How to Handle De-indexed Pages and Restore Their Visibility

Search engines, especially Google, can occasionally remove pages from their index for various reasons, leading to a drop in traffic and visibility. If you’ve discovered that your website’s pages have been de-indexed, don’t panic. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to identify the issue and take corrective actions to restore your pages’ visibility.

1. Confirm That Pages Have Been De-indexed

Before you take any action, ensure the pages are actually de-indexed. Use Google Search Console to check for indexing issues:
Go to the Coverage report in Search Console, which highlights any pages that have been excluded from the index.
Look for errors such as “Crawled — currently not indexed,” “Discovered — currently not indexed,” or “Blocked by robots.txt.”
Alternatively, perform a site search on Google (site:yourdomain.com/pagename) to check if the specific page is indexed. If Google doesn’t return the page in the search results, it’s likely de-indexed.

2. Identify the Cause of De-indexing

There are several common reasons why a page may have been de-indexed. Understanding the cause is key to restoring the page’s visibility:
Noindex Tags: A page with a “noindex” tag in its HTML header tells search engines not to index the page.
Robots.txt Blocking: The page might be blocked by the robots.txt file, preventing crawlers from accessing it.
Crawl Errors: Pages with server errors or 404 errors might not be indexed because search engines can’t access them.
Thin or Duplicate Content: Pages with very little or duplicate content are sometimes de-indexed by Google due to its low-quality content guidelines.
Manual Penalties: In rare cases, Google may apply a manual action that results in de-indexing. You can check for this in Google Search Console’s Manual Actions report.

3. Fix the Identified Issues

Once you’ve identified the root cause, take the necessary steps to resolve the issue:
Remove Noindex Tags: If the page is mistakenly marked with a “noindex” tag, remove the tag from the page’s HTML.
Update Robots.txt: Check your robots.txt file to ensure it isn’t blocking important pages from being crawled and indexed. Allow access to those pages by updating the file.
Resolve Crawl Errors: Fix any server issues, broken links, or 404 errors that are preventing Google from accessing your pages. Use the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console to test how Google views the page.
Improve Content Quality: If the page was de-indexed due to thin or duplicate content, revise and improve the content. Add original, informative, and engaging material that offers value to users.
Check for Manual Penalties: If a manual action has been applied, resolve the underlying issue, and file a reconsideration request with Google after fixing the problem.

4. Request Reindexing in Google Search Console

After making the necessary fixes, request Google to reindex the pages:
Use the URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console to submit each affected URL for reindexing.
Click “Request Indexing” after testing the live URL to ensure Google’s crawler can access the updated page without issues.

5. Submit an Updated XML Sitemap

Ensure that your XML sitemap is up-to-date and includes the pages that were previously de-indexed. Submit the updated sitemap in Google Search Console so that search engines can find and index the pages more easily.

6. Monitor Performance and Indexing Status

Regularly monitor the indexing status of the pages in Google Search Console. Use the Coverage report to ensure that the pages are indexed again and no new issues arise.
Keep an eye on Google Analytics or other analytics tools to see if traffic to the de-indexed pages starts to recover.

7. Enhance On-Page SEO for Long-Term Success

Beyond fixing technical issues, optimize the on-page SEO to strengthen the page’s overall ranking potential. This includes:
Using optimized keywords in titles, meta descriptions, and headers.
Creating internal links to the de-indexed page from other relevant pages to signal its importance to search engines.
Ensuring the page provides a good user experience, including fast loading speeds and mobile responsiveness.

8. Stay Proactive in Maintaining Indexing

Regularly check your website for indexing issues using tools like Google Search Console and third-party SEO software. Set up alerts or reports to catch problems early and address them before they impact traffic and rankings.

Conclusion

De-indexed pages can be a significant blow to your website’s visibility and traffic, but by identifying the cause, taking swift action, and requesting reindexing, you can restore your pages to their rightful place in search results. Ensure your site remains healthy by continuously monitoring its indexing status and optimizing for search engines.