My website was indexed by Google without any blog posts, here’s what I learned
Recently, I decided to do a total revamp with my online portfolio. It came with a new name, new site and a new look which I host on Wealthy Affiliate (WA) platform.
After purchasing a domain name, the only things I did were to install an appropriate theme, set a cursory menu, insert privacy page, update my social media handles and then activate a plugin with a “Coming Soon” announcement.
Having failed to keep a number of websites alive in the past, I’m careful this time on how I want this website to look. Hence, besides putting in some simple obvious elements, I have not done anything more.
The thought of having a Google indexed website, or writing ranked posts were far from my mind. At this point, I was just trying to make sure that I could create a website that I would be proud of, for once.
So you can imagine my surprise when I received an email this morning from WA, telling me that my website, which has no blog posts, has been indexed!
Basically, how does Google indexing works:
1. Crawling to find new materials through a myriad of content, such as web pages and user-submitted content, and then add to its list of known pages.
2. Google tried to understand your page by analysing your contents, and it is then stored in its gigantic database. This is called indexing.
3. Indexing is the first step to being ranked!
For ultra-newbies, I've pulled these two resources from Google Support that explain the terminologies:
Indexing pages to be included in search results
Learn how Google discovers, crawls, and serves web pages
I'm not sure the reason(s) for my page being indexed when the only thing that is seen on my website is a page with fuschia-colored background, and an announcement saying that 'something exciting is coming along'.
However, I believe this is an opportunity for learning and sharing. Here are some things I've learned from this pleasant surprise:
1. Think of your Internet presence as a sum of all parts, different in subtle ways and yet consistent as a whole.
My website may have been validated by my social media presence. This is especially true when I’ve added more social media accounts (including Medium and Meetup) on my page for various reasons. My presence on some of the social media platforms went a while back. On top of that, my handles are consistent across all platforms (including my upcoming website).
Though spread across on different platforms, Google may have been able to piece together my identity and information in totality to lend weight for my upcoming website. Of course, hosting on WA platform may have helped with the early Google index, too!
I'm also reminded on the importance of keeping information consistent across various online platforms even though managing each requires different approaches, tehcniques, and sometimes, even adopting a different persona.
2. Just keep putting content online.
I’ve been getting active on social media as I’m putting my social marketing skills to practice. This may account for the indexing although admittedly, I’m not as active as I hope. Another thing is, I try to come up with original content as much as possible even though it means creating different content for each platform at any one time.
Nevertheless, knowing that I'm indexed for what I've been doing so far motivates me to work harder. Though fun, content creation can be exhausting. Now, it gives me great encouragement to know that my efforts are being watched and rewarded even though I don't hear it straight from the horses mouth.
3. Don’t be too obsessed with programmatic logic.
Of course, at the end of the day, I can't tell, for sure, the reason(s) for my page being indexed with no actual content yet. But not knowing does not deter me from working harder than ever.
Small rewards like this are great motivators along this extensive and everchanging Internet journey. And it helps me to focus on the positive and the fun, instead of the pain.
Recent Comments
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Well done, and Congra !