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Checked the 'Coverage' section in Search Console and lots of pages are yellow — error details are vague and there are many

YYasemin Y***Expert
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#1

we set up Search Console for the new site and checked the Coverage tab. tbh it found 500 pages but only 50 are marked green (indexed) then the rest are red yellow and grey, but Google doesn't clearly say what's wrong.

it mostly says 'Submitted to sitemap but not indexed'. so they're in the sitemap but Google isn't indexing them and why is it being so selective? are there errors in the sitemap?

i can't see 500 pages on the site in Google Analytics. maybe the sitemap is too broad? or is there an issue with the site architecture?

MMehmet M***Member
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Most Helpful#2

Search Console 'Coverage' errors are mostly caused by: 1) Low-quality pages — pages under 50 words, without titles or descriptions 2) Duplicate/similar pages — very similar content on multiple URLs 3) Blocked by robots.txt or meta robots — blocked even though you said not to 4) Redirect chain — redirecting from one page to another, then to another.

Review your sitemap. Does your site really have 500 pages? If you have parameter-based pages (filter, sort, pagination), Google might see them as separate pages and most could be low value. Consider removing parameterized pages from the sitemap.

Also check the pages in the 'Not indexed' category one by one: Use Fetch as Google and inspect the rendered version of the page. Are CSS files loading? Is the HTML structure correct? Are there any errors in the console?

ZZerrinMember
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#3

Same thing happened to me. I was using auto-page generation plugins, and they were creating 10 variations of every page. Eventually I deleted 80% from the sitemap. Google's indexing fixed itself immediately.

UUfuk S***Veteran
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#4

block filter/sort parameter paages in google search console. not worth indexing them.

BBeyza D***Member
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#5

Sitemap optimization: - Remove pages under 50 words - Exclude parameter pages (search?q=x) - If a page is a redirect, replace it with the target page on the site - Check duplicate descriptions (canonical tag) - Check if every page has a complete title and description

edit: fixed a few typos.

KKorhanExpert
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#6

Search Console's 'Coverage' report generally shows: Discovered (URL found), Discovered but not indexed (low quality page), Indexed (active). If 90% is 'not indexed', there's a serious issue with the site architecture. An average site should have 80-90% of its pages indexed.

FFerhat A***ExpertCommunity member
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#7

The main reason Google doesn't index pages found in the sitemap: page quality and lack of user demand. Google indexes pages that users search for or visit. If you have thousands of parameter-based pages, Google only indexes the most popular ones. This is normal.

ÖÖzge A***Member
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Doki · Incident response support · 2023

#8

you're right then the answer varies greatly by industry; there is no one-size-fits-all rule.

any unwritten clause becomes a poiint of disagreement later as both sides remember it differently and honestly just leaving this note it might be useful.

CCaner T***Member
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#9

This thread is archived.

ÜÜlkü S***MemberCommunity member
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#10

Thanks a lot Ill try it today. like hasty decisions become decisions you have to fix six months later.

Solutions that work at a small scale collapse when you grow; I learned this late... btw this is my opinion I'm not claiming it's absolute truth.

MMehmet G***Member
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#11

Exactly and not many people know this. Everything goes well for the first three months; problems arise in the fourth.

If you have questions, write them; I'll answer as best I can.

FFurkan Y***MemberCommunity member
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#12

I can't fully agree with this. The biggest time-waster for us was not knowing who had the final say.

I'm also curious if anyone does it differently.

RRamazan K***MemberCommunity member
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#13

I'd say don't rush. When making a decision, first look at what data you have on hand.

Hope this helps.

NNeslihan T***MemberCommunity member
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#14

This approach has a cost, which isn't discussed. The answer varies greatly by industry; there is no one-size-fits-all rule.

Map listings bring more business than blog posts for most local businesses.

YYağmur O***Veteran
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#15

To get into the details: Don't hesitate to ask; those who don't ask always pay more.

Good luck with that.

RRabia G***VeteranCommunity member
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#16

My question might sound amateurish, sorry about that. Just because everyone does it doesn't mean it's right.

The biggest time-waster for us was not knowing who had the final say. Just leaving this note, it might be useful.

GGökhan D***Member
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#17

i'd say don't rush. like everything goes well for the first three months; problems arise in the fourth.

hope this helps.

EEmre T***Member
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#18

The most overlooked point about search console coverage error is this: Trying to do this alone is the most expensive way.

If it's your first time start small; scaling comes later. Of course it varies if your situation is different.

MMert D***MemberCommunity member
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#19

I feel the same way. Trying to do this alone is the most expensive way.

That's all sorry if I went on too long.

KKaan G***ExpertCommunity member
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#20

I'll argue the opposite don't get mad. Merge instead of deleting; deleted content doesn't come back.

If I were you, I'd go this route.

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