I’d be glad to help you with the issue of Google not indexing URLs containing “/?pagelayer-template=blog-template”. Here are the potential causes and solutions you can explore:
Understanding the Issue:
- Dynamic URLs: These URLs are generated by a content management system (CMS) or server-side scripting and often include parameters like “?pagelayer-template=blog-template”. Google may have difficulty indexing them because they can appear to be duplicate content with slightly different variations.
- Incorrect Robots.txt Configuration: The robots.txt file instructs search engines on which pages to crawl and index. If it accidentally blocks these URLs, Google won’t be able to access them.
Solutions:
- Canonicalization:
- Preferred URL Selection: If these URLs represent blog posts or other content with a permanent version without the parameter, set a canonical tag in the HTML header of each page. The canonical tag specifies the preferred version that Google should index. Here’s an example: HTML
<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.example.com/your-blog-post/" /> - Parameter Handling in Search Console: If there’s no permanent URL or the parameter is essential, you can use the URL Parameters tool in Google Search Console (https://search.google.com/search-console/about) to tell Google how to handle these URLs. You can either mark the parameter as “noindex” (to prevent indexing of variations) or specify how it affects content (e.g., “thin” or “duplicate”).
- Preferred URL Selection: If these URLs represent blog posts or other content with a permanent version without the parameter, set a canonical tag in the HTML header of each page. The canonical tag specifies the preferred version that Google should index. Here’s an example: HTML
- Robots.txt Check:
- Use a robots.txt tester tool like the one provided by Google (https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/6062598?hl=en) to verify that your robots.txt file isn’t inadvertently blocking these URLs. Make sure there are no lines like “Disallow: /?pagelayer-template=blog-template” that could be preventing crawling.
- Site Structure and Internal Linking:
- Ensure your website has a clear structure with well-defined navigation and internal linking. This helps search engines understand the relationships between pages and improves crawlability.
- If these URLs represent blog posts or important content, make sure they are linked to from other relevant pages on your site.
- Content Quality:
- Google prioritizes high-quality, informative content. If the content behind these URLs is thin or doesn’t provide value to users, Google might be less likely to index them. Focus on creating well-written, engaging content that addresses user needs.
- Structured Data:
- Consider implementing relevant structured data markup (e.g., for blog posts) to provide Google with additional context about your content, which can potentially improve indexing.
- Patience:
- It can take time for Google to recrawl and update its index after you’ve made changes. Be patient and monitor your website using Search Console to track indexing progress.
By following these steps, you can increase the chances of Google properly indexing your URLs and making them discoverable in search results. If you need further assistance, feel free to ask!