If you’ve built a great website or published a new page and it’s not showing up on Google, you’re not alone. One of the most common concerns website owners, bloggers, and SEO professionals face is:
“Why isn’t my web page getting indexed?”
Web page indexing issues can be frustrating, especially when you’re putting in the effort to publish high-quality content. In this post, we’ll dive deep into why Google might not index your page, how indexing works, and what you can do to solve the issue fast.
What is Indexing in SEO?
Indexing is the process by which search engines like Google store and organize content after crawling it. Once a page is indexed, it becomes eligible to appear in search results.
No indexing = no visibility = no traffic.
Common Reasons Why Your Web Page Is Not Getting Indexed
Here are the top reasons why Google might not be indexing your web pages:
1. Your Website is New
If your site or page was published recently, Google may not have discovered it yet. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks for new pages to be indexed.
Fix:
- Submit your URL in Google Search Console’s “URL Inspection” tool.
- Build internal links from already-indexed pages.
2. Crawling Errors or Blocks
Googlebot may be unable to crawl your site due to:
- robots.txt disallow rules
- noindex meta tags
- Server errors (5xx)
- Broken redirects
Fix:
- Use the “Coverage” and “URL Inspection” reports in the Search Console to identify crawl errors.
- Ensure your robots.txt file allows crawling:
- plaintext
- CopyEdit
- User-agent: *
- Allow: /
3. Duplicate or Thin Content
If your content is very similar to existing content (on your site or others) or if it has little value (thin content), Google may ignore it.
Fix:
- Create original, valuable content that satisfies user intent.
- Add internal links and supporting media (images, videos, charts).
4. Low Domain Authority or Poor Backlink Profile
If your website has low authority or lacks external links, Google may delay indexing or skip some pages.
Fix:
- Build quality backlinks from relevant websites.
- Promote your content via social media or outreach.
5. Incorrect Canonical Tags
Incorrect or conflicting canonical tags can signal to Google that your page is a duplicate, even if it’s not.
Fix:
- Double-check your canonical tags.
- Use the canonical URL only when needed and point to the correct version of your content.
6. The page is Orphaned
An orphaned page has no internal links pointing to it, so search engines can’t find it easily.
Fix:
- Link to the new page from your homepage, navigation, or blog.
- Add it to your sitemap.
7. Sitemap Issues
An outdated or improperly formatted sitemap can prevent search engines from discovering new pages.
Fix:
- Submit an up-to-date sitemap in the Search Console.
- Ensure it’s in the correct XML format and includes all important URLs.
How to Check if Your Page is Indexed
Use one of these methods:
- Google Search:
- Type site:yourdomain.com/page-url into Google. If it returns no results, it’s not indexed.
- Google Search Console:
- Use the “URL Inspection” tool to check crawl and indexing status.
- Third-Party SEO Tools:
- Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Screaming Frog can flag indexing issues.
Pro Tips to Speed Up Indexing
- Share your URL on social platforms (Twitter, LinkedIn).
- Get links from high-authority pages (even internal ones).
- Use schema markup to help Google understand your content.
- Post consistently — Google prefers active sites.
- Ensure your website loads fast and is mobile-friendly.
Final Thoughts
Getting your pages indexed is the first step toward ranking on Google. If your content isn’t being indexed, you’re missing out on visibility, traffic, and conversions.
The good news?
Most indexing issues are fixable with a few technical and content-level adjustments. If you’re unsure why your pages aren’t indexed or want expert help — Dero Digital can assist you with technical SEO, content strategy, and link building to get your site in top shape.
Need help fixing indexing issues? Book a free SEO consultation with our team at www.derodigital.com. Let’s get your site on the map — and Google.
FAQs: Web Page Indexing
Q. How long does it take for a page to get indexed?
A. Usually, a few hours to a week. But it depends on site authority, crawl frequency, and content quality.
Q. Can I force Google to index my page?
A. You can request indexing via Google Search Console, but Google still decides whether to index it.
Q. Will backlinks help with indexing?
A. Yes, especially from indexed and high-authority pages.