What does it mean to be indexed by google?
If you are new to creating your website and are still going through the training this is probably one of the questions that is going to eventually rise to the top of your thoughts fairly soon if not already.
What does it mean to be indexed by google?
Indexing really means a variety of things depending on who the stakeholder is in the conversation. If you are Google, it means one thing. If you are the website creator / author, it means something else. And then, there is some overlap between the two.
Indexing
Indexing which is often confused with the next term (Ranking) is simply the behaviour of Google or other Search engines discovering your webpage and storing it off in their own databases. This in-and-of-itself doesn't mean it will be displayed in the search results. It just means you've been found / discovered.
This is an important step though. To see if you are indexed, type in the following search term in Google exactly as I have it below. I'm going to use my own domain name as an example.
------------------------------------------------------------------
site:resultswithketo.com
------------------------------------------------------------------
By the way, this is an interesting search technique. If you want to find webpages that have information only from a particular website, just add the search term after the above mentioned line, such as :
------------------------------------------------------------------
site:resultswithketo.com cayenne pepper
------------------------------------------------------------------
Ranking
Ranking is the decision making process that search engines apply - a score - that ranks a number of pages to be displayed in the list of search results if displayed at all. This can only happen if you are indexed.
If you do a search for "cayenne pepper" Google is going to search through it's list of indexed pages that qualify somehow for that term and order them in such a way to present to the searcher. This order is the ranking.
This order could change instantaneously. Google is constantly testing various pages in the rankings to see which one's searchers are more interested in.
This is why it's very important to have a very important title and description that motivates the searcher to click on your link instead of someone else's
HINT: To write a good title and description - in the title and description focus on the problem a searcher may be having and a possible solution to that problem
PR (Page Rank)
Page Rank is a whole other can of worms. But, great information for the internet marketer and blogger. PageRank is a score betwee (N/A ~ 10) In other words -
(N/A, 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10)
Most websites are ranked in the lower end of this scale. Especially if it's a new site. You don't want a score of N/A. This score means you have probably been ear-marked as a banned site. Zero is a much better score.
Chrome Browser and Checking PR scores
If you are using Chrome ( and I HIGHLY recommend you do ) you can install the following FREE plugin into your browser. This will install a button into your toolbar of your browser.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/quick-se...https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/quick-se...
Then, anytime you are on a page, just click the button and it will give you a ton of statistical information about that page - including PR.
I hope this has been helpful. I look forward to your comments.
Kyle
Recent Comments
17
Kyle, Thank you so much... I appreciate you putting this in to words I could understand. :)
I did a Google for, what does being indexed by Google mean; and your post was # 3 Sweet...
Thanks again,
Teresa
Mahalo, Kyle! I just discovered I got "indexed" by Google and had no clue what that was about but I know others who have websites and were indexed were all happy - so I figure it must be a good thing! Your explanation is timely and much appreciated by someone still new to navigating around this site.
Thanks Kyle. Very helpful info. I read all your posts and learned a lot. Just checking to see if you are still alive at WA.
Your information has been very helpful. I really didn't understand about Googles system, now I do. Thanks for the information.
Hi Kyle, that did help me. And I've been using Firefox forever. I'll switch but do you know how I can transfer over all my book marks over?
I'm pretty sure when You install Chrome, you'll be given the chance to import them. It should detect that you have firefox installed. By the way, if you have chrome and log in with your Google ID, you'll be able to float from computer to computer to cell phone and so forth maintaining one profile. All plugins and bookmarks will follow you.
Kyle, I am currently in the training where today I was making a post for my website. I dont believe Ive been indexed yet. In my admin it says ...indexed/no. Does that sound right at this point in the lesson plan, or did I miss something along the way?
If you have just created your site and you are just getting around to creating some of your first posts, It would be very surprising if you were already indexed.
But the results that your Admin indicator says could be delayed. But, more than likely you have not been indexed yet.
And, there is no need to rush it. Get some quality content up there first. Once you get indexed, Google will frequently revisit your site to look for new additional pages and posts.
See more comments
My site just got indexed by google and this information you shared helped me better understand the meaning behind indexing. Great information. Thanks