In the digital era or time, having a better designed website is only half the battle . if your website or content is not index in search ingines like google, when we search it means-fewer visitors, fewer leads and lower conversion rates. Let’s dissect it now: How can you determine whether your website is ready for viewing, what does indexability mean, and why is it important?
What Does “Indexable” Really Mean?
Indexability, to put it simply, is the ability of a search engine to add pages from your website to its index. Consider Google’s index to be its own library. No one can use a Google search to find your website if it isn’t in the library.
To be indexable, one must be crawlable. The process by which search engine bots, such as Googlebot, examine your website is known as crawling. However, your website isn’t necessarily indexable just because it can be crawled. Certain tags, settings, or technical issues may prevent a page from being added to the index even though it is crawlable.
This is where things get complicated: Even if you have great SEO and content, it won’t matter if your pages aren’t being indexed.
Why Indexability Is Critical for Your Website
Think about your website as a storefront. If people can’t see your store sign or find your address, they’ll walk right past. That’s what happens when your site isn’t indexable — you’re effectively invisible on the web.
Not being indexable can result in:
- 🚫 Zero organic traffic from search engines
- ⚠️ Reduced visibility in competitive markets
- 📉 Lower conversion rates due to fewer visitors
- ❌ Wasted marketing budget and SEO efforts
Let’s fix that.
How to Check Your Website’s Indexability
1. Use a Tool Like Ryte
One of the easiest ways to check indexability is by using a platform like Ryte. With just a few clicks, Ryte can generate a report called “What is indexable?”, which shows you which of your pages can be indexed and which ones are blocked — and why.
Ryte analyzes important technical elements, helping you spot problems like “noindex” tags or missing internal links.
2. Look for “Noindex” Tags
The “noindex” tag is a directive that tells search engines not to include a page in the index. Sometimes these tags are added intentionally — like for thank-you pages or admin portals — but they can also end up in the wrong place by accident.
Here’s what it looks like in the HTML:
htmlCopyEdit<meta name="robots" content="noindex, follow">
If this tag is on important pages (like your homepage or product pages), Google won’t show them in search results. You can use browser extensions like SEO Meta in 1 Click or tools like Screaming Frog to scan for this tag.
3. Check Your XML Sitemap
For search engines, your XML sitemap functions similarly to a road map. It helps bots crawl your website more effectively by telling them which pages are on it. Your sitemap may never be indexed if it contains orphaned pages (pages without internal links pointing to them) or is lacking important pages.
Make sure your sitemap:
- Includes all important pages
- Is submitted to Google Search Console
- Is updated regularly when new content is added
4. Avoid the rel=”nofollow” Attribute on Internal Links
Using rel="nofollow" on internal links tells search engines not to follow the link, which can prevent them from discovering other pages on your site. While nofollow has its place (especially for external or sponsored links), using it on internal links hinders crawlability and indexation.
Make sure your navigation and content include followable links to all major sections of your site.
Bonus Tips to Improve Indexability
✅ Use Google Search Console
When it comes to identifying indexability problems, Google Search Console (GSC) is your best friend. The Index section’s “Pages” report lists the pages that are and are not indexed, along with the explanations (such as “Crawled – currently not indexed” or “Discovered – currently not indexed”).
✅ Check Robots.txt File
Your robots.txt file tells search engines what they can and can’t crawl. An overly restrictive file can block key sections of your site. Make sure important areas like /blog or /products are not disallowed unintentionally.
✅ Fix Duplicate Content Issues
Google avoids indexing duplicate or near-duplicate content. Use canonical tags properly to tell search engines which version of a page should be indexed.
✅ Improve Site Speed and Mobile Friendliness
If your website is slow or not mobile-friendly, it could affect how often (or thoroughly) it gets crawled and indexed. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and Mobile-Friendly Test to ensure your site is performing well.
Common Indexability Mistakes to Avoid
- ❌ Using “noindex” tags on important pages
- ❌ Blocking key folders in
robots.txt - ❌ Forgetting to submit or update your sitemap
- ❌ Linking to pages using nofollow attributes
- ❌ Creating orphaned pages with no internal links
- ❌ Ignoring crawl errors in Search Console
Final Thoughts: Indexability Is the Gateway to Visibility
For any website that depends on organic search, indexability cannot be compromised. It is the initial phase of your search engine optimisation process. It’s like shouting into a void if your website isn’t indexable, even if you optimise content, target excellent keywords, and develop backlinks.
As part of your routine SEO health checks, audit indexability. Making sure your website can be crawled and indexed is the cornerstone of success in search, whether you’re an SEO manager or a small business owner.