What is indexing?
When a search engine stores a page so it can be shown in results. A page that is not indexed cannot appear.
The plain definition
Indexing is the step after crawling. Once a search engine has read a page, it decides whether to store it in its index, the huge database it searches when someone types a query. Only pages in the index can appear in results. Not every crawled page is kept.
An example
You publish a new page about gutter cleaning and search for it by name a week later, but it does not appear. In Search Console it is marked as discovered but not indexed. The page is thin or nearly the same as another, so the search engine chose not to keep it.
Why it matters for a local business
To get good pages indexed, make each one useful and distinct, link to it from other pages, include it in your sitemap and make sure nothing blocks it. If a page is meant to stay private, such as a thank-you page, a noindex setting keeps it out on purpose.
Check it for free
See where you stand with the free website grader. If you would rather have it handled, our Websites service covers this as part of the monthly work.
Related terms
Part of the SEO glossary. New to all this? Start with the beginner’s SEO guide.
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