds familiar, you might have spotted a “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” message in your Google Search Console. While it might feel like a dead end, there are solid reasons why this happens, and crucially, steps you can take to get your pages indexed and seen by Kiwis searching online.

Understanding “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed”

While Google’s official documentation can sometimes be a bit cagey on the exact ‘why’ behind every “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” status, insights from Google representatives (like Search Liaison Gary Illyes, often quoted in the SEO community) and official guidelines point towards several key factors.

Why Doesn’t Google Index Everything It Crawls?

Think of Google Search like a massive library. A librarian wouldn’t put every single pamphlet or rough note on the main shelves. Similarly, Google has criteria for what makes the cut for its vast index. Here are some top reasons a page might get crawled but left out:

• Duplicate Content: This is a biggie. Google wants unique, valuable content. If your page is too similar to another page already in Google’s index (either on your site or someone else’s), Google might decide it’s not needed and skip indexing it. Check Google’s guidance on avoiding duplicate content.
• Overall Website Quality: Google looks at your whole website’s quality. If you have heaps of pages sitting in the “Crawled – Not Indexed” bucket, it could signal that Google perceives your site generally needs improvement – maybe in content depth, user experience, or technical health. Google’s focus on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) plays a role here.
• Technical Roadblocks: Sometimes technical snags stop Google from indexing properly. This could be crawl errors reported in Search Console, your robots.txt file accidentally blocking important pages, or pages loading too slowly for Googlebot to process effectively (check PageSpeed Insights).

A Glimmer of Hope: Google’s Evolving Perception

The good news, often echoed by Google sources, is that this status isn’t always permanent. Google’s understanding and assessment of your website can change over time. A page initially flagged as “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” might get indexed later if Google starts seeing your site as higher quality, more helpful, or more relevant to user searches. Your website can effectively ‘grow on’ Google and improve its organic rankings.

Getting Your Pages Indexed: Actionable Steps for Kiwis

Now that you’re clued-up on the potential reasons, you can take action to improve your chances of getting those pages indexed:

• Tackle Duplicate Content: Use tools like online plagiarism checkers to find similar content. Rewrite pages to ensure they are unique and offer real value. Consolidate very similar pages using 301 redirects or canonical tags where appropriate.
• Boost Overall Website Quality: Focus on creating genuinely helpful, high-quality content that speaks to your target audience in NZ. Make sure your website is easy to navigate, looks professional, and works seamlessly on mobile phones (check mobile usability via PageSpeed Insights). Refer back to Google Search Essentials for core principles.
• Sort Out Technical Glitches: Regularly check your Google Search Console for indexing errors listed in the Page Indexing report. Ensure your robots.txt file isn’t blocking anything important that you want indexed. Work on improving your site’s loading speed.

By understanding why pages get stuck in “Crawled – Currently Not Indexed” and taking these steps, you can improve your website’s visibility and organic rank, ensuring your valuable content reaches your intended audience. Remember, Google’s algorithms are always changing, so staying informed and adapting your site is key to long-term SEO success.

Need Help Getting Your Pages Indexed?

If you’re looking for a reputable SEO company in New Zealand to help diagnose and fix indexing issues, please don’t hesitate to contact us.