What to Know:
– Google’s John Mueller recently explained how a subdomain can cause a perception of indexing issues for a website.
– Mueller shared an example where a website’s main domain was indexed properly, but the subdomain was not.
– He explained that this can create a perception that the entire website is not being indexed, even though it’s just the subdomain that is affected.
– Mueller advised website owners to check the indexing status of both the main domain and any subdomains separately to get a clear picture of the indexing situation.
– He also mentioned that subdomains can have their own separate indexing issues, such as canonicalization or duplicate content problems.
The Full Story:
Google’s John Mueller recently addressed a common issue that website owners may face when it comes to indexing. In a Google Webmaster Central hangout, Mueller explained how a subdomain can cause a perception of indexing issues for a website, even if the main domain is indexed properly.
Mueller shared an example where a website’s main domain was indexed correctly, but the subdomain was not. He explained that this can create a perception that the entire website is not being indexed, even though it’s just the subdomain that is affected.
To illustrate this, Mueller used the example of a website with the main domain “example.com” and a subdomain “subdomain.example.com.” If the main domain is indexed properly, but the subdomain is not, it may give the impression that the entire website is not being indexed.
Mueller advised website owners to check the indexing status of both the main domain and any subdomains separately to get a clear picture of the indexing situation. This can be done by using the “site:” operator in Google’s search bar, followed by the domain or subdomain URL.
In the example given by Mueller, if the main domain “example.com” is indexed properly, a search for “site:example.com” should return relevant results. However, if the subdomain “subdomain.example.com” is not indexed, a search for “site:subdomain.example.com” would not return any results.
Mueller also mentioned that subdomains can have their own separate indexing issues. For example, if a subdomain has canonicalization or duplicate content problems, it may not be indexed correctly. This can further contribute to the perception of indexing issues for the entire website.
To address subdomain indexing issues, Mueller recommended checking the technical setup of the subdomain, including the DNS configuration and server settings. He also advised website owners to ensure that the subdomain is properly linked from the main domain and that it has unique and valuable content.
In addition, Mueller suggested using the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console to check the indexing status of individual URLs within the subdomain. This tool provides detailed information about how Google sees a specific URL and can help identify any indexing issues.
Overall, Mueller’s advice highlights the importance of checking the indexing status of both the main domain and any subdomains separately. This can help website owners understand if there are any specific issues affecting the indexing of their website and take appropriate actions to address them.
In conclusion, a subdomain can cause a perception of indexing issues for a website, even if the main domain is indexed properly. Website owners should check the indexing status of both the main domain and any subdomains separately to get an accurate understanding of the indexing situation. Subdomains can have their own separate indexing issues, such as canonicalization or duplicate content problems, which should be addressed individually. Using tools like the “site:” operator and the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console can help identify and resolve any indexing issues.
Original article: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-on-how-subdomain-caused-perception-of-indexing-issue/504673/