This translation has not been editorially reviewed yet. The German version is authoritative. Deutsche Fassung →
My page can't be found — what order should I check things in?
The sensible order follows the weight: first check whether the page is indexable at all and responds with 200, then redirects and the canonical address, then whether content is present in the delivered HTML — and only last, the finer points.
- This order saves work: as long as a noindex directive is in place, any optimisation of titles, links, or load time is pointless. The most severe finding comes first.
- Every point in this audit area can be decided unambiguously by machine. Unlike accessibility, there's no criterion here that requires human judgement — a status code is a status code.
- What the check does NOT answer: why an indexable, reachable page still doesn't rank well. That's a question of content and competition, not of technology.
FAQ
What should I start with if nothing is being found?
With indexability and the status code. Both can be checked in minutes, and they explain most cases of complete unfindability.
Does a good value guarantee a good ranking?
No. This audit area makes sure the page can get into the index at all. How well it ranks there depends on content and competition — no technical check measures that.