In this guide, I’ll walk you through submitting individual pages and blog posts to the Google Search Console (GSC) to help them appear in Google search results more quickly.
What is the Google Search Console?
GSC is a free tool from Google that allows you to submit your website’s URLs for indexing and provides insights into your site’s performance in Google search results.
Before you begin: Submit your sitemap to the Google Search Console
If you haven’t already submitted a sitemap to GSC, this is an essential first step. The sitemap helps Google understand your site’s structure, making it easier to find and index your pages. If you’re unsure how to submit a sitemap, check out my sitemap submission tutorial here.
Is it necessary to submit new pages and posts to the Google Search Console?
If your sitemap is submitted, Google will eventually find and index new pages on its own.
However, if you have a new site or limited online connections, Google may take some time to discover new content. Submitting individual URLs can expedite this process, getting your new pages or posts into search results faster.
How to submit individual URLs using the URL Inspection Tool
Here’s a step-by-step tutorial for submitting individual pages and blog posts to the Google Search Console:
Log in to the GSC (Google Search Console)
Select ‘URL Inspection’ from the menu on the left
Enter the URL you want to index in the search bar at the top of the page
Tip: Open the page in a separate tab, copy the URL, and paste it into GSC to ensure accuracy.
Check the URL’s current indexing status
GSC will show whether the URL is already indexed.
Click ‘Request Indexing’ to add the URL to Google’s priority crawl queue.
Why the Google Search Console is essential
If you’re not using Google Search Console yet, consider getting started — it’s an invaluable resource for tracking and improving your website’s performance in search results.
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FAQs
1. Do I need to submit every new page or blog post to Google Search Console if I have a sitemap?
Not necessarily. If you’ve submitted a sitemap to Google Search Console (GSC), Google will eventually discover and index your new pages. However, submitting individual URLs can speed up the process, especially for new sites or those with fewer external links.
2. What is the advantage of using the URL Inspection Tool in GSC?
The URL Inspection Tool lets you request indexing of specific pages. This tool can help your content appear in search results faster than waiting for Google to find it through sitemap crawls.
3. How long does it take for a page to appear in search results after requesting indexing?
Once you request indexing, your page is added to Google’s priority crawl queue. Although it varies, most pages appear in search results within a few days after being indexed.
4. Can I use Google Search Console without submitting individual pages?
Yes, Google will still crawl your site based on your sitemap and other links it finds. However, manually submitting URLs can improve visibility and expedite indexing.
5. Do I need to use Google Search Console if my website is already indexed by Google?
Using Google Search Console isn’t required, but it’s highly beneficial. The GSC provides insights into your site’s search performance, indexing status, and can alert you to issues affecting your search visibility.
6. How often should I submit my pages or posts to GSC?
There’s no need to submit pages repeatedly unless you’ve updated the content significantly. For each new page or post, submitting it once via the URL Inspection Tool is sufficient.
7. Is there a limit to how many URLs I can submit for indexing?
There is a limit to how many you can submit within a 24 hour period. It’s around 10 to 12 a day.
8. Will GSC notify me when my page is indexed?
GSC doesn’t send a notification when a page is indexed. You can check the status through the URL Inspection Tool, which will show if a page has been indexed.
9. How can I tell if my page was successfully indexed by Google?
Use the URL Inspection Tool in GSC to see if Google has indexed your page. If indexed, it will show as “URL is on Google.” You can also search for your page in Google by typing site:[your URL].
