Google not indexing site.

Desmo · 07-12-2009, 13:06

I made a website for a friend of mine for a business but google isn't indexing it at all. I have it in google webmaster tools and I've done everything I can think of to get it showing but no joy. I've just sent them a request to get it re-indexed in case of any other problem.

Only thing I can think of is that the domain used to be used for email only but there is a site there now. Do you think that would have had any effect?

iCraig · 07-12-2009, 13:32

Shouldn't matter.

Are you using a robots.txt? Can you post/PM the website and I'll take a look and see what's up.

Desmo · 07-12-2009, 14:11

Cheers mate, will pop you a PM.

Mark · 07-12-2009, 16:59

Google Webmaster tools may take several days for the site to be indexed and propagated out to the various Google server farms. If Webmaster tools have been used in the past to remove indexes for the site, or you've had a robots.txt file, then it may take longer.

Been through this hoop myself before so if you need any advice, shout.

Aboobie · 07-12-2009, 17:31

My wife is having the same trouble with 2 of her new consultancy sites on Bing.
They both appear fine on google but despite submitting them they just won't appear and she really could do with as much exposure as possible. Any ideas?

http://www.fideltaconsulting.co.uk/
http://www.bsvassociates.co.uk/

iCraig · 07-12-2009, 17:57

Well firstly I would suggest having them done properly, no offence to who made them (unless they're a web designer in which case he/she should be shot at dawn) but judging from the mark-up it's been done in Microsoft Publisher or something like that? If a modern website is to stand any chance, it's got to be done in modern, valid HTML. Publisher just isn't capable of doing it.

Secondly, a major boost to get on a search engine is to have links pointing to it on other websites. Exactly as you've posted them here. Next time Google trawls BD, it'll probably hit those two websites. The more links it finds, the more presence it feels that website has and it stands more chance of making it into the results.

Remember that Google is a leading search engine (Bing is also pretty decent, it's just got a mountain to climb) and in order for them to maintain good results they have to be fussy about what's in its index. If you want your website in there, you need to show Google what the website is all about so it can actually make use of having it and display it in results for what it believes are relevant search terms. If it can't make head or tail of what it is, it sees no use of having it indexed because it knows it won't be able to ever return it to a searcher.

It's the cold, harsh truth I'm afraid, Google is upping its game more and more with semantic search. Another nail in the coffin for poorly coded websites are the speed factor, it's pretty conclusive that how fast a website loads will dicate a portion of its search engine performance in 2010.

Mark · 07-12-2009, 18:12

Also no offence intended, but I have to agree with everything iCraig said. That sort of site is excusable as a homebrew personal site, but as a business site it's becoming less and less tolerated. It's worth spending the time (and, if necessary, money) on design and coding. A good, standards compliant site isn't the be all and end all, but it's a big step in the right direction.

I do find it rather ironic that Microsoft's search seems to be having trouble with a site created by Microsoft software. Not really surprising though - finding the content amongst that sea of markup isn't easy.

Aboobie · 07-12-2009, 21:02

My wife knocked them up in Publisher and they're really just a mock up of what she wants but as redundancy has reared it's head she was forced to show her hand slightly earlier than was intended.

I've just checked the source and I am quite blown away by how bad it is tbh; I might try and find the time to redo them.

Does this effect whether Bing/Google pick up a site though?

Mark · 07-12-2009, 21:11

Shouldn't do, but MSNbot might not be as clever (or quick) as Google Spider - both of which would have an impact.

Actually, Google has done surprisingly well at pulling the text out of those sites.

Desmo · 07-12-2009, 22:50

I've made some changes to my site as iCraig suggested so hopefully it will get this sorted

07-12-2009, 13:06	#1
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	Google not indexing site. I made a website for a friend of mine for a business but google isn't indexing it at all. I have it in google webmaster tools and I've done everything I can think of to get it showing but no joy. I've just sent them a request to get it re-indexed in case of any other problem. Only thing I can think of is that the domain used to be used for email only but there is a site there now. Do you think that would have had any effect? __________________

07-12-2009, 13:32	#2
iCraig iCustom User Title Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,250	Shouldn't matter. Are you using a robots.txt? Can you post/PM the website and I'll take a look and see what's up. __________________

07-12-2009, 14:11	#3
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	Cheers mate, will pop you a PM. __________________

07-12-2009, 17:31	#5
Aboobie Vodka Martini Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Beverley Posts: 749	My wife is having the same trouble with 2 of her new consultancy sites on Bing. They both appear fine on google but despite submitting them they just won't appear and she really could do with as much exposure as possible. Any ideas? http://www.fideltaconsulting.co.uk/ http://www.bsvassociates.co.uk/ __________________

07-12-2009, 17:57	#6
iCraig iCustom User Title Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,250	Well firstly I would suggest having them done properly, no offence to who made them (unless they're a web designer in which case he/she should be shot at dawn) but judging from the mark-up it's been done in Microsoft Publisher or something like that? If a modern website is to stand any chance, it's got to be done in modern, valid HTML. Publisher just isn't capable of doing it. Secondly, a major boost to get on a search engine is to have links pointing to it on other websites. Exactly as you've posted them here. Next time Google trawls BD, it'll probably hit those two websites. The more links it finds, the more presence it feels that website has and it stands more chance of making it into the results. Remember that Google is a leading search engine (Bing is also pretty decent, it's just got a mountain to climb) and in order for them to maintain good results they have to be fussy about what's in its index. If you want your website in there, you need to show Google what the website is all about so it can actually make use of having it and display it in results for what it believes are relevant search terms. If it can't make head or tail of what it is, it sees no use of having it indexed because it knows it won't be able to ever return it to a searcher. It's the cold, harsh truth I'm afraid, Google is upping its game more and more with semantic search. Another nail in the coffin for poorly coded websites are the speed factor, it's pretty conclusive that how fast a website loads will dicate a portion of its search engine performance in 2010. __________________

07-12-2009, 16:59	#4
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Google Webmaster tools may take several days for the site to be indexed and propagated out to the various Google server farms. If Webmaster tools have been used in the past to remove indexes for the site, or you've had a robots.txt file, then it may take longer. Been through this hoop myself before so if you need any advice, shout.

07-12-2009, 18:12	#7
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Also no offence intended, but I have to agree with everything iCraig said. That sort of site is excusable as a homebrew personal site, but as a business site it's becoming less and less tolerated. It's worth spending the time (and, if necessary, money) on design and coding. A good, standards compliant site isn't the be all and end all, but it's a big step in the right direction. I do find it rather ironic that Microsoft's search seems to be having trouble with a site created by Microsoft software. Not really surprising though - finding the content amongst that sea of markup isn't easy.

07-12-2009, 21:02	#8
Aboobie Vodka Martini Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Beverley Posts: 749	My wife knocked them up in Publisher and they're really just a mock up of what she wants but as redundancy has reared it's head she was forced to show her hand slightly earlier than was intended. I've just checked the source and I am quite blown away by how bad it is tbh; I might try and find the time to redo them. Does this effect whether Bing/Google pick up a site though? __________________ Last edited by Aboobie; 07-12-2009 at 22:33.

07-12-2009, 21:11	#9
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Shouldn't do, but MSNbot might not be as clever (or quick) as Google Spider - both of which would have an impact. Actually, Google has done surprisingly well at pulling the text out of those sites.

07-12-2009, 22:50	#10
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	I've made some changes to my site as iCraig suggested so hopefully it will get this sorted __________________