Redesigning your website can be an exciting journey that modernizes your brand, improves user experience, and boosts functionality. But once your redesigned site goes live, ensuring it gets the recognition it deserves from Google is a critical next step. If you’ve made major layout or structural changes, requesting Google to re-index your updated website is essential to ensure your content is appropriately reflected in search results.
Why Re-Indexing Is Crucial After a Redesign
Whenever you perform a significant redesign, Google’s search algorithms might not immediately detect the changes. The repercussions of this delay can include outdated meta descriptions, broken links in search results, and a potential temporary dip in organic traffic. By explicitly requesting re-indexing, you help Google promptly understand your site’s new structure and content improvements, minimizing disruptions while maximizing visibility.
Steps to Request Google to Re-Index Your Website
Follow these steps to get your redesigned website indexed by Google quickly:
1. Check for Crawling Issues
Before you request re-indexing, ensure there are no site-wide errors. Google won’t effectively re-index your site if critical issues exist. Use Google Search Console and navigate to the “Coverage” report to identify:
- Blocked pages (often caused by errors in the robots.txt file)
- 404 errors for removed or broken URLs
- Server issues
Fix any reported issues before proceeding to the next step.
2. Use Google Search Console
The preferred method to request re-indexing is via Google Search Console. Here’s how you can do it:
- Log in to your Google Search Console account.
- Head to the “URL Inspection Tool”.
- Submit individual URLs by pasting them into the search bar and clicking “Request Indexing”.
This triggers a crawl request for the specific page. Repeat the process for other priority pages, such as your homepage, service pages, and blog posts.
Pro Tip: Submitting your updated XML sitemap (covered in step 3) can also help reduce the need to manually submit individual URLs.
3. Update and Resubmit Your XML Sitemap
The XML sitemap provides a roadmap of all your important website pages, aiding Google in knowing what to index. After a redesign:
- Create an updated XML sitemap with tools like Yoast SEO, Screaming Frog, or online generators.
- Upload the sitemap to your website’s root directory.
- Submit the new sitemap via the “Sitemaps” section in Google Search Console.
When you submit the XML sitemap, Google will crawl it and prioritize any new or updated content for indexing.
4. Use Google’s “Change of Address” Tool (If Domain Changed)
If your redesign involved a domain change, you’ll need to notify Google to prevent confusion and potential drops in traffic. The “Change of Address” tool in Google Search Console lets you inform Google of the domain move. This ensures that your new domain inherits ranking signals from the old domain.
5. Promote Natural Crawling Through Backlinks
While submitting URLs and sitemaps through Search Console is effective, another way to ensure Google crawls your site quickly is by creating high-quality backlinks. Reach out to relevant blogs, partners, or industry websites to share updated links to your redesigned website. These external signals encourage Google to crawl your site more often.
How Long Does Re-Indexing Take?
After submitting re-indexing requests, Google doesn’t immediately update its search results. The timeline varies depending on factors such as site size, crawl budget, and overall Google activity. Typically, you can expect:
- Single Page Re-Indexing: A few hours to a couple of days.
- Full Website Updates: A week or more, especially for large sites.
Patience is key, but the impact of re-indexing is well worth the wait.
Best Practices to Maintain Indexing Consistency
Even after Google indexes your redesigned site, maintaining a smooth indexing process requires consistent effort:
- Monitor: Regularly check the Google Search Console for new errors or crawl issues.
- Optimize: Update your sitemap whenever significant changes occur on the website.
- Build Links: Continue earning backlinks to keep search engines engaged with your site.
Wrapping Up
A smooth Google re-indexing process ensures your redesigned website has the best chance to perform in search results. By using tools like Google Search Console, submitting your sitemap, and promoting natural crawling, you’re ensuring search engines understand and rank your site accurately. So, get proactive with indexing and give your redesigned site the spotlight it deserves!
