Find out how to Get Your New Site Indexed Faster by Google

When you launch a new website, one of the main challenges is getting it indexed by Google quickly. This process can take time, especially if certain technical mistakes are made. Fortunately, there are ways to ensure your new site is noticed and indexed promptly.

Here, we’ll cover some of the most effective strategies for getting your site picked up faster by Google.

1. Avoid Common Technical Mistakes

Google’s John Mueller has shared valuable insights into the technical aspects of getting a new site indexed faster. One key piece of advice is to not use a generic server or CMS holding page. Often, when a domain is registered but a site is not yet live, a default holding page is used. This generic placeholder can make Google treat the domain as “parked,” causing delays in indexing.

To avoid this mistake:

• Disable DNS if the site is not ready. The DNS (Domain Name System) is what points a domain name to the content hosted at an IP address. If Google detects that a domain is pointing to a generic placeholder, it can interpret it as a low-priority page. By disabling DNS, Google won’t find anything until you’re ready to launch your content.

• Use a custom holding page. If you need a placeholder, create something unique and informative that shows the site is coming soon rather than using a generic server page. This custom page should be informative enough to communicate that real content will be coming soon, signaling to Google that the site is under development.

2. Establish a Strong Content Foundation

The foundation of any SEO strategy for a new website starts with creating valuable content:

• Target Low Competition Keywords First: Create landing pages and content targeting lower-funnel, less competitive keywords. This can help generate some initial traction. Planning your information architecture in advance—organising keywords, categories, and content interlinking—is crucial for long-term SEO success.

• Focus on Complete Content Clusters: Develop comprehensive topic clusters related to your niche. These clusters of interlinked content pieces signal to Google that your site is a resource for specific topics, making it easier to rank and be indexed faster.

3. Build Authority and Relevance Early

To signal authority and relevance, focus on these activities immediately after launch:

• Claim Your Brand on Social Media: Creating profiles on top social media platforms helps you establish your brand’s online presence and drive initial traffic. It also signals to Google that your brand is legitimate.

• Create Citations and Directory Listings: Submitting your business to directories and creating citations is particularly important for local SEO. Even non-local sites can benefit from directory submissions because it helps Google verify the site’s relevance.

• Start a Link Building Campaign: Initially, consider using digital PR or getting your website mentioned on niche-relevant blogs and industry publications. This will help generate high-quality backlinks, which are important for SEO.

4. Plan for Growth with the Right Domain Strategy

Your domain name is your brand’s online identity, and planning it properly can help you avoid limitations in the future:

• Register Variations of Your Domain: To protect your brand, register singular and plural variations of your domain, as well as different extensions like .net or .org if they’re available. This helps prevent competitors from buying similar domains that might confuse potential visitors.

• Think Long-Term: Choose a domain name that doesn’t box you into a very specific niche if you plan to expand in the future. A more general name can help you pivot into related topics and expand your reach over time.

5. Develop a Brand Identity Early On

Branding can be a huge differentiator in making your site stand out:

• Create a Unique Logo: Investing in a unique symbol or logo can make your brand memorable and foster a stronger connection with your audience. Make sure your branding is versatile enough to work across different mediums and formats, from website icons to promotional merchandise.

6. Submit Your Site and Sitemap to Google Search Console

Though the original scenario ruled out adding the domain to Google Search Console as an obvious step, it’s still essential to mention. Google Search Console is a powerful tool for:

• Submitting Sitemaps: Make sure to create an XML sitemap and submit it to Google Search Console as soon as your site is ready. This helps Google understand the structure of your site and crawl it more efficiently.

• Requesting Indexing: If you’ve published new content or made significant changes, you can request indexing directly through Google Search Console to speed up the process.

7. Prioritize Speed and Mobile Optimisation

Google places a significant emphasis on user experience, especially for new sites:

• Optimise for Speed: A fast-loading website is more likely to be indexed quickly, as it enhances the user experience. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify areas for improvement.

• Ensure Mobile-Friendliness: With the majority of traffic coming from mobile devices, make sure your site is responsive and provides a great experience across all devices. A mobile-friendly site is prioritized for indexing by Google.

8. Publish High-Quality, Valuable Content

Publishing valuable, high-quality content signals to Google that your site is worth indexing:

• Use Rich Content: Create different types of content, such as articles, videos, and infographics, to make your site more engaging.

• Include Internal Links: Use internal linking to help Google navigate your site and discover all your pages. This also helps spread link equity throughout your website.

Summary

Getting your new website picked up by Google faster involves avoiding common technical pitfalls and ensuring your site is ready for indexing as soon as it’s launched. By avoiding generic holding pages, building a solid content strategy, focusing on authority signals like social media and backlinks, and creating a strong brand identity, you can help ensure that Google picks up and ranks your new site quickly.

Launching a new website is an opportunity to apply all the lessons you’ve learned from past experiences to create a successful, scalable brand. Following these strategies will help you lay a solid foundation and give your website the best chance to thrive in search engines.