What is Indexing?
Definition
Indexing is the process of adding a crawled web page to Google's search index — the database from which search results are served. A page must be crawled AND indexed to appear in search results. Google may crawl a page but choose not to index it if it's deemed low-quality, duplicate, or has noindex tags.
Why Indexing matters for Shopify stores
Getting new Shopify pages indexed quickly is critical for product launches and time-sensitive content. Google Search Console's URL Inspection tool lets you check indexation status and request indexing for specific URLs. Pages that are crawled but not indexed require quality improvements to get in.
Shopify example
A store launches a new seasonal collection with 30 products. GSC Coverage shows 25 are indexed within a week, but 5 show 'Crawled — currently not indexed'. Those 5 have very short descriptions (under 40 words). After adding detailed copy, all 5 get indexed within 10 days.
How Sauron handles Indexing
Sauron's GSC integration imports indexation status for all store pages and surfaces 'not indexed' products alongside their description word count — directly linking the content quality issue to the indexation problem.
See Product SEO on Autopilot feature →Common mistakes
- ✕ Leaving noindex tags on pages from development that are now live in production
- ✕ Creating pages with duplicate or thin content that Google actively chooses not to index
- ✕ Assuming a newly submitted sitemap means immediate indexing — it can take weeks
- ✕ Not monitoring the Coverage report regularly for newly excluded pages
Related terms
Automate your Shopify SEO
Understanding Indexing is step one. Sauron handles the implementation — automatically, for your entire Shopify store.