Find and Remove Hidden Noindex Tags Blocking Your Website from Google
Google's Martin Splitt addresses the common issue of unwanted noindex tags preventing web pages from appearing in search results. This guide helps you identify and resolve these issues.
Where Unwanted Noindex Tags Hide
Noindex tags can lurk in several unexpected places:
- Source Code
- JavaScript
- Third-Party JavaScript (e.g., A/B testing tools)
A/B testing tools are frequent culprits, often adding noindex tags to test pages without your knowledge.
CDN and Cache Issues
If you use a Content Delivery Network (CDN), outdated cached versions may retain noindex tags even after removal from your site.
If you had a noindex tag and you're using a CDN, it might be that the cache hasn't updated yet.
CMS Settings and Plugins
Your Content Management System (CMS) settings or SEO plugins might be adding noindex tags unknowingly.
If you're using a CMS, there might be settings or plugins for SEO, and there might be something like 'allow search engines to index this content' or 'to access this content,' and you want to make sure that's set.
Ensure any "disallow search engines" settings are unchecked for desired search visibility.
Watch Martin Splitt's Explanation
Debugging Persistent Noindex Problems
For stubborn noindex issues, follow these debugging steps:
- Check your HTML source code.
- Examine JavaScript files that might add meta tags.
- Review third-party scripts, especially testing tools.
- Verify your CDN cache is updated.
- Inspect your CMS settings and SEO plugins.
Importance for SEO Professionals
Thorough technical SEO audits are crucial. Modern websites are complex, requiring deeper analysis to uncover technical issues.
Regularly crawl your site with JavaScript-rendering crawlers to understand how search engines interpret your pages beyond basic HTML.
Google's continued focus on these basic technical issues highlights their prevalence even on well-designed websites.
If pages aren't appearing in search results, use Google's URL Inspection tool in Search Console to see how Google views your page and identify any noindex tags.
