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Ask the Argus

Resolving Indexing Issues

Diagnosing sitemap scope, internal links, and crawl signals

Synopsis

This entry investigates why Google is only indexing two of my pages, despite there being several pages it should be indexing. Issues included lack of content in the index hub and issues with the sitemap. Time will tell if this solution addressed the issue.

Questions & Objectives
  1. Why is Google only indexing two of my pages?
  2. What do I need to check to verify everything is correct?
Process

  1. I take a screenshot of my Google Search Console (Fig 1.1) and share the symptoms with Shevek (Fig 1.2). It appears only two pages are being indexed.

    Fig 1.1 - Two Pages Indexed

    Google Search Console showing only two pages indexed
    Google Search Console report indicating only two indexed pages

    Fig 1.2 - Shevek Explains the Process

    Troubleshooting steps for indexing issues
    Step-by-step guidance for indexing troubleshooting

  2. I remember learning all the parameters are at the beginning of the page, standard. Knowing this, before I proceed to my sitemap, I take a screenshot and share it with Shevek (Fig 1.4). Shevek explains my index hub appears to be incredibly small (Fig 1.3).

    Fig 1.3 - Shevek Highlights Lack of Index Hub

    Commentary noting the index hub is very small
    Explanation highlighting why the index hub appears too small

    Fig 1.4 - My Tiny Index Hub

    Index hub page showing very few links
    Index hub page with minimal internal links

  3. I add the needed elements to my index hub (Fig 1.5).

    Fig 1.5 - Index Hub Updated

    Updated index hub with more internal links
    Index hub updated to include links to most entries

  4. I review my sitemap (Fig 1.6). Everything appears fine, but I copy and paste it for Sheveks review (Fig 1.7). He identifies I am missing a closing tag.

    Fig 1.6 My Sitemap

    Sitemap XML displayed in an editor
    Sitemap contents showing a list of URLs

    Fig 1.7 Shevek's Take On My Sitemap

    Review pointing out a missing closing tag in the sitemap
    Markup highlighting the missing closing tag

  5. I make the needed updates to my sitemap (Fig 1.8).

    Fig 1.8 - Updated Sitemap

    Updated sitemap after fixing the closing tag
    Corrected sitemap showing the fixed structure
Conclusions

Being new to making a website, there are a number of things I may have overlooked. In time, they will reveal themselves. The index hub has been modified and the sitemap updated.

Shevek's Haiku

Broken paths whisper,
Spiders pass silent doorways—
Links bloom, pages wake.