Understanding Indexing Fluctuations: A Common Puzzle for New Bloggers
As an aspiring blogger with a burgeoning travel website, I recently faced a perplexing situation regarding the indexing of my pages. My blog is now 30 days old, but I’ve been working diligently on content for the past two years, resulting in a collection of 90 travel articles.
Initially, I was thrilled to find that Google indexed 130 of my pages. However, this was short-lived, as I soon noticed a reduction in this number, leaving me with just 32 indexed pages. This sudden drop left me wondering: Is this a common experience for new sites?
Analyzing SEO Performance
I utilized the SEO tool, Math Rank, to evaluate my articles, and I’m pleased to report that all of them boast a remarkable SEO score of 80 or higher. This performance indicates that I have created valuable content that should ideally be favored by search engines. Despite this, the fluctuating index status has raised several questions.
What Could Be Causing This?
Itโs not unusual for new blogs to experience shifts in their indexed pages, especially in the early stages. Googleโs indexing process can be unpredictable and is influenced by various factors, including site authority, backlink profiles, and content relevance. If Google determines that certain pages donโt meet their quality standards or find duplicate content, they may choose to de-index those pages as a way to maintain the quality of search results.
Steps to Take Moving Forward
If you find yourself in a similar predicament, here are a few actionable steps to consider:
- Review Content Quality: Ensure that your posts are original and provide value to your audience.
- Optimize for SEO: Continue to improve your on-page SEO practicesโthis includes using relevant keywords, optimizing titles, and writing compelling meta descriptions.
- Build Backlinks: Engage in marketing strategies to obtain quality backlinks. This can help improve your site’s authority and, in turn, its chances of being indexed.
- Monitor Your Site: Use tools like Google Search Console to track your indexed pages and any potential issues that arise.
- Patience is Key: Understand that indexing can be a slow process, especially for newer sites, and fluctuations are often a normal part of the journey.
Final Thoughts
Experiencing fluctuations in your indexed pages can be frustrating, but it is not uncommon, particularly for new blogs. By focusing on providing high-quality content