Q and A: Why doesn't Google index my site any more?

Dear Kalena...

My client's site (www.coaching.uk.net ) has been recently converted to Joomla (around 6 months ago). The content is the same as previously. However Google no longer indexes the site.

The other search engines pick it up with no problems, and all my other Joomla sites are picked up by Google.

Can you suggest any reasons why this one should be an exception??!

Carrie

Kalena's Answer:

Dear Carrie

I've taken a look at the site and here's what I see:

1) You've got a Google Toolbar PageRank of zero.

2) You've got zero backward links listed on Google.

3) Google last cached your site on 7th November.

4) According to their Site Status Tool, Google does not know about all your site pages.


Seeing this, I doubt that Joomla that is causing the problem, it is more than likely that the re-design has triggered the site to get stuck in Google's Aging Delay. This delay can impact new or existing sites and can last up to 9 months. You're not the only one with a Joomla site facing similar problems.

Something to keep in mind when working with dynamic technologies and CMS's like Joomla: Google has stated in the past that they don't index pages containing session ids. I've seen such sites indexed before, so perhaps Google is getting better at this. But why take the risk? Make sure that your site either doesn't use session ids or contains a way for searchbots to grab the data via a parameter-clean URL. You can check how a search engine robot would see your site by downloading a text-based browser like Lynx and running your URLs through it.

See this post for advice on what to do while you're waiting in Google aging limbo.

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Q and A: Why is Google only indexing my home page?

Dear Kalena...

I have a problem. My site is http://www.info-junction.net.

I first made the site in Joomla, 3 months back. At that time Google just indexed my home page. I was using opensef - a module that changes your dynamic page into a static html kind of looking page which is search engine friendly.

But no use - only the first page got indexed. I have seen numerous sites that use Joomla and are higly ranked with 6 PR.

So I thought may be I am doing something wrong, so changed the whole site to plain html, also added a xml sitemap, the site map was picked up by Google with no problems. Now when Google last indexed it again, it indexed only the home page. So I am Pissed Off once again :) .

Please take a look and advise me what to do in order to get the whole site indexed.

Abu

Kalena's Answer:

Dear Abu

I hate to tell you this, but you probably wasted a lot of time redesigning your site. Sites made with Joomla CMS are usually indexed with no problems. The issue wasn't your site design, it was the age of your site. When you launch a new site (or extensively re-design an existing one), Google generally places the site in a limbo area for a period up to 9 months. This is called the Google Aging Delay and during this time it will seem as though only your home page is indexed.

During the aging delay, you usually can't find your site on Google for anything apart from your site name or URL. Googlebot will visit your entire site though and release all the indexed pages into the datacenter after some time has lapsed. Although this is frustrating, it is perfectly normal and helps prevent spammers from manipulating the SERPs. Just be patient and build up incoming links to your site while you wait.

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