How to Fix Excluded By Noindex in GSC

How to Fix Excluded By Noindex in GSC – Google Search Console (GSC) can be a treasure trove of SEO insights, but sometimes it throws up messages that can send shivers down your spine. One such chilling message? “Excluded by noindex tag.” It’s a warning that valuable pages are being blocked from Google’s search index, and your potential traffic is taking a nosedive. But fear not, SEO warriors!

This blog is your guide to understanding and fixing the “Excluded by noindex” issue.

✅ The Mystery Of The Noindex Tag: Unmasking The Culprit

So, what exactly is a noindex tag? It’s a snippet of code placed on a web page, usually in the <meta> section, that instructs search engines not to index the page. It’s a helpful tool for hiding internal pages, test versions, or low-quality content that might harm your SEO. However, its presence on pages you want indexed can be a major SEO roadblock.

There are numerous pathways through which the noindex tag can potentially find itself embedded within your web pages:

• Manual Error: It’s plausible that either you or an individual managing your website inadvertently introduced the noindex tag while making alterations or updates. Often, in the process of modifying content or configuring settings, an accidental addition of the tag can occur.
• SEO Plugin/Theme: Certain plugins or themes integrated into your website might include default or customizable settings that have the potential to apply the noindex tag across your pages. Sometimes, due to misconfiguration or unintentional activation, these settings can lead to unexpected indexing issues.
• Content Management System (CMS) Configuration: Various Content Management Systems offer advanced functionalities and settings that cater to SEO requirements. However, these systems might also have specific options for implementing the noindex tag on particular types of content. If these settings are enabled or incorrectly configured, it can result in unintended indexing directives.
• Hacking Incidents: In rare but critical instances, malicious cyber attackers or hackers may infiltrate your website’s backend and deliberately insert the noindex tag as a part of their tactics to disrupt or harm your site’s SEO performance. Such hacking attempts can severely impact your website’s visibility on search engines and sabotage your SEO efforts if undetected and unaddressed promptly.

✅ Diagnosing The Noindex Plague: Unmasking The Infected Pages

Identifying the pages affected by the noindex tag is the first step towards recovery. Thankfully, GSC offers a handy tool called “Excluded by noindex tag” under the “Coverage” section. This report lists all URLs affected by the tag, allowing you to pinpoint the problematic pages.

Once you have the list, it’s time to delve deeper. Here’s how to analyze each affected page:

When assessing the presence of a noindex tag or evaluating the indexing status of your web pages, consider these steps:

• Content Evaluation: Take a comprehensive review of your content. Assess its quality, relevance, and value to your audience. Evaluate whether the content aligns with your SEO strategy and business objectives. Determine whether you want specific content to be indexed by search engines or if it’s more appropriate for it to remain excluded from indexing.
• Examine Noindex Tag Location: Conduct a thorough examination of your page’s HTML code. Focus particularly on the <meta> section, where the noindex tag might be incorporated. Additionally, scrutinize the content of the robots.txt file, as it could contain directives that might affect indexing.
• Investigate Plugins or Themes: If your website utilizes plugins or themes, delve into their settings. Some plugins or themes might include functionalities that can inadvertently insert a noindex tag or conflict with other indexing directives. Carefully inspect these settings to ensure they align with your desired indexing preferences.
• Review CMS Configuration: Explore the settings within your Content Management System (CMS). Certain CMS platforms offer default configurations or options that automatically set specific content types to be excluded from indexing. Assess these configurations to verify if they are unintentionally applying noindex directives to your content.

✅ The Cure For The Noindex Conundrum: Eradicating The Blockade

Now that you’ve identified the affected pages and the noindex culprit, it’s time to take action!

Here are your options:

• Remove the Noindex Tag: For pages that you want to be indexed by search engines, the simplest approach is to eliminate the noindex tag. This can be achieved by directly editing the HTML code of the affected pages. Alternatively, access the settings of plugins or themes responsible for the noindex tag and adjust the configurations to exclude the tag from these pages.
• Rectify the Noindex Rule: In cases where the noindex tag originates from a plugin or a rule within your Content Management System (CMS), it’s crucial to address the root cause. Adjust the configuration settings within the plugin or CMS to ensure that the noindex directive is applied only to the intended pages, leaving the desired content indexable.
• Implement Canonical Tags: If you’re dealing with duplicate content issues that have been marked with noindex tags, employing canonical tags is an effective strategy. Canonical tags specify the preferred version of duplicate content for indexing purposes. By adding these tags to your pages, you guide search engines like Google towards the primary or preferred content version for indexing, despite the duplicates.
• Request Indexing via GSC: Once you’ve resolved the issues pertaining to the noindex tag and ensured that the affected pages are now eligible for indexing, take proactive steps to expedite the process. Utilize the URL Inspection Tool available within Google Search Console (GSC). Submit the URLs of the rectified pages to request indexing from Google. This action signals to Google’s crawlers that these pages are ready for re-evaluation and inclusion in search engine indexes.

✅ Proactive Prevention: Shielding Your Pages From The Noindex Nightmare

To avoid future “Excluded by noindex” scares, implement these preventive measures:

• Regularly audit your website: Use SEO tools or crawlers to check for any noindex tags on unexpected pages.
• Educate your team: Train content creators and site managers about the importance of noindex tags and proper usage.
• Monitor GSC regularly: Keep a close eye on the “Excluded by noindex tag” report and address any new issues promptly.
• Backup your site: Having regular backups allows you to restore previous versions if noindex tags are accidentally added.

✅ Beyond The Fix: Embracing Transparency And Communication

Remember, transparency is key! If you intentionally exclude certain pages, document your reasons and communicate them to your SEO team. This helps in future audits and avoids unnecessary confusion.

Conclusion

Don’t let the “Excluded by noindex” message haunt your SEO. By understanding its cause, identifying affected pages, and implementing the right fixes, you can banish this ghost and ensure your valuable content shines in the search engine spotlight. Remember, a proactive approach, coupled with regular monitoring and documentation, is your best defense against the noindex menace. So, go forth, brave SEO warriors, and conquer the “Excluded by noindex” challenge!