Submit URL To Google: Quick Guide For Search Console

Submit URL to Google Search Console: A Quick Guide

Hey guys! Want to make sure your latest blog post or website update gets noticed by Google ASAP? You're in the right place! In this guide, we're diving into how to submit URLs to Google using Google Search Console. It's a super important step to help Google find, crawl, and index your content, which ultimately helps your site rank better in search results.

Why Submit URLs to Google?

Submitting URLs to Google Search Console is like giving Google a friendly nudge, letting them know, "Hey, check this out!" Here's why it's a smart move:

Faster Indexing: When you publish new content or update existing pages, submitting the URL helps Google discover these changes more quickly than waiting for their regular crawls. This is especially useful for time-sensitive content or if you've made important updates you want users to see ASAP.
Ensuring Discoverability: Sometimes, Google might miss a page on your site, especially if it's newly created or not well-linked from other pages. Submitting the URL ensures that Google knows about it and can add it to its index.
Troubleshooting Issues: If you're having trouble getting a page indexed, submitting the URL can help you identify potential problems. Google Search Console provides feedback on whether the page was successfully indexed or if there were any errors during the process.
Improving SEO: While submitting URLs doesn't directly guarantee higher rankings, it does ensure that Google is aware of your content. This is a crucial first step in the SEO process, as Google can't rank pages it doesn't know exist!

Think of it this way: imagine you've just opened a brand-new store. Submitting your URL to Google is like putting up a sign that says, "We're open for business!" The sooner Google knows about your store (your website), the sooner potential customers can find you.

Step-by-Step Guide to Submitting URLs

Okay, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. Here’s a simple, step-by-step guide on how to submit URLs to Google using Search Console.

Step 1: Access Google Search Console

First things first, you'll need a Google Search Console account. If you don't have one already, head over to Google Search Console and sign up. You’ll need to verify that you own the website you want to submit URLs for. There are several ways to do this, including:

Uploading an HTML file to your website: Google provides an HTML file that you upload to the root directory of your site.
Adding a meta tag to your website's homepage: You add a specific meta tag to the <head> section of your homepage's HTML.
Using Google Analytics: If you already use Google Analytics, you can use that to verify your site.
Using Google Tag Manager: Similar to Google Analytics, if you use Google Tag Manager, you can use that for verification.

Choose the method that works best for you and follow the instructions provided by Google. Once your site is verified, you're ready to roll!

Step 2: Navigate to the URL Inspection Tool

Once you're logged in and have selected your website property, look for the URL Inspection tool in the left-hand menu. It's usually located under the "Index" section. Click on it to open the tool. This tool is your gateway to submitting individual URLs and getting insights into how Google sees your pages.

Step 3: Enter the URL

In the URL Inspection tool, you'll see a search bar at the top. Simply enter the full URL of the page you want to submit. Make sure you enter the correct URL, including the https:// or http:// protocol. Double-check for any typos to avoid errors. Once you've entered the URL, press Enter.

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Step 4: Request Indexing

After you enter the URL, Google will analyze the page to see if it's already in their index. If the page is new or has been recently updated, you'll likely see a message saying, "URL is not on Google." Don't worry; that's exactly what we expect! To request indexing, click on the Request Indexing button. This tells Google to crawl and index the page.

Step 5: Be Patient!

Once you've requested indexing, Google will add the URL to its crawl queue. It can take some time for Google to crawl and index the page, so be patient. The amount of time it takes can vary depending on factors like the website's crawl frequency and the overall size of the web. Typically, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days.

Step 6: Check the Indexing Status

To check the indexing status of the URL, you can use the URL Inspection tool again. Enter the URL and press Enter. This time, you should see more information about the page, including whether it's been indexed, when it was last crawled, and any potential issues that might be preventing it from being indexed. If you see any errors, address them accordingly and request indexing again.

Submitting a Sitemap

While submitting individual URLs is great for getting specific pages indexed quickly, submitting a sitemap is a more comprehensive approach for ensuring that Google knows about all the important pages on your site. A sitemap is an XML file that lists all the URLs on your website, along with metadata like when each page was last updated and how important it is.

Why Submit a Sitemap?

Comprehensive Coverage: A sitemap ensures that Google knows about all the important pages on your site, even if they're not well-linked from other pages.
Improved Crawl Efficiency: By providing a sitemap, you help Google crawl your site more efficiently, prioritizing the pages that are most important to you.
Metadata Insights: Sitemaps can include metadata that provides Google with additional information about your pages, such as their last modification date and priority.

How to Submit a Sitemap

Create a Sitemap: If you don't already have one, you'll need to create a sitemap. There are many tools and plugins available that can help you generate a sitemap automatically. If you're using a CMS like WordPress, there are plugins like Yoast SEO and Rank Math that can create sitemaps for you. Or you can use online sitemap generators. A sitemap file is an XML file that lists all the URLs on your website.
Access Sitemaps in Search Console: In Google Search Console, go to the "Sitemaps" section, which is usually located in the left-hand menu under the "Index" section.
Enter Sitemap URL: Enter the URL of your sitemap file (e.g., https://www.example.com/sitemap.xml) and click Submit. Google will then process your sitemap and use it to crawl and index your site.
Monitor Sitemap Status: After submitting your sitemap, you can monitor its status in the Sitemaps section of Search Console. This will show you if Google was able to successfully process the sitemap and if there were any errors.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Sometimes, you might encounter issues when submitting URLs to Google. Here are some common problems and how to troubleshoot them:

"URL is not available to Google": This usually means that Google is unable to access the URL. This could be due to a robots.txt file blocking Googlebot, a server error, or a problem with your site's DNS settings. Check your robots.txt file, server logs, and DNS settings to identify and resolve the issue.
"Page is not mobile-friendly": Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites, so if your page isn't optimized for mobile devices, it might not be indexed as quickly. Use Google's Mobile-Friendly Test tool to check your page's mobile-friendliness and make any necessary improvements.
"Page has thin content": Google prefers high-quality, original content. If your page has very little content or is very similar to other pages on the web, it might not be indexed. Add more unique, valuable content to the page to improve its chances of being indexed.
"Page is redirecting": If the URL redirects to another page, Google might not index it. Make sure the URL resolves to the correct page and that the redirect is intentional.

Best Practices for URL Submission

To maximize the effectiveness of your URL submission efforts, follow these best practices:

Submit New and Updated Content Promptly: Whenever you publish new content or update existing pages, submit the URLs to Google right away. This will help Google discover these changes more quickly.
Prioritize Important Pages: Focus on submitting the URLs of your most important pages, such as your homepage, product pages, and key blog posts. These are the pages you want to make sure Google is aware of.
Use a Sitemap: As mentioned earlier, submitting a sitemap is a comprehensive way to ensure that Google knows about all the important pages on your site.
Monitor Indexing Status Regularly: Use the URL Inspection tool to regularly check the indexing status of your pages. This will help you identify any issues that might be preventing your pages from being indexed.
Fix Crawl Errors: Google Search Console provides information about any crawl errors that Googlebot encounters on your site. Fix these errors promptly to ensure that Google can crawl and index your site effectively.

Final Thoughts

Submitting URLs to Google Search Console is a simple but essential step in the SEO process. By following the steps outlined in this guide and adhering to best practices, you can ensure that Google is aware of your content and can crawl and index it effectively. So go ahead, give your website a little nudge and help it get the visibility it deserves!

Remember to keep your content fresh, valuable, and user-friendly. Happy indexing!