By Shad Super in Questions —

What Steps Should You Follow to Use the URL Inspection Tool to Troubleshoot Crawling Issues?

Summary

Using the URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console allows you to diagnose and troubleshoot crawling issues for specific URLs on your website. This detailed guide will show you how to utilize the tool effectively and provide examples and authoritative resources for further reading.

Accessing the URL Inspection Tool

Login to Google Search Console

First, ensure you are logged into your Google Search Console account. If you don't have an account, create one and verify your property. Instructions can be found on Google Search Console Help.

Inspecting a URL

Enter the URL

Once logged in, navigate to the "URL Inspection" tool available on the left sidebar. Enter the full URL of the page you wish to inspect in the search bar at the top. Press Enter to retrieve data about the URL.

URL Index Status

The tool will indicate whether the URL is in Google's index. If not, it provides reasons why the URL is not indexed, such as 'Crawled – currently not indexed'. For detailed descriptions, see [Google’s Crawl Troubleshooting Guide].

Diagnosing Crawling Issues

Crawl Errors

If errors are found, they will be listed under the "Coverage" section. Common errors include 404 errors (Page Not Found) or 500 errors (Server Issue). For detailed information about handling crawl errors, see [Common Crawl Errors, 2023].

Resources Blocked by Robots.txt

If critical resources are blocked, this can hinder Google's crawler from reading your page correctly. The "Coverage" section will notify you if any resources are blocked. Unblock these resources in your robots.txt file to ensure Google can access them. Learn more about robots.txt at [About robots.txt, 2023].

Other Useful Diagnostics

Mobile Usability

Check the "Mobile Usability" section for any issues that may impact crawling and indexing. Problems such as "Text too small to read" or "Clickable elements too close together" need to be addressed to ensure mobile-friendly performance. For optimization tips, refer to [SEO Starter Guide, 2023].

Structured Data

Verify that your structured data is properly implemented using the "Rich Results Test". Proper structured data helps Google understand your content better, potentially enhancing visibility. For more on structured data guidelines, visit [Structured Data for Articles, 2023].

Request Indexing

Manual Request

After fixing any issues, you can request Google to re-crawl and re-index the URL. Click on the "Request Indexing" button. This process can take a few days, so be patient. More details can be found at [Requesting a Re-crawl, 2023].

Conclusion

The URL Inspection Tool is an invaluable resource for diagnosing and fixing crawling and indexing issues. Regularly checking with this tool helps ensure optimal performance and visibility in search results.

References