How to Improve Crawlability and Indexability of Your Website

If you own a website, we are sure you might have come across terms like indexing, crawling, crawlability and indexability.

Crawlability and indexability are essential parts of the SEO of a website. While crawlability simply indicates that a particular URL has been added to the database of a search engine, it’s actually the indexability which would help you get ranked.

However, it does not undermine the features and the purpose of crawlability. Simply, a link cannot be indexed unless it has been crawled. On the other hand, mere crawling of a link does not mean it would be indexed for sure.

That is where we need to understand how we can ensure that our links get indexed after being crawled.

And in this article, we are going to discuss the proven tips and tricks to ensure the best crawlability and indexability of your website and links.

1. Optimize URL Structure

One of the key factors in enhancing crawlability and indexability is to optimize your website’s URL structure. To achieve this:

• Keep URLs simple, descriptive, and keyword-rich: Utilize words that accurately describe the content of your web pages while also incorporating relevant keywords.
• Implement breadcrumbs for easy navigation: Breadcrumbs provide a hierarchical structure, allowing users and search engines to understand the relationship between pages.
• Avoid the use of dynamic parameters in URLs: Dynamic parameters in URLs can confuse search engines and lead to indexing issues. Consider using static URLs for better crawlability.
• Ensure URLs are human-readable and search engine-friendly: Use plain language in your URLs instead of a string of random characters or numbers.

2. Create an XML Sitemap

An XML sitemap plays a crucial role in improving crawlability and indexability. Follow these steps to create an effective XML sitemap:

• Define an XML sitemap and its importance for search engines: An XML sitemap is a file that lists out all the important pages on your website, making it easier for search engines to discover and index them.
• Provide clear directives for search bots: Your XML sitemap should include specific directives like priority and frequency to guide search bots about the importance and update frequency of each page.
• Include all important pages in the sitemap: Ensure that the sitemap includes all your crucial pages, avoiding duplicate content and including orphaned pages.
• Update and submit the sitemap regularly: Keep your XML sitemap up to date and submit it to search engines regularly to ensure they have the latest information about your website’s structure.

3. Improve Internal Linking

Internal linking helps search engines navigate through your website and understand its structure. Follow these best practices for efficient internal linking:

• Utilize relevant anchor texts for internal links: Use descriptive anchor text that accurately represents the content of the linked page instead of generic phrases like “click here.”
• Add a navigation menu or sitemap to promote discoverability: A clear navigation menu or sitemap ensures that all your important pages are easily accessible to search engines and users.
• Implement breadcrumb navigation for hierarchical structure: Breadcrumb navigation not only helps users but also assists search engines in understanding the hierarchy of your website’s pages.
• Avoid broken links and fix them promptly: Regularly check and fix any broken links on your website to ensure smooth navigation for both users and search engines.

4. Optimize Robots.txt File

Your website’s robots.txt file plays a crucial role in crawlability and indexability. Follow these guidelines for optimizing your robots.txt file:

• Understand the purpose and function of the robots.txt file: Robots.txt file instructs search bots which pages or directories to crawl and which to avoid.
• Disallow irrelevant and duplicate content: Exclude any pages that are irrelevant or contain duplicate content from being crawled by search engines.
• Allow access to important pages and directories: Ensure that search bots can access and crawl all the important pages of your website.
• Regularly review and update the robots.txt file: Periodically check and update your robots.txt file to reflect any changes in your website’s structure or content.

5. Use Correct Meta Tags

Proper usage of meta tags is crucial for optimizing crawlability and indexing. Follow these recommendations:

• Incorporate relevant meta title and description tags: Craft unique and descriptive meta titles and descriptions for each page to accurately represent its content.
• Ensure uniqueness and keyword optimization: Avoid using duplicate meta tags and make sure to include relevant keywords for better search engine understanding.
• Utilize meta robots tags to control crawling and indexing behavior: Use meta robots tags like “noindex” and “nofollow” to instruct search engines on whether to index or follow specific pages.
• Add canonical tags for resolving duplicate content issues: Canonical tags help search engines identify the preferred version of duplicate content and consolidate indexing signals.

6. Reduce Page Load Time

A slow-loading website can negatively impact crawlability and indexability. Improve your page load time with these techniques:

• Compress images and optimize file sizes: Optimize your images by compressing them and reduce file sizes to improve page load speed.
• Minimize the use of unnecessary scripts and plugins: Remove any unnecessary scripts or plugins that slow down your website without offering significant value.
• Enable browser caching and utilize a Content Delivery Network (CDN): Leverage browser caching to store frequently accessed files and consider using a CDN to deliver content faster to users across the globe.
• Regularly check website performance with tools like Google PageSpeed Insights: Monitor your website’s performance using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify areas for improvement and measure your progress.

7. Monitor and Analyze Website Crawlability and Indexability

Regularly monitoring and analyzing the performance of your website’s crawlability and indexability is essential. Follow these steps to ensure ongoing optimization:

• Utilize Google Search Console to identify crawl errors and issues: Google Search Console provides valuable insights into crawl errors, issues, and index status.
• Monitor index status and crawl statistics regularly: Keep an eye on your website’s index status and crawl statistics regularly to identify any anomalies or improvements needed.
• Analyze server logs to understand search bot behavior: Server logs can provide valuable information about how search bots interact with your website, helping you identify any potential roadblocks.
• Implement necessary changes based on insights gained: Act on the insights gained from monitoring and analyzing your website’s performance by implementing necessary changes to improve crawlability and indexability.

Conclusion

Optimizing the crawlability and indexability of your website is essential to attaining better search engine rankings and increasing website visibility. By applying techniques outlined herein, you can ensure search engines can efficiently index all web pages. Regular monitoring and ongoing optimization will keep your business ahead of the competition and maximize its potential.