How to Get Website Indexed on Google

If you’ve built a website and it’s not showing up on Google, it can feel frustrating. You might be asking, “Why isn’t my website appearing in search results?” or “How do I get Google to notice my site?”

The answer starts with indexing. Getting your website indexed means Google knows your site exists and adds it to its search list. If it’s not indexed, it won’t show up in search results—no matter how good your content is.

This blog will show you, in simple steps,  how to get your website indexed on Google,  why it matters, and how you can speed up the process.

What Does It Mean to Be Indexed by Google?

When your website is indexed, Google has visited your pages, read them, and stored them in its search database. This is how your site becomes searchable. If someone types something related to your site into Google, there’s a chance your page will appear in the results.

Indexing is different from ranking. Ranking is about where you show up in search results. But if your site isn’t indexed at all, it won’t show up anywhere.

How Does Google Index a Website?

Here’s the basic process:

• Google’s bots (also called crawlers) visit websites and follow links from page to page.
• The bots read your content, look at your links, images, and code.
• If everything looks good, Google adds the page to its index.
• Once in the index, your page can appear in search results.

The good news is—there are simple ways to help Google find your site faster.

How to Get Your Website Indexed on Google

1. Submit Your Website to Google Search Console:
   Google Search Console is a free tool that helps you monitor how your site performs in search. To use it:
   • Go to search.google.com/search-console
   • Add your website as a new property
   • Verify that you own the site
   • Submit your sitemap (usually found at yoursite.com/sitemap.xml)
2. Create and Submit a Sitemap:
   A sitemap is a file that lists all the pages on your website. It tells Google how your site is organized. If you're using WordPress, install a plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math to generate a sitemap. Then, submit it through Google Search Console.
3. Fix Crawl Errors:
   Sometimes Google tries to crawl your site but runs into errors. These could be broken links, missing pages, or permission issues. Check the “Coverage” section in  Google Search Console  and fix any listed problems.
4. Use Internal Linking:
   Link your new pages to existing indexed ones. This helps Google bots discover your new content faster.
5. Share Your Website on Other Platforms:
   Post your website link on social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. External visibility helps bots find and crawl your site.
6. Submit URLs Manually:
   Use the URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console to submit individual pages. This is especially useful for new or recently updated pages.
7. Make Sure Your Site Isn’t Blocked:
   Check your robots.txt file at yourwebsite.com/robots.txt. Ensure it doesn’t have the line Disallow: / unless you're intentionally blocking crawlers.

How Long Does It Take for Google to Index a Website?

It depends. Some websites are indexed in a few hours, while others may take days or weeks. Using Google Search Console and submitting a sitemap can speed up the process.

Why Your Website Might Not Be Indexed

If your website isn’t showing up on Google, here are a few possible reasons:

• Your site is very new
• You haven’t submitted a sitemap
• Google can’t crawl your site due to errors
• You accidentally blocked Google using robots.txt
• There’s no content or the content is too thin
• Your site is too slow or doesn’t work well on mobile

Fixing these issues can help your site get indexed.

Tips to Keep Your Site Indexed

• Add new content regularly: Google favors fresh content
• Fix broken pages: Broken links can lead to removal from the index
• Improve page speed: Slow websites risk being skipped
• Keep mobile users in mind: Your site should work well on phones and tablets

Need Help Getting Indexed? Work With SEO Raft

Getting your site indexed is the first step in showing up on Google—but it’s not always easy to do on your own.

That’s where  SEO Raft  comes in. We’re a trusted team that helps businesses grow online. Whether you need help with technical issues, setting up Google Search Console, or writing content that ranks, we’ve got you covered.

SEO Raft is the digital partner you can count on. We’ll help make sure your site gets indexed—and stays there.