Why semKRK#23 BIG Is Unmissable

World-Class Expertise on Stage

Lineup brings together top practitioners who not only speak at the largest global marketing conferences but also live and breathe the very tactics they teach:
Maciej Chmurkowski, Enterprise Products Owner, Senuto Enterprise
Damian Sałkowski, CEO, Senuto
Maja Wiśniewska-Hardek, Head of Marketing, SMSAPI
Krzysztof Modrzewski, Head of Education, Witbee
Sebastian Heymann, Head of SEO, Rise360
Murat Yatagan, Growth Advisor, muratyatagan.com
Serge Nguele, Founder, Your PPC Doctor
Mark Williams-Cook, Director, Candour
Maciej Lewiński, CEO, data.rocks
Przemysław Modrzewski, xPlatform Measurement & Growth Lead, CEE, Google
Roksana Frankowska, SEO Lead, KERRIS
Michał Ozimek, Senior SEM Specialist, Vilaro
Lera Rastyazhenko, Senior Web Analyst, Gecko Dynamics
Robert Głowacki, Head of SEO & AI Operations, Altavia Kamikaze + K2
—and that’s just the beginning.

semKRK Awards 2025

For the eighth year, semKRK Awards will crown Poland’s standout campaigns in SEO, Google Ads, and E-commerce. Judged by former semKRK speakers, these awards highlight the most innovative and effective initiatives launched over the past year.

Advanced Pre-Conference Workshops

Sharpen your skills in our two-day, online workshops (June 12–13):
Google Ads & Analytics
Advanced SEO
Led by practitioner-experts, these sessions feature live Q&A and real-time feedback so you can apply new techniques immediately.

Networking, Chilling & AfterParty

Seminars are one thing—but connections are another. Long coffee breaks, chill zones in front of Stara Zajezdnia and on the mezzanine, plus an AfterParty in the heart of Kazimierz (often stretching into dawn!) create the perfect environment to swap best practices, spark collaborations, or just relax with old friends.

Meet Revamper11.com

This year, we’re thrilled to host Revamper11.com—the cutting-edge optimization tool transforming SEO performance. Our team will be on site all day, ready for private demos and strategy chats. Whether you’re curious about creative testing, or cross-channel analytics, swing by their booth to see Revamper11 in action.

Tickets & Registration:

• Conference Pass: 449 PLN net for full access to all sessions on 18 June.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of semKRK#23 BIG—where the Polish SEM community meets, learns, and innovates.

Secure your ticket now at semkrk.pl

Artykuł Discover the power of data-driven marketing at semKRK#23 BIG in Kraków pochodzi z serwisu Blog Search Console.

What does the 401 error mean?

A 401 error signifies that the request made by Googlebot was unauthorized. This means that the server is expecting some form of authentication that has not been provided. As a result, Google cannot crawl or index the affected pages, which can harm your website’s SEO performance.

Common scenarios leading to a 401 error include:

– Protected Content. Pages that require a login, such as user accounts or admin panels.

– Misconfigured Authentication. Incorrect settings in your server configuration or content management system (CMS) that prevent access to certain pages.

Temporary Server Issues. Sometimes, server misconfigurations or temporary outages can lead to this error.

How to diagnose the issue

To effectively diagnose and resolve the 401 error, consider the following steps:

Check server configuration

Review your server settings to ensure that the pages labeled with 401 issues are accessible without requiring authentication for Googlebot.

Use the URL inspection tool

In Google Search Console, use the URL Inspection Tool to check the status of the affected URLs. This tool provides insights into how Google views your page and any issues it encounters. You can also monitor the URL status with Revamper11 to make sure the issue still persists.

Review robots.txt file

Ensure that your `robots.txt` file is not inadvertently blocking access to important pages. 

Test accessibility

Manually test the URLs in question by attempting to access them from an incognito browser window or using tools designed to simulate Googlebot’s requests.

Resolving the Blocked due to unauthorized request (401) error

Once you have identified the cause of the 401 error, you can take several steps to resolve it:

Adjust authentication settings

If certain pages should be publicly accessible, modify your authentication settings accordingly.

Implement proper redirects

If a page has been moved or requires a different URL structure, ensure that appropriate redirects are in place.

Request indexing after fixes

After making necessary changes, return to Google Search Console and request indexing for the affected URLs. This will prompt Googlebot to revisit these pages and update their status.

Monitor for recurrences

Keep an eye on your Search Console reports for any further occurrences of this error after implementing fixes.

In summary, addressing the “Blocked due to unauthorized request (401)” error involves understanding its implications for SEO and taking proactive measures to ensure that your content is accessible to search engines.

Citations:

https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/7440203?h

https://www.onely.com/blog/how-to-fix-blocked-due-to-unauthorized-request-401

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/77109541/blocked-due-to-unauthorised-request-401-error-thrown-by-google-indexing-and-li

Artykuł Blocked due to unauthorized request (401) in Google Search Console. SOLVED! pochodzi z serwisu Blog Search Console.

Understanding soft 404 errors

A soft 404 error happens when a server responds with a 200 OK status for a page that should return a 404 (Not Found) status. This situation misleads search engines into thinking the page is valid while users encounter a message indicating that the content is not found. According to Google, this can lead to issues with indexing and negatively affect your website’s rankings. 

To better understand soft 404 errors, it’s essential to recognize their common causes. Poor server configurations often lead to these errors, as some servers are set up to return a 200 status for pages that do not exist. Additionally, pages with very little content may also be flagged as soft 404s by crawlers, as they do not provide sufficient value or context.

Sometimes, such errors may concern listings that are changing – for example, if part of the records disappears from the list for a given category – Google may classify the page as a soft 404. Therefore, if the content reappears, you should resubmit the URL for validation.

Identifying soft 404 errors in Google Search Console

The first step in addressing soft 404 errors is to identify them within Google Search Console. Navigate to the “Idexing” report (”Pages”) and look for any URLs marked as soft 404s. This section will provide insights into which pages are causing issues and why they are being flagged.

Once you have identified the problematic URLs, it’s crucial to verify their validity. Check if these pages genuinely contain content or if they are mistakenly marked as soft 404s. If a page is indeed non-existent or should return a different status, you will need to take appropriate action.

WYIMEK: Remember that the ideal tool for managing errors reported by GSC is Revamper11. Read what it is and how to use it.

Fixing soft 404 errors

To resolve soft 404 errors effectively, follow these best practices:

Change response codes

For pages that no longer exist, ensure they return a proper 404 status code instead of misleading users with a 200 response. This clear communication informs both users and search engines that the content is unavailable.

Enhance thin content

If you have pages that are valid but flagged as soft 404s due to insufficient content, consider enhancing them with relevant information, images, and links. This improvement signals their value and helps prevent misclassification.

Redirect wisely

If you have removed content but want to direct users elsewhere, use appropriate redirects (301) to guide them to relevant pages instead of leading them back to the homepage or unrelated content.

Regular audits

Conduct regular audits of your website using tools like Google Search Console to monitor for new soft 404 errors and address them promptly.

Preventing future soft 404 errors

To avoid encountering soft 404 errors in the future, implement proactive measures:

– Ensure your server configurations are correctly set up to return appropriate HTTP status codes.

– Regularly review your website’s content for quality and relevance.

– Utilize custom error pages that guide users back to useful sections of your site rather than leaving them at a dead end.

By following these recommendations, you can maintain the integrity of your website’s indexing and improve user experience.

Citations:

https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/7440203?hl=en

https://prerender.io/blog/soft-404

https://support.google.com/webmasters/thread/157725229/how-to-handle-soft-404-errors-for-temporarily-unavailable-listings?hl=en

https://ziptie.dev/blog/soft-404-explained

https://neilpatel.com/blog/soft-404s

https://yoast.com/what-is-a-soft-404-error

https://www.searchenginejournal.com/technical-seo/404-vs-soft-404-errors

Artykuł How to handle soft 404 errors in Google Search Console pochodzi z serwisu Blog Search Console.

What does “Noindex” mean?

The term “noindex” refers to a meta tag or HTTP header that tells search engines not to include a specific page in their index. When a page is marked with this directive, it will not appear in search engine results pages (SERPs). The noindex tag can be implemented in two primary ways:

– Meta Tag: Placed in the HTML head section of a webpage:

  <meta name=”robots” content=”noindex”>

– HTTP Header: Set at the server level using the X-Robots-Tag:

  X-Robots-Tag: noindex

Why does this error occur?

The “Submitted URL Marked ‘Noindex'” error typically occurs when:

– A URL is included in your XML sitemap or submitted manually for indexing.

– The same URL contains a noindex directive, leading Google to ignore the request for indexing.

This situation sends conflicting signals to search engines, which can waste crawl budget and hinder the overall SEO strategy.

How to identify affected URLs

To resolve this issue, you first need to identify which URLs are affected. Here’s how to find them:

1. Log into Google Search Console. Access your account at https://search.google.com/search-console/.
2. Navigate to the Index Coverage Report. Click on the “Pages” section under the “Indexing” tab.
3. Locate the error. Scroll through the report until you find entries labeled as “Submitted URL Marked ‘Noindex’.” This section will list all URLs that are causing issues.

Steps to fix the issue

Once you’ve identified the problematic URLs, follow these steps to resolve the error:

–  Verify URL submission. Ensure that the URLs listed are correctly submitted in your XML sitemap and are intended for indexing.

– Check for noindex tags. Inspect each URL’s source code for any noindex directives. If you find any, determine whether they should be removed based on your indexing strategy.

– Adjust sitemap entries:

  – If a page should not be indexed, remove it from your XML sitemap.

  – If it should be indexed, remove the noindex tag from its source code or HTTP headers.

– Use Google’s URL inspection tool. After making changes, utilize this tool within Google Search Console to verify that the noindex directive has been removed and request re-indexing if necessary. Except for GSC you can always use specialized tools to monitor and manage indexing errors, such as Revamper11.

– Check password-protected pages. If pages are password-protected (e.g., members-only content), they will automatically receive a noindex tag. Decide if this protection is necessary or if you want them indexed by removing password protection.

– Re-crawling requests. After resolving issues, you can expedite Google’s re-crawling process by manually requesting indexing through Google Search Console.

Managing URLs marked with “noindex” is crucial for maintaining an effective SEO strategy. By understanding how to identify and resolve these issues, webmasters can ensure that their intended content is indexed properly by search engines. Regular monitoring through tools like Google Search Console or Revamper11 can help prevent future occurrences of this error and optimize website visibility in search results.

Citations:

https://seotesting.com/google-search-console/submitted-url-marked-noindex

https://yoast.com/help/crawl-error-submitted-url-marked-noindex

https://support.google.com/webmasters/thread/4214818?hl=en&msgid=9302774

Artykuł URL marked ‘noindex’ issue – how to fix  pochodzi z serwisu Blog Search Console.

Understanding robots.txt

The robots.txt file is a plain text document placed in the root directory of a website. It instructs crawlers on which parts of the site they can access and which they should ignore. The two primary directives used in this file are User-agent and Disallow. 

– User-agent specifies which crawler the rules apply to, and can be set to a specific bot or use an asterisk (*) to apply to all bots.

– Disallow indicates which URLs should not be crawled.

Examples of blocking URLs

Block all crawling
To prevent all bots from accessing any part of your site, use:

User-agent: *
Disallow: /

Block specific pages
To block a particular page for all bots, such as “private.html”:

User-agent: *
Disallow: /private.html

Block specific directories
To block an entire directory for all bots, such as “admin”:

User-agent: *
Disallow: /admin/

Block specific file types
To prevent indexing of certain file types for all bots, like PDFs:

User-agent: *
Disallow: /*.pdf$

Block URLs with query strings
To block URLs containing specific parameters for all bots:

 User-agent: *
Disallow: /*?*

Allow specific pages within blocked directories
If you want to block an entire directory for all bots but allow access to one specific page:

User-agent: *
Disallow: /private/
Allow: /private/allowed-page.html

Block Specific Bots
You can also target specific bots by name:

User-agent: Googlebot
Disallow: /no-google/

User-agent: Bingbot
Disallow: /

Blocking AI bots and LLMs

As AI technologies evolve, many webmasters are concerned about unauthorized scraping of their content by AI bots and LLMs like GPTBot. Here are effective methods to block these entities:

Blocking specific AI bots
To prevent GPTBot from accessing your site, add the following lines to your robots.txt file:

User-agent: GPTBot
Disallow: /

Blocking multiple AI bots
If you want to block several known AI bots, you can specify each one of them:

User-agent: OAI-SearchBot
Disallow: /

User-agent: CCBot
Disallow: /

User-agent: Scrapy
Disallow: /

General blocking for AI scrapers
To ensure that all AI bots are restricted, you might use a wildcard approach (but that would also block non-AI bots such as Google Bots):

User-agent: *
Disallow: /

Limitations of robots.txt

While the robots.txt file is a powerful tool for controlling crawler access, it is important to note that compliance is voluntary for most bots. Malicious bots may ignore these directives entirely. Therefore, while using robots.txt can help manage legitimate crawler traffic, it may not be foolproof against all scraping attempts.

Responding to “Blocked by robots.txt” in Google Search Console

When you receive a notification about URLs being blocked by robots.txt in Google Search Console:

Verify the blockage
Use the URL Inspection tool to confirm that the URL is indeed blocked.

Assess Intent
Determine if the blockage was intentional or accidental.

Modify robots.txt if necessary
If you want the page indexed, update your robots.txt file accordingly.

Request recrawl
After making changes, use the URL Inspection tool again to request indexing.

Track common issues
Use tools that enable you to monitor and manage similar errors – build history of all actions taken on each URL address. Try Revamper11.

Managing your robots.txt file effectively is crucial for SEO and content protection strategies. By understanding how to block various URLs and specific bots – especially emerging AI technologies – you can maintain control over your website’s accessibility while optimizing its visibility in search results. Taking care about proper rules in robots.txt helps you take care of your crawl budget.

Citations:

https://developers.google.com/search/docs/crawling-indexing/robots/intro?hl=pl
https://ignitevisibility.com/the-newbies-guide-to-blocking-content-with-robots-txt/ 
https://www.krasamo.com/block-gptbot

Artykuł URL blocked by robots.txt. How to deal with Google Search Console issue pochodzi z serwisu Blog Search Console.

Causes of redirect errors

Redirect errors can arise from various factors. One common issue is incorrect redirect URLs, where the target URL of a redirect is either wrong or leads to a non-existent page. This results in Googlebot being unable to access the requested content. Imagine a situation where the original page, “www.example.com/old-page,” is supposed to redirect users to “www.example.com/new-page.” However, if the redirect is mistakenly configured to point to “www.example.com/non-existent-page,” Googlebot will encounter a problem. Since the target URL does not exist, Googlebot will be unable to access the requested content, leading to a redirect error in Google Search Console. This example highlights the importance of ensuring that all redirect URLs are accurate and lead to valid pages to avoid indexing issues and maintain good search engine performance.

Another problem is redirect loops, which occur when a redirect points back to itself or creates a closed cycle between multiple URLs. This situation can cause googlebot to get stuck and unable to complete its request. An example of a redirect loop can be illustrated with three pages: page A, page B, and page C. If page A is set to redirect to page B, and then page B redirects to page C, which in turn redirects back to page A, this creates an endless cycle. As a result, when a user or Googlebot attempts to access page A, they are redirected to page B, then to page C, and back to page A again. This situation leads to the browser displaying an error message such as “too many redirects,” preventing access to any of the pages involved in the loop. It highlights how poorly configured redirects can create significant accessibility issues for both users and search engines.

Long redirect chains can also contribute to these errors. While Googlebot can follow multiple redirects, having too many in sequence can lead to inefficiencies and potential failures in reaching the final destination. Long redirect chains can create inefficiencies and errors in web navigation. Here’s an example to illustrate this situation:

1. Initial URL (Page A): A user clicks on a link to https://example.com/old-page.
2. First Redirect (Page B): This page redirects to https://example.com/intermediate-page.
3. Second Redirect (Page C): From there, it redirects again to https://example.com/another-intermediate-page.
4. Final Redirect (Page D): Finally, this last page redirects to https://example.com/final-destination.

In this scenario, the user experiences multiple redirects before reaching the intended page, which can lead to longer load times and potential failures if any link in the chain is broken. Googlebot can follow up to five hops in a redirect chain, but if it cannot reach the final destination by the fifth hop, it may stop trying altogether. This inefficiency not only affects user experience but can also impact SEO performance due to potential loss of link authority and increased load times.

To avoid such issues, it’s advisable to set up direct redirects from the initial URL to the final destination whenever possible, thereby eliminating unnecessary intermediate steps.

Additionally, using misconfigured redirect types can confuse search engines; for instance, employing a temporary redirect when a permanent one is needed may lead to indexing issues. Misconfigured redirect type can occur when a website mistakenly employs a temporary redirect (302) instead of a permanent redirect (301). Consider a scenario where a site has moved its content from “www.example.com/old-page” to “www.example.com/new-page.” if the site owner sets up a 302 redirect for this change, search engines may interpret this as a temporary move, suggesting that the old page might return in the future. As a result, search engines may continue to index the old URL rather than transferring its ranking and authority to the new page. It can lead to indexing issues, where both URLs compete for visibility in search results, ultimately harming the site’s overall seo performance. Using the correct redirect type is crucial to ensure that search engines understand the nature of the change and properly update their indexes.

Handling redirect errors in Google Search Console

When you receive a notification about redirect errors in GSC, it’s essential to take action.
Here are steps to effectively manage these issues:

Identify affected URLs

Navigate to the index coverage report in Google Search Console to find pages flagged with redirect errors. This report will help you pinpoint which URLs are causing problems.

Inspect the redirects

Use the url inspection tool within GSC to analyze the specific redirects. Check whether they lead to valid pages and ensure there are no loops or chains that exceed recommended limits.

Correct any issues

Once you identify problematic redirects, make necessary adjustments. Ensure all URLs are correctly formatted and accessible, fix any loops or chains, and verify that you are using the appropriate redirect types.

Resubmit your sitemap

After making corrections, update your sitemap and resubmit it through GSC. This will prompt Googlebot to re-crawl your site and index the corrected pages.

Monitor regularly

Keep an eye on your Google Search Console reports for any new or recurring issues. Regular monitoring helps catch problems early before they affect your site’s visibility.

Best practices for managing redirects

To minimize the occurrence of redirect errors in the future, consider implementing several best practices. If you are sure that you are permanently transferring one resource to another – always use 301 redirects for permanent changes since they pass on link equity from the old URL to the new one. Limiting the number of redirects on any given page and avoiding unnecessary chains can also help maintain efficiency.

Utilizing tools like Screaming Frog, Revamper11 or httpstatus.io can assist in regularly checking your site’s redirects for accuracy and efficiency. Maintaining a clean and updated sitemap that reflects only valid URLs further supports effective management of redirects.

By following these guidelines, you can effectively manage redirect errors in Google Search Console, ensuring that your website remains accessible and optimized for search engines.

Citations:

https://seotesting.com/google-search-console/redirect-error

https://www.onely.com/blog/how-to-fix-redirect-error-in-google-search-console

https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/7440203?hl=en

Artykuł Redirect errors in Google Search Console pochodzi z serwisu Blog Search Console.

Frequent 5xx errors, which indicate server issues, can significantly harm a website’s SEO performance. These errors negatively impact both user experience and the way search engines like Google index and rank web pages.

Types of 5xx errors

5xx errors encompass various status codes, including:

500 Internal Server Error – a generic error indicating that something went wrong on the server.
501 Not Implemented – the server does not recognize the request method.
502 Bad Gateway – an invalid response was received from an upstream server.
503 Service Unavailable – the server is temporarily unable to handle requests due to overload or maintenance.
504 Gateway Timeout – the server did not receive a timely response from an upstream server.

These errors are problematic because they can prevent search engines from crawling and indexing your site, leading to decreased visibility and potential deindexing if persistent.

Identifying the cause of 5xx errors

To effectively address 5xx errors, it is essential first to identify their root causes:

Check server logs
Server logs provide detailed information about requests and responses, helping pinpoint specific issues.

Monitor traffic patterns
High traffic can overwhelm servers, leading to errors. Analyzing traffic can help anticipate and mitigate spikes.

Review recent changes
If errors began occurring after updates or changes to the website or server configuration, rolling back those changes may resolve the issue.

Utilize monitoring tools
Tools like Google Search Console and Revamper11 can alert you to 5xx errors in real-time, allowing for quicker responses.

Check our guides:

How to Add a Website to Google Search Console using an HTML File

How to Add a Website to Google Search Console using Google Analytics Code

How to Add a Website to Google Search Console via Google Tag Manager / GTM

How to Add a Website to Google Search Console using DNS Record

How to add a website to Google Search Console via URL prefix (authorization using an HTML tag)

Common reasons for 5xx errors include server malfunctions, insufficient resources, code issues, and timeouts. Understanding these causes is crucial for effective troubleshooting.

Resolving 5xx errors

Once you have identified the cause of the 5xx error, follow these steps for resolution:

– Reload the page
Sometimes, the issue may be temporary. A simple refresh can resolve transient problems.

– Clear cookies and cache
Corrupted cookies or cache data can lead to server errors. Clearing them might fix the issue on the client side.

– Optimize server resources
Ensure that your server has adequate resources (CPU, memory) to handle incoming requests. Consider implementing load balancing or using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to distribute traffic more evenly.

– Check for plugin conflicts
If using platforms like WordPress, deactivate plugins one by one to identify any that may be causing conflicts leading to 5xx errors.

– Contact your hosting provider
If you cannot resolve the issue on your own, reaching out to your hosting provider can provide insights into server-side problems that may not be visible from your end.

Onely emphasizes that if Google Search Console reports a 5xx error but the site works fine for users, it may indicate a temporary overload situation where the server cannot handle requests efficiently. 

Impact on crawl budget

One of the primary ways 5xx errors affect SEO is through their influence on a site’s crawl budget. Search engines allocate a specific amount of resources to crawl each website, which includes the number of pages they will visit and index within a given timeframe. When Googlebot encounters multiple 5xx errors, it may reduce its crawling frequency. This means that not only does existing content risk being overlooked, but new updates and pages may also fail to be indexed promptly. Consequently, this can result in a slower indexing process for valuable content, ultimately leading to diminished visibility in search results.

User experience and bounce rates

User experience is another critical area affected by 5xx errors. When users attempt to access a website and are met with server errors, their experience is disrupted, often leading to frustration and abandonment of the site. High bounce rates – where users leave the site after viewing only one page – signal to search engines that the site may not be providing the quality experience that users expect. Google interprets these signals as indicators of a site’s reliability and relevance, which can further harm its rankings.

Immediate vs. long-term effects

The effects of 5xx errors can vary depending on their frequency and duration. For instance, while a single instance of a 500 Internal Server Error can result in immediate ranking drops, 503 Service Unavailable Errors typically require prolonged occurrences before they lead to significant ranking penalties. This highlights the importance of promptly addressing server issues as they arise to mitigate potential damage to SEO performance.

Best practices for preventing 5xx errors

To minimize the occurrence of 5xx errors in the future:

Implement robust logging and monitoring
Use Application Performance Monitoring (APM) tools to diagnose issues quickly and set up alerts for immediate notification of 5xx errors.

Regular backups
Maintain regular backups of your website and server configurations to restore functionality quickly in case of severe issues.

Conduct routine audits
Regularly audit your website for performance issues and potential vulnerabilities that could lead to server errors.

Moreover, frequent 5xx errors can harm SEO performance by decreasing crawl budgets and leading to poor user experiences. Googlebot may reduce its crawling frequency if it encounters multiple 5xx responses, which affects both existing content and new updates.

Citations:

https://www.onely.com/blog/server-error-5xx-google-search-console

https://seo-hacker.com/complete-guide-5xx-server-errors

https://www.oncrawl.com/oncrawl-seo-thoughts/5xx-server-errors

Artykuł How to deal with server error 500 and others (5xx) pochodzi z serwisu Blog Search Console.

Common errors in page indexing

Not indexed

In Google Search Console you will find 2 sections – one with indexed URLs, the other with non-indexed URLs. Below we will focus only on those that have not indexed status.

Please note that pages that have not been indexed do not necessarily contain errors. It is very important that you read the detailed descriptions provided to determine whether action is needed.

Server Error (5xx)

A 500-level error indicates a server issue when Google attempts to access the page. This needs immediate attention to ensure proper functionality.

Read the article dedicated to Server errors (5xx).

Redirect errors

These can occur due to:

   – Long redirect chains

   – Redirect loops

   – URLs exceeding maximum length

   – Bad or empty URLs in the redirect chain

   Tools like Lighthouse can help diagnose these issues.

See our guide about Redirect errors.

URL blocked by robots.txt

If a page is blocked by your site’s `robots.txt` file, it won’t be crawled by Googlebot. However, it may still be indexed if linked elsewhere (and that’s how Google finds out about it).

See our guide about URL blocked by robots.txt

URL marked ‘noindex’

Pages with a ‘noindex’ directive will not be indexed. If indexing is desired, this directive must be removed.

Soft 404

This occurs when a page returns a user-friendly “not found” message without a proper 404 HTTP response code. Correctly returning a 404 status for non-existent pages is recommended.

Blocked due to unauthorized request (401)

If access requires authorization, Googlebot will be unable to index the page unless access is granted.

Not found (404)

If a page returns a 404 error, it indicates that the page does not exist. Google may continue to attempt crawling this URL over time.

Blocked due to access forbidden (403)

This error indicates that Googlebot was denied access due to incorrect server settings.

Crawled – currently not indexed

Pages that have been crawled but not indexed may still be considered for future indexing.

Duplicate content issues

Duplicate without user-selected canonical

Indicates that Google has chosen another URL as canonical.

Duplicate, Google chose different canonical than user

The user-declared canonical is not the one selected by Google.

Page with redirect

Non-canonical URLs that redirect will not be indexed unless the target URL is indexed.

Warnings in page indexing

Warnings do not prevent indexing but indicate potential issues. In GSC you will encounter the following warnings:

H3: Indexed, though blocked by robots.txt

The page may still appear in search results despite being blocked.

Page indexed without content

Indicates that Google could not read the content of the page, possibly due to cloaking or unsupported formats.

Read more about Page indexed without content.

Understanding these errors and warnings allows you to take corrective actions effectively, ensuring that your website is fully optimized for search engines.

Citations:
https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/7440203?hl=en

Artykuł Page indexing report in Google Search Console. What is it and how to read it. pochodzi z serwisu Blog Search Console.

An image sitemap is a specialized type of XML sitemap that specifically lists the images on a website. It serves as a roadmap for search engine crawlers, guiding them to discover and index visual content effectively. By including image URLs and relevant metadata such as titles, captions, and licenses, you enhance the chances of your images appearing in search results.

H2: Why use an image sitemap?

What is an image sitemap?

Using an image sitemap offers several benefits:

– Improved visibility: images that are included in an image sitemap are more likely to be indexed by search engines. This increases the chances of your visuals appearing in Google Image Search results.

– Enhanced SEO: properly indexed images contribute to better overall SEO performance. Search engines use images as a ranking factor, and having a dedicated sitemap can improve your site’s visibility.

– Faster indexing: when you launch new content with important images, an image sitemap helps ensure that these visuals are indexed quickly.

Understanding image sitemap structure

When creating an image sitemap, it is essential to adhere to the specific structure outlined by Google to ensure proper indexing. Each entry in the image sitemap must include a `<url>` tag that contains the URL of the page where the image is located, followed by one or more `<image:image>` tags. Within each `<image:image>` tag, you should include the `<image:loc>` tag, which specifies the URL of the image itself. Additionally, optional tags such as `<image:title>`, `<image:caption>`, and `<image:geo_location>` can be included to provide further context about the image. This structured approach helps search engines understand not only where to find your images but also their relevance and context within your website.

How to create an image sitemap

Creating an image sitemap can be done manually or through automated tools.
Here’s how:

Manual creation

Create an XML file: start by creating a new XML file using a text editor.

Define the XML structure: use the following structure as a template:

<?xml version=”1.0″ encoding=”UTF-8″?>

<urlset xmlns=”http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap-image/1.1″>

    <url>

        <loc>http://www.example.com/page-url</loc>

        <image:image>

            <image:loc>http://www.example.com/image-url.jpg</image:loc>

            <image:title>Image Title</image:title>

            <image:caption>Image Caption</image:caption>

        </image:image>

    </url>

</urlset>

Add image information: for each page that contains images, include the relevant details such as the image URL, title, caption, and any other pertinent metadata.

Save and upload: save the file with a `.xml` extension and upload it to your website’s root directory.

Want to start from the scratch? Learn hot to create sitemap.xml

Automated tools

For those who prefer a more efficient approach, various online tools can generate image sitemaps automatically. These tools typically require you to enter your website URL and will create an XML file containing all relevant images.

Some examples of tools:

• Netpeak Spider
  This tool offers a 14-day trial version and allows users to create image sitemaps by configuring several parameters. It is a paid software that can be downloaded and installed on your computer.
  
• Inspyder Sitemap Creator
  This downloadable software provides a free trial for a limited version and requires a one-time payment for full functionality. It can generate various types of sitemaps, including XML image sitemaps.
  
• XML-Sitemaps.com
  An online tool that is free for up to 500 pages, this generator allows users to create XML sitemaps quickly by simply entering their website URL. It also includes options for additional attributes like last modified dates.
  
• Angel Digital Marketing

This free online tool automatically generates image sitemaps by allowing users to input a web page URL. The results can be copied and saved as an XML file.

• My Sitemap Generator
  This tool offers a free plan that allows up to three generation requests per day and can crawl up to 500 URLs. It helps create an image sitemap by extracting local images embedded in the pages of your website.

Best practices for image sitemaps

To maximize the effectiveness of your image sitemap, consider the following best practices:

– Regular updates: Keep your image sitemap up-to-date by adding new images and removing outdated ones regularly. Search engines favor fresh content.

– Optimize images: Ensure that your images are optimized for web use by compressing them without sacrificing quality. This improves loading times and user experience.

– Use alt tags: Include descriptive alt tags for each image. This not only aids accessibility but also provides context for search engines when indexing your visuals.

– Limit file size: Adhere to Google’s guidelines regarding file size limits (up to 50 MB per image) and ensure that each sitemap does not exceed 50,000 URLs or 50 MB in total size.

– Submit your sitemap: After creating your image sitemap, submit it through Google Search Console to ensure that it is recognized by search engines.

Common mistakes to avoid

When creating an image sitemap, avoid these common pitfalls:

– Neglecting metadata: Failing to include essential metadata can hinder indexing efforts. Always provide titles and captions for better context.

– Using incorrect URLs: Ensure that all URLs in your sitemap are accurate and lead directly to the corresponding images.

– Ignoring mobile optimization: With mobile searches on the rise, make sure your images are optimized for mobile devices as well.

Image sitemap submission and monitoring

Once you have created your image sitemap, submitting it to Google Search Console is a crucial step in ensuring that search engines can access and index your images effectively. After submission, you can monitor the performance of your images through the Search Console interface. This allows you to see how many images have been indexed, any errors that may have occurred during indexing, and insights into how your images are performing in search results. Regularly checking this data can help you identify areas for improvement, such as optimizing underperforming images or addressing any issues that may prevent certain images from being indexed.

Incorporating an image sitemap into your SEO strategy is vital for enhancing the visibility of your visual content online. By providing search engines with detailed information about your images, you can improve indexing efficiency and ultimately drive more traffic to your website. Whether you choose to create one manually or use automated tools, following best practices will ensure that your image sitemaps contribute positively to your overall SEO efforts.

By understanding the importance of image sitemaps and implementing them effectively, you can leverage visual content to engage users and boost your website’s performance in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Citations:
https://developers.google.com/search/docs/crawling-indexing/sitemaps/image-sitemaps?hl=pl

Artykuł Image sitemaps – why they are important and how to create them pochodzi z serwisu Blog Search Console.

Below example taken from: https://support.google.com/webmasters/thread/283667585/page-indexed-without-content-however-there-is-text-on-the-page?hl=en

What does “Page Indexed Without Content” mean?

When you receive a “page indexed without content” warning, it signifies that Google has crawled your page and added it to its index, but for some reason, it could not find any content to display. This situation can arise due to various factors, including technical issues or content-related problems.

Common causes of the warning

1. Empty or thin content: one of the most common reasons for this warning is that the page contains little or no content. Google prefers pages with substantial information that provide value to users. If your page is nearly empty or only contains a few sentences, it may trigger this warning.
2. Blocked content: sometimes, the content on a page may be blocked from being crawled by Google due to settings in the robots.txt file or meta tags. If these elements prevent Google from accessing the main content of your page, it will index the URL but report that there is no content.
3. JavaScript rendering issues: if your website relies heavily on JavaScript for rendering content and there are issues with how Googlebot processes this JavaScript, it may lead to situations where Google cannot see the content on your page.
4. Content accessibility: if your content is hidden behind forms, logins, or other barriers that prevent Google from accessing it, this can also result in an indexed page with no visible content.
5. Incorrect canonical tags: if a canonical tag points to a different version of a page that has no content, Google may index the wrong version and trigger this warning.

When does this warning appear?

The “page indexed without content” warning can appear at any time after Google has crawled your site. It might show up shortly after you publish a new page or if there are changes made to existing pages that affect their content visibility. Additionally, if there are significant updates to Google’s algorithms or indexing processes, you might notice this warning more frequently.

How to resolve the “Page Indexed Without Content” warning

If you encounter this warning in Google Search Console, it’s essential to take action to resolve it promptly. Here are several steps you can take:

Review page content

• Add more content: ensure that your pages have sufficient and relevant content. Aim for at least 600 words of unique text that provides value to users. Include images, videos, and other media types to enhance user engagement.
• Check for thin content: if your pages are mostly empty or consist of very few words, consider expanding them with detailed information related to the topic.

Check robots.txt and meta tags

• Inspect robots.txt file: make sure your robots.txt file is not blocking access to important sections of your site. Use tools like Google’s Robots Testing Tool (Google Search Console > Settings > robots.txt) to verify if any critical pages are being blocked.
• Review meta tags: check for any noindex tags on affected pages. If present and not intended, remove them so that Google can index these pages correctly.

Improve internal linking structure

A well-structured internal linking system helps Google understand how different pages relate to each other:

• Create internal links: ensure that important pages are linked from other relevant pages within your site. This aids in navigation and helps search engines crawl more efficiently.
• Use anchor text wisely: when creating internal links, use descriptive anchor text that gives context about the linked page’s content.

Ensure content accessibility

• Avoid barriers for crawlers: make sure that all essential content is accessible without requiring logins or forms. If certain sections need authentication, consider providing alternative access methods for search engines.
• Test JavaScript rendering: use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or Fetch as Google in Search Console to see how Googlebot renders your pages.

Request reindexing

After making changes:

• Use the URL inspection tool: in Google Search Console, use the URL Inspection Tool on affected URLs and request indexing after resolving issues.
• Monitor changes: keep an eye on the Index Coverage report in Search Console for updates regarding the status of your pages or try a tool dedicated managing search console issues like revamper11.com.

Conclusion

The “page indexed without content” warning in Google Search Console is an important signal indicating potential issues with how your pages are being indexed by Google. By understanding the causes of this warning and implementing effective solutions – such as adding quality content, checking robots.txt settings, improving internal linking structure, and ensuring accessibility – you can enhance your site’s visibility in search results.

Taking proactive steps will not only help resolve this specific issue but also improve overall SEO performance by ensuring that all valuable content on your site is indexed correctly and presented effectively in search results.

By addressing these concerns promptly and thoroughly, you can maintain a healthy website that meets both user expectations and search engine requirements.

Sources:
https://rankmath.com/kb/fix-page-indexed-without-content/
https://breaktheweb.agency/seo/why-pages-arent-indexed/
https://moz.com/community/q/topic/72018/page-indexing-without-content
https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/7440203?hl=en&rd=1&visit_id=638627901508919485-1397270669
https://wordpress.org/support/topic/page-indexed-without-content/

Artykuł Understanding the “Page indexed without content” warning in Google Search Console pochodzi z serwisu Blog Search Console.