If you run a large website with many pages that need to be indexed by Google, you may have faced the challenge of dealing with indexing limits. Google allows you to request that your pages be crawled and indexed quickly, but there are daily limits to how many pages you can request. For large sites, these limits can be a problem, especially when there’s urgent content that needs to be indexed fast.
In this guide, we’ll explain how to make the most of Google’s Request Indexing tool, how to use the URL Inspection API, and options to get more indexing requests—especially if you manage a big site with a lot of important content.
What is Google’s Request Indexing Tool?
Google provides the Request Indexing feature through Google Search Console, which helps you get specific pages indexed quickly. Here are the basic facts:
- Daily Quota: You can submit up to 500 indexing requests per day. After that, you’ll have to wait for the next day.
- Emergency Requests: In urgent cases (like new content or updates that need quick indexing), you can request indexing for up to 10 URLs per day.
However, this might not be enough for large websites with frequent updates or thousands of pages. So, how can you maximize your indexing requests?
How to Get More Indexing Requests for Large Websites
1. Using the URL Inspection API
For sites with lots of pages that need regular updates, Google’s URL Inspection API can be a game-changer. This API allows you to automate indexing requests for multiple URLs, so you don’t have to do it manually.
Here’s what you need to know:
- More Requests: The API lets you request up to 200 indexing requests per day, which is far more than the basic Search Console limits.
- Automation: Instead of manually entering each URL into Search Console, you can automate the process, saving time and ensuring that your pages are indexed as needed.
- Additional Functions: Besides indexing, you can use the API to delete, update, or remove pages from Google’s index. This gives you more control over what appears in search results.
2. Paid Options for Extra Requests
If your site needs more than 200 requests per day, there are paid options to increase your indexing capacity. Google doesn’t offer a direct “pay-per-indexing” model, but they do offer services for businesses that need extra resources:
- Enterprise API Services: Larger websites can consider premium services that allow higher indexing limits.
- Priority Crawling: In some cases, high-authority or mission-critical sites may be given priority crawling, ensuring that their content gets indexed faster.
These services are especially helpful for high-traffic websites or sites with content that needs to be indexed urgently.
3. Best Practices for Maximizing Indexing Requests
Here are some tips to help you make the most of your indexing requests:
- Prioritize Important Pages: Always focus on high-priority pages that are critical for search traffic, such as landing pages, new product pages, or important blog posts.
- Limit Duplicate Requests: Don’t request indexing for the same page repeatedly on the same day unless there’s a major change. This can lead to wasted requests and may not speed up the indexing process.
- Use Sitemaps: Update your XML sitemaps regularly so Google knows which pages to crawl. This helps Google discover new or updated pages more easily.
- Optimize Crawl Budget: For large sites, make sure your internal linking structure is clear and that pages aren’t blocked by robots.txt or noindex tags. This helps Google crawl your site more efficiently, without wasting crawl budget on less important pages.
Special Tip for New Websites: Use Crawl Budget Carefully
For new websites, managing your crawl budget is especially important. A crawl budget is the amount of time and resources Google’s bots will spend crawling your site. Here are a few tips to use your crawl budget wisely:
- Focus on High-Quality Pages: New websites should start by making sure that only the best and most important pages are crawled. Don’t overload Google with too many low-value or thin pages.
- Start Slow: It’s important to gradually build up your site’s crawl budget. If you try to get too many pages indexed all at once, Google might not prioritize your site, and it may take longer for important pages to show up in search results.
- Ensure Fast Load Times: Googlebot will prioritize sites that load quickly. If your site is slow, Google may not crawl as many pages, so make sure your website’s performance is optimized.
- Use Noindex Tags for Unimportant Pages: If your site has many pages that you don’t need to appear in search results (like duplicate content or staging pages), use noindex tags to prevent Google from crawling them. This frees up your crawl budget for the pages that matter most.
For large websites, using Google’s Request Indexing tool effectively is crucial to ensure that your important pages are indexed quickly. While Google’s free tool gives you 500 requests per day, this may not be enough for sites with lots of pages or frequent updates. By using the URL Inspection API, automating requests, and exploring paid options for extra indexing requests, you can maximize your site’s visibility in Google’s search results.
For new websites, managing your crawl budget is especially important. Focus on your most important pages and don’t overwhelm Google with too much content too soon. This will help you build your website’s presence in search results in a way that is efficient and effective.
- Remember to prioritize your most important pages, follow best practices for managing your site’s crawl budget, and use automation tools like the API when needed. By doing this, you’ll ensure that your content is indexed quickly and efficiently, helping your site rank higher and grow faster in Google’s search results.