Google utilizes its index to hunt for the most relevant information to match users’ search queries. This implies that your website won't rank for pertinent search phrases if it isn't indexed, meaning it doesn't exist in Google's database. And if you want to increase organic traffic to your website, it would not be good news.

This blog will further walk you through how to ensure Google can find and index your website. Let’s get started!

How to appear in Google's index

It should be rather simple to get indexed if your material is valuable to search engines. All you have to do is ensure that Google can locate your pages and that you are emphasizing their significance. The procedure is in four steps. 

1. Ask to get your homepage indexed

Register with Google Search Console, add a property, enter your homepage in the URL Inspection tool, and select "Request indexing." All of your site's pages should be found by Google and potentially indexed, provided that your site structure is solid (more on this in a moment). 

2. Make a sitemap and send it to Google

A sitemap instructs Google at the locations of the pages for your website that you deem considerable. 

The majority of internet site builders, including Squarespace, Shopify, and Wix, mechanically generate a sitemap for you. This is often available at yourdomain.Com/sitemap_index.Xml or yourdomain.Com/sitemap.Xml. If it's lacking, check your robots.Txt document at yourdomain.Com/robots.Txt to see if its place is particular.

Use a plugin like Yoast or Rank Math to assemble a sitemap in case you're using WordPress. Use of WordPress' default sitemap is discouraged because it frequently contains useless statistics which you don't need to look at. 

After creating a sitemap, open Google Search Console's Sitemaps tab, type inside the sitemap URL, and click "Submit."

3. Organize your website appropriately

All of your website's key pages have to be accessible to search engines via internal links. A page is referred to as an orphan page if that is not feasible for it. Because these are harder to uncover and have less indications of importance, Google is less likely to index them. 

No page should become orphaned as long as your website platform automatically adds connections to fresh material. 

Nevertheless, errors do occur, therefore it's important to schedule routine audits to look for orphan pages on your website. With an Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (AWT) account, you can easily and for free add all of your relevant pages to your sitemap. 

4. Establish backlinks to your website

Google receives signals from backlinks indicating the value and merit of indexing information on a website. 

The greatest place to start if your website is brand-new is to look for backlinks from your rivals and try to duplicate as many as you can. Usually, they are links from: 

Listings that highlight several rivals but not you Podcasts, interviews, and guest blogs

Ahrefs' Site Explorer's Link Intersect report may be used to locate these. 

Let's take the example of a plumber in New York City. It will display websites that connect to one or more of your rivals but not to yours if you enter in your website and a few others. Directories in this list are often quite easy to identify.