How to get indexed by Google

How a page gets into Google

A page goes through four stages before it can show up in results. Knowing them tells you where to look when a page is missing.

Notice that the last stage is a choice Google makes. You can remove every barrier and still not be indexed if the page offers nothing that is not already available elsewhere. That is the part no tool can change for you.

Before you ask: the pre-flight check

Spend ten minutes on these checks before you submit anything. Requesting indexing on a page with a blocker only produces a failure message.

The steps

1. Verify the site in Search ConsoleAdd a Domain property and verify it with a DNS record, or add a URL-prefix property. You need verified ownership to use URL Inspection and the reports. See the Search Console setup guide.
2. Submit an XML sitemapCreate a sitemap listing only the indexable, canonical URLs. Submit it under Sitemaps. Google describes a sitemap as an important way to discover URLs, especially after a launch or site move.
3. Link to every pageMake sure every page you want indexed has at least one link from a page that is already indexed. Navigation, category pages and related-content blocks all count.
4. Inspect and request indexingPaste the URL into URL Inspection. If it says the URL is not on Google, click Request indexing. Do this for your most important pages, not for hundreds.
5. Earn a reason to be storedGive the page something specific: an example, original data, a clear answer. Pages that repeat what is already in the index are the ones Google skips.
6. Check back in the reportWatch the Page indexing report. Google says a recrawl can take from a few days to a few weeks.

What to do with a brand-new site

A new domain has no links and no history, so discovery is the bottleneck. In the first week, get the home page indexed, submit the sitemap, and make sure the home page links to the main sections. Links from other sites help Google find you; a profile on a business directory, a social profile or a mention from a partner is enough to start.

Do not publish fifty thin pages in week one. A small site of eight good pages is indexed more reliably than a large one full of placeholders. If you are in this position, the guide for new websites walks through the first month.

Ways to speed it up, ranked by how well they work

• Internal links from the home page and high-traffic pages: strongest and free.
• A clean sitemap with accurate last-modified dates: helps discovery and re-crawling.
• URL Inspection requests: useful for a handful of key URLs, limited by a quota.
• External links from real pages: slower, but also build trust.
• A fast, stable server: Google crawls more when your site responds quickly.

For a deeper look at speed, read how to get Google to index your site faster.

Pitfalls

• Using the Indexing API for normal pages. Google limits it to job postings and livestream events.
• Submitting a sitemap full of redirected, noindexed or 404 URLs. It teaches Google to distrust the file.
• Pinging old sitemap endpoints. Google retired the sitemap ping feature.
• Assuming 'site:' results are a full count. They are a rough view only.
• Paying an indexing service. No outside service can force a page into the index.