In the digital age, having a beautifully designed website is only half the battle. If your website isn’t indexable by search engines like Google, it simply won’t show up in search results — meaning fewer visitors, fewer leads, and lower conversion rates. So let’s break it down: What does indexability mean, why is it important, and how can you check if your site is ready to be seen?
What Does “Indexable” Really Mean?
In the simplest terms, indexability refers to whether a search engine can add your website’s pages to its index. Think of Google’s index as its internal library. If your website isn’t in the library, no one can find it through a Google search.
Being crawlable is a prerequisite to being indexable. Crawling is the process where search engine bots (like Googlebot) explore your site. But just because your site is crawlable doesn’t automatically mean it’s indexable. A page can be crawlable but still blocked from being added to the index because of certain tags, settings, or technical errors.
Here’s where things get tricky: You could have excellent content and SEO, but if your pages aren’t being indexed, none of that will matter.
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
Your XML sitemap is like a roadmap for search engines. It tells bots which pages are on your site and helps them crawl it more efficiently. If your sitemap is missing key pages — or contains orphaned pages (pages with no internal links pointing to them) — those pages may never be indexed.
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
Google Search Console (GSC) is your best friend when it comes to diagnosing indexability issues. The “Pages” report under the Index section shows which pages are indexed and which aren’t, along with reasons (like “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
Indexability is non-negotiable for any website that relies on organic search. It’s the first step in your SEO journey. You can optimize content, target great keywords, and build backlinks — but if your site isn’t indexable, it’s like shouting into a void.
Make auditing indexability part of your regular SEO health checks. Whether you’re a small business owner or an SEO manager, ensuring your website can be crawled and indexed is the foundation of success in search.