In today’s digital landscape, having your website crawled by Google is crucial for visibility and attracting high-quality user traffic.
However, the traditional crawling process can be time-consuming, which may not be ideal for time-sensitive content or outranking your competitors.
That’s where Google’s Indexing API comes in. This article will guide you through the process of leveraging the Indexing API to get your website crawled instantly.
Learn how to:
- Create a new project
- Configure the plugin
- Troubleshoot potential issues
- Ensure that your content remains up-to-date and visible to your target audience.
Google’s Indexing API: What It Is and Why It’s Important
Google’s Indexing API is a powerful tool that allows website owners to instantly crawl their websites and ensure their content is up-to-date. The benefits of using the Indexing API include faster rankings, attracting higher-quality user traffic, and staying ahead of competitors.
Implementation of the API involves creating a new project and service account, as well as adding the service account as an owner in Google Search Console. The SEO impact of using the Indexing API has been proven in various case studies.
While there are alternatives available, the Indexing API offers a reliable and efficient solution for website indexing.
Creating a New Project and Service Account
To create a new project and service account for Google’s Indexing API, start by heading over to the Google Cloud Platform. Create a new project and enable API access for it. Then, open the service accounts page to generate a service account. Make sure to set up permissions and copy the Service Account ID. Download the .json file containing the API key. This process allows you to manage multiple projects and troubleshoot common errors.
Adding the Service Account as an Owner of Your Google Search Console Property
To add the Service Account as an Owner of your Google Search Console Property, you need to register and verify your website with the Search Console. Once that is done, follow these steps:
- Navigate to ‘Users and Permissions’ in the Search Console settings.
- Click on the three dots next to your account and select ‘Add User’.
- Enter the Service Account ID as the email address and provide Owner level permission.
Configuring the Plugin for Instant Indexing
After adding the Service Account as an Owner of your Google Search Console Property, the next step in configuring the plugin for instant indexing is to set up the plugin settings.
This involves:
- Configuring the plugin’s options
- Setting up Google API credentials by pasting the JSON file or uploading it
- Choosing the right post types for indexing
- Verifying ownership in Google Search Console.
Additionally, it is important to be aware of and troubleshoot common plugin errors that may arise during the configuration process.
Troubleshooting and Additional Information: Installing the Plugin
As we move into the troubleshooting and additional information section, let’s address the process of installing the plugin for instant indexing in a professional manner.
Here are some common errors that you may encounter during plugin installation:
- Permission Denied Error: Ensure that the service account is listed as the owner for the site in Search Console.
- Entity Not Found Error: Use the API Console to publish/update the page once before using the Get status action.
- Indexing API Disabled or Not Used: Enable the Indexing API by visiting the provided URL and selecting your project, then retry.
Troubleshooting and Additional Information: Permission Denied Error
You may encounter a ‘Permission Denied’ error when attempting to install the plugin for instant indexing. This error can be resolved by ensuring that the service account is listed as the owner for the site in Search Console.
To troubleshoot this issue, follow these steps:
- Ownership verification: Confirm that the service account is listed as the owner in Search Console.
- Adding service account: Add the service account as an owner and verify the addition.
- Publishing/update page: Use the API Console to publish/update the page before checking the status.
- Enabling Indexing API: Enable the Indexing API and retry if it is disabled or not used.
- Standalone plugin: Explore the plugin’s functionality without relying on Rank Math SEO.
Troubleshooting and Additional Information: Entity Not Found Error
To continue addressing potential issues in the installation of the plugin for instant indexing, another error that may occur is the ‘Entity Not Found’ error. Troubleshooting the Indexing API can help resolve this error. Here are three things to keep in mind when troubleshooting the ‘Entity Not Found’ error:
- Use the API Console to publish/update the page once before using the Get status action.
- Enable the Indexing API by visiting the provided URL and selecting your project, then retry.
- Consider using alternative plugins for instant indexing if the ‘Entity Not Found’ error persists.
It’s important to understand the common errors in the Indexing API and troubleshoot them efficiently to ensure successful website indexing.
However, if the ‘Entity Not Found’ error persists, exploring alternative plugins for instant indexing may be a viable solution due to the limitations of the Indexing API.
Tips for Using the Plugin: Best Practices and Considerations
The best practices and considerations for using the plugin include:
- Implementing effective strategies for instant website indexing.
- To optimize the plugin settings, ensure proper API configuration by following the provided instructions.
- Select the appropriate post types for indexing to target specific content.
- In case of any issues, refer to the troubleshooting tips provided to resolve common problems.
- For Multisite configuration, configure the plugin and API settings separately for each subsite.
Conclusion
In conclusion, leveraging Google’s Indexing API is crucial for getting your website crawled instantly and ensuring your content is visible in search results.
By following the steps outlined in this article, such as creating a new project and service account, adding the service account as an owner in Google Search Console, and configuring the plugin for instant indexing, you can rank faster and attract higher-quality user traffic.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to stay up-to-date and reach your target audience effectively.
