How Can You Ensure Google Indexes All Critical Pages After a Website Migration?
Summary
Ensuring Google indexes all critical pages after a website migration involves thorough planning and execution of SEO best practices. These include updating sitemaps, implementing proper redirects, minimizing crawl errors, and using tools like Google Search Console to monitor the indexing status. Below is a detailed guide to help you through the process.
Update Your Sitemap
Create a New XML Sitemap
Generate a new XML sitemap reflecting the current structure of your website. This helps search engines discover all pages on your site. Use tools like XML-sitemaps.com to create a sitemap if your CMS doesn't auto-generate one.
Submit the Sitemap to Google Search Console
Log in to Google Search Console and submit your updated sitemap to ensure Google is aware of all critical pages that need indexing.
Implement Proper Redirects
Use 301 Redirects
To redirect old URLs to new ones, use 301 redirects which are SEO-friendly and pass on link equity. This helps in maintaining your site's ranking and ensuring that users and search engines are directed to the correct page. Check this detailed guide by Moz for more information on redirects.
Test Redirects
Ensure all redirects are functioning correctly. Use tools like Redirect Checker to validate your redirects.
Minimize Crawl Errors
Check for 404 Errors
Identify and fix 404 errors by checking Google Search Console under the "Coverage" section. Learn more about resolving crawl errors from Google Developers.
Monitor Server Logs
Regularly monitor server logs to identify and rectify potential crawl issues. This helps ensure that Googlebot can access your site efficiently.
Use Google Search Console Effectively
Inspect URLs
Use the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console to check the index status of critical pages. This tool provides detailed information about how Google views specific URLs.
Request Indexing
If important pages are not indexed, use the "Request Indexing" feature in Search Console to prompt Google to crawl them.
Optimize Page Load Speed and Mobile Usability
Enhance Page Speed
Improving page speed can positively impact indexing. Use tools like PageSpeed Insights to identify and fix load speed issues.
Ensure Mobile Usability
Google uses mobile-first indexing, so make sure your site is mobile-friendly. Check mobile usability issues in Google Search Console under the "Mobile Usability" section.
Conclusion
Ensuring all critical pages are indexed by Google after a website migration involves meticulous planning and execution of SEO best practices, including updating sitemaps, implementing proper redirects, minimizing crawl errors, using Google Search Console, and optimizing for page speed and mobile usability. Following these strategies will help maintain or improve your site's visibility and ranking.