Table of Contents
Googlebot, Google’s own, A crawler par excellence.
Meet this Digital visitor that knows what’s on your website and ranks it on SERP depending upon how relevant it is in relation to the users search queries.
Googlebot: Know the What, Where, How 4 top CIR (Crawling, Indexing, Ranking) Success is a honest attempt to explain its process for a genuine website ranking.
What is a Googlebot
Known by many different names: Crawlers, Bots, Spiders, Reviewers etc.
Not a person or a team but an intelligent automated program whose sole purpose is to tirelessly scan billions of pages daily to decide which ones deserve the spotlight on Google’s Search Engine Results Page (SERP).
When a user types in a query, the search engine doesn’t travel the web in real time, instead it searches this index, which the Googlebot continuously updates.
Ofcourse making the life easy for the spider to crawl, index & rank efficently is the responsibility of the website & should make sure that it follows the ranking factors diligently.
Where Does The Googlebot Operate From
Google, The Database Beast, aims to offer the best quality & the most relevent data to its users.
The most common way of their movement is through InterLinking, Sitemaps and Structured Data.
Here is how it operates:
1. Website Pages
It aims to crawl every accesible URL(Uniform Resourse Locactor) of your website – meaning your Homepage to Blog Posts and also the Product Pages.
All in its sight.
2. XML Sitemaps
XML stands for Xtensive Markup Languages is where the crawlers first come to.
It lists webpages and also the frequency of updates that come on to your website.
In simple words, it informs search engine crawlers where it can crawl and where it cannot and also determines its frequency.
Hence very important for crawling purposes.
3. External Links or Backlinks
It has the maximum weightage when it comes to website ranking.
When authoritative websites pass on their links onto your website, giving your website the credibility to rank high.
Crawlers follows those links to find you.
Basically, the more authoritative links you have coming onto the website, the better would be it visibility & the higher would be the visits of these automated programs.
4. Robots.Txt File
A simple text file that informs crawlers where it can crawl and where it cannot using clearly defined rules.
Simple elements of Robots.Txt –
User Agent – Googlebot, Bing Bot etc.
Allow
Disallow – “Rel= No Follow”. This code disallows crawling function.
Regex– A wildcard.
You can also use it to exclude sensitive areas of your website. like the Admin page as it contains information you don’t want anyone to see.
A simple concise thought – ‘Googlebot roams anywhere your links, permissions, and content allow it.’
How Does The Googlebot Work
It operates on the three major Functions – Crawling, Indexing, Ranking
1. Crawling
Its major function, where it crawls onto your website and collects unlimited data.
2. Indexing
The collected data needs to segregated to its relevance. This is where Indexing of data comes in.
It gives sense to the data collected and makes it easy to understand for the search engines.
3. Ranking
Crawling & Indexing probably if are to be the Entres then Ranking is the Main Course and the Desert.
A website or a piece of Content that ranks highest on SERP becomes the chief source of data for its users.
Ranking of course depends on three major factors which i like to call it as the RAU formula.
Relevancy – How relevant it is to the keywords used
Authority – How authoritative is your site in comparison to other sites in your niche.
User Signals – How are user interacting with your website or the content.
Of course there are more than 200 individual ranking signals known to SEO professionals.
Optimize the Website, Win the SERP game
Lets make the Googlebot work.
Try these steps & make the life of the Googlebot easy.
1. Improve the website speed
A fast loading website directly co-relates with higher ranking.
Faster the load, better the user experience, higher the website grade.
One of the few places where the pump for Fast, Faster, Fastest is recommended.
Make sure:
Image Compression
Use tools (Free, Paid). Larger the image, slower the loading.
Tools- TinyPNG or Smush work for me.
lazy Load
Switch this option on.
The content loads with the toggle of your website. No unnecessary loads.
Server response
A fast responding server leads to a fast website.
Choose your Hosting server intelligently.
WPX, Bluehost, Hostinger, Milesweb(India’s own) all offer good downtime.
Page Speed Insights
Google own, Tests the page and gives results.
A good source to know our websites speed.
2. URL Structure
URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator.
In simple words, The address of your webpage/s.
Make Sure it is,
- Relevant to the search query.
- Short & Simple
- Easy to Understand.
3. Regular Sitemap submission to GSC
GSC stands for Google Search Console & is an another free tool provided by google.
When multiple URL’s of your website are listed on one page, its the Sitemap of your website.
Basically the index/roadmap of the website. That’s what we see first in a book or a novel, don’t we.
So do the crawlers.
Regular sitemap submission allows Googlebot’s to know where the important pages are located.
Its Process,
- Login to GSC
- Access Sitemaps.
- Add your sitemap URL (e.g.,
sitemap.xml). - Click Submit.
This ensures Gbot discovers all your pages quickly.
4. The Robot.Txt File
The Gbots access of your website depends upon how clean, simple & updated you keep it.
Do not accidently block it.
5. Crawl Errors
Crawl errors occur when it has problems accessing your webpages properly.
A crawl report is therefore made which informs the website of its errors and of course the corresponding corrections are definitely recommended.
Some Problems:
- Broken Links URLs (404 errors)
- Redirects
- Server errors (5xx issues)
Fix these errors promptly to maintain crawl efficiency.
6. InterLinking Structure
Interlink/Ing is a very important function that shows good site architecture.
It basically means linking of two webpages of the same niche within the website.
It basically allows the crawler to find multiple relevant pages within the site, enhancing the content and making it a better source of information to its users.
Interlinked websites generally rank well on SERP.
7. Content Freshness
Maintaining the freshness of the content is your responsibility.
Writing fresh new content or updating the available content regularly will invite the curious attention of the Googlebot.
It basically signals that your site is active and valuable.
The Common Mistakes, Avoid it
Google aims at providing the best quality to its audience.
Works very hard and in diligence, making sure that the websites follow the rules & regulations put forth for its smooth functioning.
Hence, even the smallest errors can stop Googlebot from indexing your site correctly.
A site not indexed, will not rank. Remain invisible to its audience.
So avoid these mistakes:
1. Content Importance
Not writing fresh content or not updating the available content is the elementary mistake.
Duplicate/Plagiarized content is a sin & is punishable, if caught. Panda Update(2011) was launched precisely to punish website that are it its practice.
Understand the Importance of writing Good Content, Read this https://neerajhq.com/content-7-steps-unlock-the-potential-of-write-ups/
2. Ignoring mobile-friendliness
Smartphones, Tablets etc is how google today ranks your website. Not optimizing websites for mobile friendliness will lead to a definite lower ranking.
Mobilegeddon Update(2014) is the metrics that looks into the mobile friendliness of a site.
3. Incorrect Canonical Tags
A simple HTML code which informs search engines of the actual URL for a page when similar content is accessible through multiple URLs.
Bots make sure that such manipulation of search engines are caught and websites are therefore punished.
4. Choosing Quantity over Quality Backlinks
A common mistake. Please avoid it for sure.
As a website your aim should be to get Backlinks of High Authority but one should also remember the golden rule of One Website = One Backlink only regardless of how many times you approach it.
Choose your Backlinks well to make sure bots crawl, index and rank your site.
5. Java Script CSS elements
Both these elements are very common with website development.
While CSS directly controls the visual presentation or the static styling rules, JavaScript can dynamically alter those CSS properties based on user interactions, events, or other conditions.
Uncontrolled increase of these elements will lead Googlebot taking necessary actions.
The future is Bright
Optimism is the essence of the modern life.
As the future of technology gets more interesting, combing it with the present is an ‘Evolution’.
AI and machine learning is everywhere, making life easy or a giving a sense of fear to the ignorant.
Whatever it may be, its new updates allow JavaScript Rendering more efficiently & define AI-based crawling rules to focus on high-quality, helpful content first.
Making the crawlers life easier.
Lets Conclude
As the world evolves so will the ‘GoogleBot‘.
To dominate the SERP in 2025 and beyond, think of it as your website’s guide constantly evaluating how you serve your end users.
An SEO Tip for you….
Keep the Googlebot smiling by optimizing your site’s speed, structure, and content regularly.
A happy bot means a higher chance of appearing on page one.
Which is what we all want.
‘Googlebot: Know the What, Where, How 4 top CIR Success‘ as said before is an honest attempt to simplify this process.
What’s your take on this, Have you tried this approach.
Love to hear your views.
Lets Discuss.