How to Solve Google Search Console Errors
Google Search Console (GSC) is an essential tool for website owners, bloggers, and SEO professionals. It helps monitor website performance, indexability, and search-related issues. However, encountering errors in GSC is common. These errors can affect website visibility in search results if not resolved promptly. This guide will walk you through the most common GSC errors and how to fix them effectively.
1. Indexing Errors and How to Fix Them
a) Pages Discovered – Currently Not Indexed
Cause: Google has found the page but has not indexed it due to quality issues or limited crawling resources.
Solution:
Improve content quality by adding valuable, unique, and keyword-rich information.
Ensure the page is linked internally and externally where relevant.
Submit the page manually via the URL Inspection Tool in GSC.
b) Crawled – Currently Not Indexed
Cause: Google has crawled the page but has not indexed it, possibly due to thin content or duplication.
Solution:
Enhance content by adding images, videos, and useful information.
Check for duplicate content and use canonical tags if necessary.
Increase engagement signals (social shares, backlinks).
c) Soft 404 Error
Cause: The page is live but does not contain meaningful content, making Google treat it as a "soft 404."
Solution:
Update the page with useful, relevant content.
If the page is unnecessary, redirect it to a relevant page using a 301 redirect.
2. Coverage Issues and Their Fixes
a) Excluded by “Noindex” Tag
Cause: A meta tag (<meta name="robots" content="noindex">) is blocking indexing.
Solution:
Remove the noindex tag from pages that should be indexed.
Use robots.txt carefully to avoid accidental blocking.
b) Blocked by Robots.txt
Cause: The page is restricted by a robots.txt directive, preventing Google from crawling it.
Solution:
Edit the robots.txt file to allow Googlebot access.
Remove the disallow directive for the specific page if necessary.
c) Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag
Cause: The page is an alternate version (duplicate) and is correctly pointing to a canonical URL.
Solution:
No fix needed unless the page should be indexed separately.
3. Mobile Usability Errors
a) Text Too Small to Read
Cause: Font sizes are too small for mobile users.
Solution:
Set a minimum font size of 16px for readability.
Use a responsive design that adjusts text size dynamically.
b) Clickable Elements Too Close Together
Cause: Buttons and links are too close, making navigation difficult.
Solution:
Increase spacing between buttons and links.
Follow Google’s mobile-friendly guidelines.
c) Content Wider Than Screen
Cause: Elements are not adjusting properly for mobile devices.
Solution:
Use a responsive design or a mobile-friendly theme.
Check viewport settings (<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">).
4. AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) Errors
a) AMP Page Has Critical Issues
Cause: AMP pages may have invalid markup or missing required elements.
Solution:
Validate AMP pages using AMP Test.
Fix errors like missing canonical tags, invalid scripts, or incorrect structured data.
5. Security and Manual Action Issues
a) Security Issues
Cause: Google has detected malware, phishing content, or other security threats.
Solution:
Scan your site using Google Safe Browsing or a security plugin.
Remove malware and submit a security review request in GSC.
b) Manual Action Penalties
Cause: Google has manually penalized your site for violating guidelines (e.g., spam, unnatural links).
Solution:
Identify the reason in the Manual Actions tab in GSC.
Fix the issue and submit a Reconsideration Request.
6. Performance & Core Web Vitals Issues
a) LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) Issues
Cause: Slow loading of the main content.
Solution:
Optimize images using WebP format.
Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN).
b) CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) Issues
Cause: Elements shift unexpectedly while loading.
Solution:
Set fixed dimensions for images and videos.
Avoid injecting ads or elements dynamically above existing content.
c) FID (First Input Delay) Issues
Cause: Slow interaction response time.
Solution:
Minimize JavaScript execution.
Use lazy loading for non-essential scripts.
Google Search Console errors can impact your website's ranking and search visibility. By addressing these errors proactively, you ensure a better user experience and improved SEO performance. Regular monitoring and prompt action will keep your site optimized for search engines and users alike.
Would you like additional details on any specific error? Let me know!
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