A common concern is why Google indexes over a thousand pages from a site while Yandex shows just over a hundred. Previously, the indexed pages were higher, but some have dropped.
When a website leaves the search engine database, it’s called de-indexing. Here are the most common causes of this issue.
Technical Issues
- Search Engine Server Failures: Search engines themselves can experience failures. If a site drops due to search engine issues and doesn’t return quickly, contact support.
- Hosting Failures: Hosting downtime during search engine crawls can cause de-indexing. Consider moving to a more reliable host and inform the search engine’s support team about the change.
Optimization Tools and Quality Parameters
- Copied Content: Predominantly stolen content can lead to de-indexing. Removing plagiarized content can resolve this.
- Robots.txt File Errors: Errors in the robots.txt file can lead to de-indexing. Check and correct this file first.
- Prohibited SEO Methods: Techniques like search spam, cloaking, and doorway pages can cause de-indexing. Adhere to search engine guidelines to avoid this.
- Low-Quality Links: Irrelevant or low-quality external and internal links can cause problems. Removing these links can help.
Third-Party Violations
- Hacking and Malicious Code: Unknown parties might hack your site or insert malicious code, leading to de-indexing.
By addressing these issues, you can help ensure your site remains indexed and visible in search engine results.