Indexability refers to a webpage’s ability to be included in a search engine’s index. When a page is indexed, it becomes part of the search engine’s database and can be shown in search results. For a page to be indexed, search engines must be able to crawl (access and read) it.
Why is Indexability Important?
- Visible in search results: If a page isn’t indexed, it won’t appear in search engine results.
- Affects SEO: Indexable pages improve the chances of higher rankings.
- Enables traffic: Indexed pages drive organic traffic from search engines.
Key Factors Affecting Indexability
1. Meta Tags: Pages with a “noindex” tag won’t be indexed.
2. Robots.txt: This file can block bots from crawling certain pages.
3. Internal Links: Proper internal linking improves both crawling and indexing.
4. Sitemaps: Submitting sitemaps helps search engines discover important pages.
How to Improve Indexability
- Ensure important pages are not blocked by robots.txt or “noindex” tags.
- Submit an updated sitemap to search engines.
- Fix technical issues like broken links.