Google Search Console, or “GSC” for short, should be a staple in every SEO toolkit because it gives them access to vital data on how their website is doing in Google’s organic search results. Overall, the URL Inspection Tool is a valuable resource for website owners and SEO professionals who want to optimize their websites for better search performance. It provides insights into how Google is indexing a website and helps identify issues that may be preventing pages from ranking as well as they could be. If you haven’t already, verify your site in GSC right away!
What is the URL Inspection Tool?
URL Inspection is a feature in Google Search Console that allows website owners to check how Google crawls and indexes individual URLs. With URL Inspection, users can see the last crawl date, index status, and any errors or issues related to the URL.
How To Use URL Inspection Tool
Google Search Console allows website owners to check and analyze how their website appears in Google search results. Here is our step-by-step guide on how to access the URL inspection tool.
Step 1: Log in to your Google Search Console account and select your website.
Step 2: You can access the “URL Inspection” tool by clicking on it in the left-hand menu or at the top of your screen.
Step 3: Enter the URL you want to inspect in the search bar and click on the “Enter” key. After entering the URL and pressing the “Enter” key, the tool will retrieve the data from the Google Index.
Step 4: Wait for the tool to analyze the URL. Once it’s done, it will display the page’s crawl status, last crawl date, and any indexing or crawling issues.
Step 5: You can also view the live version of the page, any page resources (such as images or scripts), and the page’s rendered HTML code.
Step 6: If there are any issues found, the tool provides recommendations on how to fix them. For example, it may suggest adding structured data or fixing mobile usability issues.
Step 7: Once you’ve made the necessary changes, you can use the “Request Indexing” feature to submit the updated page to Google for re-crawling and re-indexing.
By using the URL Inspection Tool, you can ensure that your website’s pages are optimized for search engines and appear as intended in search results.
Overview of URL Inspection Tool
The URL Inspection Tool provides several types of information about a particular URL, including:
- Crawl status: This shows whether Googlebot was able to crawl the URL successfully and if not, it provides details about why the crawl failed.
- Indexing status: This shows whether the URL is currently indexed in Google’s search results and if not, it provides details about why it’s not indexed.
- Coverage: This shows how the URL is covered in Google’s index, including information about errors, warnings, and valid pages.
- Enhancements: This provides information about how the URL can be improved for better search performance, including mobile usability, structured data, and more.
- Page Resources: This shows the resources used on the page, such as images, videos, and scripts, and provides insights into how they can be optimized for better performance.
- Mobile Usability: This tool checks the mobile usability of a URL and provides information about any mobile usability issues. This includes issues such as text size, clickable elements, and viewport configuration.
- Security Issues: This tool checks the security of a URL and provides information about any security issues, such as whether the page is serving malware or phishing content.
Best Practices for Using the URL Inspection Tool
URL Inspection Tool is a valuable resource for website owners and SEO professionals who want to optimize their URLs for better search performance. By following these best practices, you can ensure that you are using the tool effectively and getting the most out of its features.
- Use it regularly: It is recommended to use the tool regularly to monitor the indexing status of your pages and detect any issues that may be affecting their performance in search results.
- Check different versions of URLs: Make sure to check all versions of a URL, including HTTP and HTTPS versions, as well as URLs with and without the “www” prefix. This can help identify any issues that may be affecting the indexing of your pages.
- Fix issues promptly: If the tool identifies any issues with your pages, make sure to address them promptly. This can help prevent these issues from affecting your search performance and can improve the user experience.
- Use the tool for optimization: Use the tool to identify areas where you can optimize your pages for better search performance. For example, you can use the tool to identify areas where your pages may be loading slowly or to check the mobile usability of your pages.
- Use it in conjunction with other SEO tools: The URL Inspection Tool is just one of many tools available for SEO optimization. To get the best results, use it in conjunction with other SEO tools, such as Google Analytics or Google Search Console.
In conclusion, the URL Inspection Tool is a powerful tool provided by Google Search Console that enables website owners and SEO professionals to monitor the indexing status of their pages, detect any issues that may be affecting their search performance, and optimize their pages for better search visibility. By regularly using the tool and following best practices, website owners can improve their search rankings, enhance user experience, and ensure that their sites are secure and free from any harmful content. With its various features and benefits, the URL Inspection Tool is an essential tool for any website owner looking to improve their search visibility and online presence.
