Many people have ranking or indexing problems. However, they are unable to trace the source of the problem. Recently, Google uploaded a video containing details on identifying these problems using a search engine console.
“Using these tips can help you find a solution to some of your problems. They include how to check the index of the page, the originality of the page, and if there are issues with the codes,” says digital marketing expert Bill Fukui with MedShark Digital.
In this article, you will get to know how to troubleshoot your ranking problems by applying strategic tips:
Tip 1: Checking if a Page Is Indexed or Can Be Indexed
Many people overlook the importance of checking whether their page is indexed or can be indexed. The search engine console can inspect if your URL is indexed and helps determine whether the page can be indexed.
It will also explain why it is difficult for Google to index it. You can also use this tool to determine the extent of Google’s interest in the page—for example, whether Googlebot is crawling it frequently or not.
Googlebot will crawl it less when there is little tendency for the age for change. Google uses this to conserve resources. If you see that there is low interest, you can use the URL inspection tool to request a crawl.
The first step is understanding where you stand. You cannot maximize SEO without knowing whether your pages are properly indexed. Thus, you need to research thoroughly and know your page ranking. For instance, if there are issues with the indexing, you can fix them so that Google will mark your page as positive.
Tip 2: Checking if the Page Is a Duplicate
Another reason why your page is not ranking may be because it is a duplicate. In some cases, it could be because another page is regarded as canonical. You do not have to panic if that is the case.
As long as you have requested crawling from Googlebot and your content is indexed, your content will still show in search results. Avoid relying on the cache or site operators to fix these types of issues.
This is because search operators are not connected to search indexes and are not meant for debugging issues. It doesn’t matter if the site operator is showing the backlinks.
You must work assiduously to ensure the originality of your page. When the system ranks a similar page higher than yours, it will affect your search results.
Tip 3: Check if There is an Issue with the Rendered HTML
A browser or Googlebot uses HTML to generate a webpage. This generated HTML is regarded as a rendered HTML. You should not confuse this with checking the source code.
A rendered HTML will help you understand how the code looks after the execution of Javascript. Source code, on the other hand, shows you the HTML’s raw code.
When the rendered HTML is faulty, it can also affect your page’s ability to rank. So, you may also check the rendered HTML to see the code Googlebot or the browser is seeing.
Thus, viewing it can reveal problems related to Javascript. For example, you can know if your content is not showing because of a problem on your server or in your application code.
Steps to Using Chrome DevTools to See Rendered HTML
- Click the three dots drop-down menu
- Go to more tools
- Select developer tools
- To access the command menu, if you are using a MacOS, use this function key “command+shift+P”
- If you are using Windows/Linux/Chrome OS, use this function key “control+shift+P”
- Next, type “rendering”
- Then select “show rendering”
Concluding Remarks
Some technical issues can also affect your page’s ability to be indexed and ranked. The tips above will help you find the problems with these issues. You can also use Google’s search console and DevTools to debug these issues.
You must proactively address these issues if you want your page to perform well. Delaying action makes it more difficult to achieve the desired result. Moreover, you don’t want to put in your best and get a depressing outcome for your content.