Did you receive an email from Google saying that some of your web pages got no-indexed?
I get this question a lot, and most people are scared because they feel that it means that the search engine will no longer show their website. Let me explain what is behind it and why it is not that scary most of the time.
What is no-indexing, and why is it useful?
No-indexing is the process of removing a web page from the search engine. This can be necessary for various reasons, including removing outdated or irrelevant content, duplicate content issues, thin content, or automatically created pages necessary for different technical problems.
As a website owner, you have the power to decide which pages should not be found. For instance, you might choose to no-index a PDF upload or landing pages for special occasions. There can be many different reasons for this decision, but the point is that you’re in control most of the time.
But sometimes Google finds pages that are no longer helping your visitors, and they get no-indexed without your permission.
That is the scary part.
Google Search Console, have you never heard about it before?
Google Search Console is a powerful tool for managing website indexing and no-indexing issues. It provides website owners with valuable insight into how their website performs in search results, including which pages are indexed, how often they are crawled, and any indexing error that may impact their visibility. Website owners can ensure their content is indexed correctly and optimized for search engine visibility, improving their online presence and user engagement.
When to No-index a Page
Google can no-index pages for various reasons, including outdated content, duplicate content, low-quality content, sensitive information, and pages with temporary purposes.
Outdated content, such as old news articles or outdated tutorials, is no-indexed to avoid cluttering search results and to avoid disappointing visitors. ( Would you hate searching for how to create a FB business page and find my article about it from 2010? Sure, it won’t be relevant anymore. )
Duplicate content, which is content that appears in multiple locations on the web, will be also no-indexed. For example, an e-commerce website may have multiple product pages with identical content, which can confuse search engines and lead to no-indexing to prevent the dilution of search results with redundant information.
Low-quality or thin content can get removed to maintain the quality of search results. For example, a website with numerous low-quality blog posts that offer little value to users may be no-indexed to improve the overall user experience.
Sensitive information, such as personal or confidential data, may prompt Google to no-index pages to protect user privacy and security. For instance, a website that inadvertently exposes sensitive customer information may have those specific pages no-indexed to prevent unauthorized access to private data.
Finally, pages with temporary purposes, such as event announcements or promotional landing pages for limited-time offers, will be no-indexed to avoid misleading users.
The impact of no-indexing
The impact of no-indexing on SEO can be significant. When pages are no-indexed, it can affect a website’s overall visibility and ranking in search results. If important or high-quality pages are no-indexed, it can decrease organic traffic and hinder the website’s ability to attract visitors through search engines. Additionally, no-indexing can impact a website’s overall relevance and authority, potentially affecting its overall SEO performance.
Therefore, it is important that you look at the no-indexed pages one by one and consider why they got no-indexed and what to do about it if those pages are important. ( Not all pages are important. If the contact page is deindexed, that is completely OK; visitors will find it on your website anyway. But if your home page gets deindexed, that is a big issue, and you must act. )
How to fix indexing and no-indexing issues
There are several ways to tell the search engine to remove certain pages from search results. I don’t want to discuss those in this article because they are technical topics.
Diagnose the issues and fix them
Fixing no-indexed pages involves identifying the cause and taking corrective actions.
Accidental deindexing can happen when certain tags or settings unintentionally block search engines from including your web pages in search results. By fixing any accidental noindexing, you can make sure that your content is visible to search engines, which can help improve your website’s visibility and attract more visitors.
Having high-quality content is crucial for doing well in search engine results. Suppose your content is thin, duplicated, or doesn’t meet Google’s standards. In that case, it is important to focus on making your content more valuable and relevant to users, providing helpful and comprehensive information. By improving your content, you can boost your website’s performance in search results and reduce the risk of being excluded due to poor content.
Technical issues like broken links or server errors can also cause problems with indexing and potentially exclude pages from search results. It is essential to ensure that your website is working correctly and accessible to search engines.
After you have done your best to fix the issue, use the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console to request re-indexing, and wait.
Patience is the key here. Re-indexing doesn’t happen instantly. Allow Google some time to recrawl your site and update its index. Monitor your Search Console coverage report for changes.
Have you ever worried about the no-index page on Google Search Console?
A new client who just started using the Google Search Console emailed, asking if non-indexed pages would prevent her website’s ranking on Google.
As web designers and SEO expert, I often rely on Google Search Console to gain insights into our website’s performance in search results. One common concern that may arise when using this tool is the discovery of no-indexed pages. However, understanding why these pages are no-indexed and the potential benefits they offer can alleviate any worries and even contribute to a more strategic approach to SEO.
/ In simple terms, a no-index page is a web page that has been set up in a way that tells search engines like Google not to include it in their search results. This means that when people search for information online, the page won’t appear in the search results. /
First and foremost, it’s essential to recognize that no-indexed pages are not necessarily a sign of an issue with your website. In fact, no-indexing certain pages can be a deliberate and beneficial strategy. Let’s explore why seeing no-indexed pages in Google Search Console is okay and nothing to worry about.
Purposeful No-Indexing: Many websites have pages that are not intended to appear in search engine results. These could include thank you pages, login pages, duplicate content, or pages under development. By no-indexing these pages, we can ensure that search engines do not waste resources crawling and indexing content that is not meant for public consumption.
Content Control: No-indexing specific pages allows us to have more control over which content appears in search results. For instance, if there are pages with thin or duplicate content that could potentially harm the overall SEO of the site, no-indexing them can prevent such issues.
Focusing Crawl Budget: By no-indexing certain pages, webmasters can direct search engine crawlers to prioritize crawling and indexing more important and relevant pages. This can help ensure that the most valuable content on the website is given priority in search results.
Strategic Landing Pages: In some cases, web designers and marketers may create landing pages for specific marketing campaigns or promotions. No-indexing these pages until the campaign is live allows for a coordinated launch and prevents premature indexing of temporary content.
So, how can web designers and SEO leverage this understanding within Google Search Console to optimize their website’s performance?
Monitoring and Analysis: Regularly checking Google Search Console for no-indexed pages can provide valuable insights into the indexing status of the website. This information can help identify unintentionally no-indexed pages or uncover potential issues that need attention.
Strategic Implementation: Collaborating with marketers to understand the intent behind certain pages and their role in the overall marketing strategy can help web designers make informed decisions about which pages to no-index and which to keep indexable.
SEO Optimization: Utilizing the data from Google Search Console, web designers and marketers can work together to optimize the indexing status of pages, ensuring that the most valuable and relevant content is being indexed and displayed in search results.
In conclusion, encountering no-indexed pages in Google Search Console should not be a cause for alarm. Instead, it presents an opportunity to understand the purpose behind these decisions and leverage them to enhance the website’s overall SEO strategy. By working collaboratively, web designers and marketers can use this information to improve content visibility, focus crawl budget, and drive more targeted traffic to the website. Understanding the nuances of no-indexing empowers us to make more informed decisions and ultimately achieve better results in the online landscape.
A website redesign can be a pivotal moment for any online business. It’s a chance to refresh the brand, improve user experience, and potentially boost engagement. However, one crucial element often causes concern: the impact on search engine rankings.
In truth, the effect of a website redesign on rankings is a double-edged sword. It can either significantly boost visibility or lead to a drastic drop, depending on how it’s implemented. Let’s delve deeper into the potential positive and negative impacts and how to navigate them effectively.
Positive Impacts of Website Redesign:
An effective website redesign can lead to a range of positive impacts on SEO rankings. By prioritizing user experience and technical SEO, businesses can enhance their online visibility and attract more organic traffic. Here are some of the potential positive impacts of a website redesign on SEO rankings:
Improved User Experience:
A well-designed website with intuitive navigation and faster loading speeds provides a better user experience. This can lead to increased user engagement, longer session times, and lower bounce rates, signaling to search engines that the website provides valuable content and a positive user experience.
Enhanced Technical SEO:
A redesign can be an opportunity to address any existing technical SEO issues, such as broken links, crawl errors, and slow loading times. By fixing these issues, businesses can improve their website’s accessibility and visibility to search engines, potentially leading to higher rankings.
Fresh Content:
Redesigning a website often involves creating new content and updating existing content. This fresh content can act as a signal to search engines that the website is actively maintained and relevant, potentially boosting rankings for relevant keywords.
Increased Mobile-friendliness:
In today’s mobile-first world, a mobile-friendly website is crucial for maintaining search engine visibility. A website redesign can ensure the website is responsive and optimized for mobile devices, leading to better user experience and, consequently, higher search engine rankings.
Negative Impacts of Website Redesign:
While a website redesign has the potential to boost search engine rankings, there are also potential negative impacts that business owners need to be aware of. It’s important to carefully plan and execute a redesign to mitigate these risks and ensure a smooth transition. Here are some of the potential negative impacts of a website redesign on search engine rankings:
URL Structure Changes:
Changing the URL structure of a website during a redesign can be risky. Search engines may not recognize the new URLs as being related to the old ones, resulting in a temporary drop in rankings. Proper redirects and communication with search engines are essential to mitigate this risk.
Content Loss:
Removing or significantly altering existing content can have a negative impact on SEO. It’s important to maintain the core content that drives traffic and rankings while introducing new, valuable content.
Technical SEO Issues:
If the redesign process is not carefully planned and executed, it can introduce new technical SEO issues, such as broken links, duplicate content, and slow loading speeds, all of which can negatively impact rankings.
Temporary Traffic Fluctuations:
During and after the redesign, there may be a temporary drop in traffic as search engines adjust to the changes. This is typically short-lived and can be mitigated by proper planning and communication.
Mitigating the Risks:
To ensure a successful website redesign that doesn’t hurt search engine rankings, business owners should take proactive steps to mitigate potential negative impacts. By following these essential steps, businesses can navigate the website redesign process effectively and minimize any negative effects on search engine rankings:
Plan and Prioritize SEO:
Make SEO a key consideration throughout the redesign process. Conduct thorough keyword research, identify potential SEO risks, and implement a plan to mitigate them.
Crawl and Index the New Website: Ensure Googlebot can crawl and index the new website easily. Submit the XML sitemap to Google Search Console and major search engines and monitor for any crawl errors.
Implement Proper Redirects: If changing URLs, set up 301 redirects from the old URLs to the new ones. This helps search engines understand the relationship between the old and new pages and maintain your SEO rankings.
Monitor and Analyze:
Continuously monitor your website’s traffic, rankings, and SEO performance after the redesign. This allows you to identify any issues quickly and take corrective action.
In today’s competitive online landscape, the importance of a well-executed website redesign cannot be overstated. As a business owner with a website, it’s crucial to understand the potential impact of a redesign on search engine rankings and take proactive steps to mitigate any negative effects.
When approaching a website redesign, it’s essential to strike a balance between enhancing the user experience and maintaining or improving search engine visibility. By understanding the potential positive and negative impacts of a redesign, business owners can make informed decisions. If you still have questions about how to move forward with website redesign, Turek Web Design is here to help you. Schedule your 20 min free consultation!
Lyndsay Hannah, a Boston photographer, is a family and newborn photographer whose images are full of love and creativity. Her passion and originality come through her beautiful and memorable images. Her subjects are not in typical poses, but authentic and unrestricted.
Needed help with SEO
Small business owners like Lyndsay wear many hats and need help when they are faced with technology issues. They could probably solve the issue on their own, but it would take them hours of learning, and more hours to implement. Lyndsay hired Turek Design for a 2-hour SEO consultation to help her with her photography website.
The main issue and her goal
Lyndsay’s target audience is Boston and its suburbs, but her business is located elsewhere. She wants her website to show up for search terms such as newborns photography, or family photography in the Boston area and not where her business is located. She is posting new blog posts diligently on her website and has seen good SEO results. Reading about how to make a website search engine friendly left her with a lot of question. Various articles or blog posts recommend different strategies because there are different ways to accomplish the same goal. Plus not all website are created equal, so there are different solutions for different sites.
What we did
By using any modern web design platform, (e.g., WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, etc.,) one is not required to know coding (unless you are adventurous and wants to add something). Even though people don’t need to know coding to create a website, there are huge amounts of data behind every platform. These are important to Google to understand what the website is about. An SEO consultation starts by understanding what is behind the website.
We look
at:
The
H1 and H2 tags, descriptions and page title
On-page
interlinking and links structure
Website
speed
External
and internal backlinks
Website
usability
Social
Media integration
When all
this is completed, we meet with the client to discuss our findings.
Why and how?
I firmly believe in the importance of fully explaining why and what I do. Explaining how to fix the issues helps everyone understand the basic of SEO and how Google reads any given website.
Small changes sometimes entail additional changes.
If we change the first line on the website from ”Welcome to my website” to
”Looking for a newborn photographer in Boston?” we also need to change the text
in the subsequent paragraphs.
Result
Changes at the website do not show increased ranking instantly on Google. It takes time and patience and constant works to slowly increase the position. When I met Lyndsay, her main keyword was 35th on Google, about 5 pages down. A little later she reached 28th, and after that 12th, which is second page on Google.
If she consistently puts the work into her website, she will reach the
first page very soon.
Are you a photographer having a hard time optimizing your photography website? You are not alone. Most photographers find it difficult and subsequently get lost trying to make their photo website Google friendly. These are some tips that you should take into consideration in order to make your photography site better.
How to optimize your images for SEO
A photographer portfolio consists of beautiful images, so big part of optimizing a photography website means optimizing images.
What about the Image Alt Tags
Every modern platform allows you to add Alt Tags. What is an Alt tag? It is a description of the image. It comes from the time of slow internet, when people did not automatically download images, but read the Alt text first. (Nowadays it is also an important part of optimizing a website for screen readers for visually impaired visitors. ) Why do you need to add it? Simple, Google can’t understand your images; Alt Tag descriptions translate your images for search engines.
Let’s imagine that a new mom is searching for a newborn photographer and finds your photographs on Google because you had a great image description. She might then add it to her Pinterest board so other new moms will see your great photography skills. There is a high likelihood that she will go to your site and see the rest of your photographer’s portfolio. She might become a new client or just a new follower on Facebook or Instagram. This is one of the reasons why Alt Tags can be so useful to your portfolio
Optimize your image file names
It is easy just to use the automated file name when you upload a new image from your camera. But what would Google understand from this; cunningham-sm.jpg or 3444577893-2019-04-12.jpg?
Nothing, right?
So you should take time and add file names that help your SEO. For example, Cute-Baby-Photography-Boston.jpg file name is much more descriptive, right?
If you upload your image in its original size or high resolution slowly but surely, it will destroy your website and user experience. Why? Because the bigger the file size, the slower your page is. People are eager to see your page, but if it takes a long time to load, they may click elsewhere. Photographers’ websites are image-heavy, so you should be careful of the sizes of the images you upload. If you want to check out how fast your site is, use this website. https://gtmetrix.com
If your website loads slowly, you should check the sizes of the images and files. ( Here is an article how to edit your images on WordPress platform.)
Make your images as big as needed, but do not go way bigger. In Google Analytics, you can see the average screen size your visitors use, use that knowledge to speed up your site.
Create good content to read
Most photography websites’ mistake is the lack of content
One common mistake found on most photography websites is the lack of content. While it’s understandable to believe that your images can speak for your value and artistic prowess, the truth is they alone won’t attract visitors to your site.
Here’s where Google comes into play – it prefers websites with plenty of text. So, having a stunning full-screen image with your logo as the homepage won’t suffice for Google to recognize your photography business in Worcester County. To ensure Google understands your target audience and location, make sure to prominently feature the desired location on your website.
Now let’s talk about your target audience. Most photographers aim to attract people within a 50-mile radius or less, as they prefer not to travel too far. Create a list of the major towns and cities in your area and prioritize adding these names to your website.
Remember, engaging content and strategic targeting will help your photography business thrive online and reach the right clients. How we could help a Boston Photographer to optimize her website, read this case study.
to Blog or not to blog, that is the question
When it comes to optimizing your photography website, regularly adding new content is key. But here’s the catch: it’s not just about uploading new images, it’s about adding valuable text too. Search engines don’t recognize new images as fresh content, so it’s crucial to find engaging topics that provide useful information to your audience.
For instance, imagine the curiosity of new moms wanting to know how early they should schedule a session with their newborn. And what about families pondering over how to dress for a photography session? Oh, and don’t forget those who are concerned about what happens if it rains during an outdoor photography session.
You see, there are endless questions waiting to be answered, and by addressing them on your website, you’ll add immense value. This extra content will not only engage your audience but also boost your photography website’s ranking in search results. Exciting, right?
Get a good website hosting company
Invest into a good website hosting company with great service. Don’t pick the cheapest shared plan that doesn’t use the latest technologies. Website hosting is more important than just the price. Your hosting will affect your website loading speed and your website security.
Invest in an SSL certificate
Online security has gotten a lot more attention recently. Visitors are looking for the “security sign” in front of a domain name, especially if sensitive personal information is collected from users. An SSL certificate, which is noticeable by the “s” here https:// , guarantees that all data is encrypted and securely stored on your website.
In conclusion, photographer websites tend to lack content and be full of images which are not ideal for SEO. To make sure you are getting the most out of your website, you need good long content that is location-specific. Additionally, it would be beneficial to include a blog as well on your website. There are a lot of digital marketing tips out there that can help you optimize your website and get the best traffic result. If none of this works for you, then perhaps it’s time for an expert touch. If you are a photographer and need help optimizing your website, schedule a chat to learn more about how to optimize your website.
I talk about the importance of Google Reviews all the time. If you read my newsletter, you know that reviews are a huge deciding factor for prospective clients when it comes to finding the right business. By reading reviews left by other customers, you can get a sense of what a business is like before you even step foot inside. Did you know that you can actually embed Google Reviews directly onto your own website or to your social media? It’s a great way to showcase your positive reviews and encourage others to leave their own.
If you are proud of your reviews, and I hope you are all, there are several different plugins that can be connected to your website and show your reviews like this.
With the variation of these tools, you can easily showcase your positive reviews and build trust with potential customers who visit your website or social media page.
Remember to encourage your customers to leave reviews and respond to any negative ones in a professional and helpful manner. Happy reviewing!
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