Search and AI
Indexing
Indexing is when a search engine stores a page in its database, so it can show that page in results.
First a crawler visits the page. Then the search engine reads it and decides whether to add it to its index. A page that is not indexed cannot appear in search results or in AI Overviews.
New sites often wait days or weeks. Help it along with a sitemap, links from your other pages, and the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console, where you can request indexing. Google says a request does not guarantee it. For copies, a canonical URL names the one to keep. Get your website indexed page by page.
Go deeper
- How to get your website indexed on GoogleGet your website indexed on Google: add it to Search Console, turn off anything that hides it, submit your sitemap and request indexing for your 5 main pages today, then link and request every new page each day and fix the pages that are not indexed every Sunday.
- Technical SEO checklist for a new websiteRun the technical SEO checks that matter for a new website in one afternoon: turn off every setting that hides it, check Google sees your words, one secure address, your sitemap in Google and Bing and a free crawl with 0 errors, then test each new page the day you publish it and the whole site every Sunday.
- How to use Google Search ConsoleUse Google Search Console on a new site: add it as a Domain property and submit your sitemap today, request indexing for each day's new page, and every Sunday write down non-brand impressions and clicks, pick 3 pages to improve and 5 new searches to write for, and check for problems.
What links here
Sources
- URL Inspection tool, Search Console Help, checked 24 September 2026
Last checked 24 September 2026.