My Website Doesn't Show Up on Google: The Ultimate Indexability Guide
TL;DR
Is your website invisible? Learn how to fix "noindex" issues, check your robots.txt, and submit your site to Google. Master the art of indexability today.
Table of Contents
You built a stunning website. You wrote amazing content. You hit publish. And then... silence. You search for your brand on Google, and it is nowhere to be found. It is the digital equivalent of throwing a party and forgetting to unlock the front door.
If you are screaming "my website doesn't show up on Google" into the void, you are not alone. The problem isn't usually your content; it is your indexability. In this guide, we will tear down the "No Entry" signs blocking Googlebot, explain how to view page as Googlebot, and show you how to use our free Noindex Checker to fix it instantly.
The Invisible Wall: Why Google Can't See You
Imagine Google is a librarian. To put your book on the shelf (the index), they first need to walk into your library (crawl) and read the book (parse). If you have a "Do Not Enter" sign on the door, the librarian walks away. That sign is often a tiny piece of code called a noindex directive.
The 3 Gatekeepers of Indexability
- 1. Robots.txt (The Bouncer)This text file lives at the root of your site. If it says
Disallow: /, you are effectively telling every listing crawler to go away. It is the most common reason for being blocked by robots.txt. - 2. Meta Robots Tag (The Sticker)A simple HTML tag
<meta name="robots" content="noindex">tells Google: "You can come in, but don't write this down." This is often left on by accident after development. - 3. X-Robots-Tag (The Ghost)This is a sneaky HTTP header sent by your server. You can't see it in the HTML source code, making it a nightmare to debug without a noindex checker.
How to Force Google to Crawl Your Site
So, how can I get Google to crawl my site? It is not about force; it is about invitation. Follow these steps to roll out the red carpet.
Step 1: The Health Check
Before you submit website to Google for indexing, you must ensure it is crawlable. Use our Noindex Checker to scan for blocking tags or robots txt no follow rules. It acts as a googlebot tester, simulating how a search engine sees your page.
Step 2: Submit via Search Console
Once you are clear, go to Google Search Console URL Inspection. Enter your URL and click "Request Indexing". This is the manual way to submit my web page to Google.
Step 3: Check Your Status
Wondering "what page of Google am I on?" or "is my url on Google?" Use the site:yourdomain.com search operator. If you see results, you are indexed! If not, you might need to google request recrawl.
Deep Dive: Noindex vs. Nofollow
This is where many get confused. What is the difference between noindex vs nofollow?
NOINDEX
"Do not show this page in search results."
Use for: Admin pages, Thank You pages, internal staging.
NOFOLLOW
"Do not follow the links on this page."
Use for: Paid links, user-generated content, untrusted sources.
You can combine them! A no index no follow directive tells Google to ignore the page entirely and stop exploring.
Your Action Plan: Get Indexed Today
Don't let a simple line of code kill your business. Here is your checklist to index your site:
- Run your URL through our Free Indexing Tool.
- If it says "Blocked", check the details section to see if it is robots.txt or a meta tag.
- Remove the blocking directive.
- Submit website google search via Search Console.
- Wait a few days and check google indexing status again.
Is Your Site Invisible?
Stop guessing. Use our tool to view website as Googlebot and find hidden blocks instantly.
Check My Indexability NowFinal Thoughts
SEO starts with visibility. You can't rank if you aren't in the race. By understanding crawler directives and regularly performing an indexation check, you ensure that the door to your library is always open. Now, go submit to Google and get seen!
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