how to get google to re-index your website after redesign

Jan 21, 2025

After redesigning your website, ensuring Google re-indexes it quickly is vital for maintaining visibility in search results. Learn how to fix errors, submit a new sitemap, request indexing for key pages, and use tools like Google Search Console to speed up the re-indexing process.

Redesigning your website is an exciting task. It helps you refresh your brand, improve user experience, and make your website better for visitors. But sometimes, after a redesign, Google may not notice your changes immediately. This can hurt your website’s visibility in search results. To avoid this, you need to make sure Google re-indexes your website quickly. Here is a simple and detailed guide to help you understand how to get Google to re-index your website after redesign.

1. Fix Any Errors on Your Website

Before you ask Google to look at your redesigned website, make sure everything is working correctly. Here are some common things to check:

  • Broken links: These are links on your website that do not work. Use tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to find and fix them.

  • Redirects: If you have changed the URLs of some pages, set up 301 redirects to point the old pages to the new ones.

  • Canonical tags: These tags help Google understand the original version of a page, especially if you have similar content on multiple pages.

  • Mobile-friendliness: Many people use mobile phones to browse websites. Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to check if your website works well on mobile devices.

2. Submit a New Sitemap to Google

Your sitemap is like a map that tells Google about all the pages on your website. After redesigning your site, you need to update this map and send it to Google.

  • Create a new sitemap: Use tools like Yoast SEO, Rank Math, or Screaming Frog to generate an XML sitemap.

  • Submit the sitemap to Google Search Console:

    1. Log in to your Google Search Console account.

    2. Select your website property.

    3. Go to the “Sitemaps” section.

    4. Enter the URL of your new sitemap and click “Submit.”

This step helps Google understand your site’s structure and find all your pages.

3. Request Indexing for Important Pages

Google Search Console has a tool that lets you ask Google to index specific pages.

  • Go to the URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console.

  • Enter the URL of the page you want to be indexed.

  • Click the “Request Indexing” button.

Start with your most important pages, like your homepage, service pages, and any new content.

4. Check Your Robots.txt File

Your robots.txt file tells search engines which parts of your website they can and cannot crawl. Sometimes, during a redesign, developers block the site to prevent search engines from indexing it before it’s ready. After your redesign, make sure your robots.txt file allows Google to crawl your website.

  • Open your robots.txt file and look for any “Disallow” rules.

  • Remove these rules if they are blocking important pages.

5. Monitor Google’s Crawling and Fix Issues

After updating your website, it’s important to see how Google interacts with it.

  • Crawl stats: Check the “Crawl Stats” report in Google Search Console to see how often Google crawls your website.

  • Coverage report: This report shows which pages Google has indexed and highlights any errors. Fix issues like “Page not found” or “Blocked by robots.txt.”

6. Improve Internal and External Links

Links are important because they show Google which pages are valuable.

  • Internal links: Make sure all your pages are well connected. For example, link from your homepage to your most important pages.

  • External links: If other websites link to your old pages, ask them to update their links to point to your new pages.

7. Promote Your Redesigned Website

When you promote your website, it attracts more visitors. This signals Google to pay attention to your website.

  • Share your redesigned website on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter.

  • Send an email to your subscribers announcing the new design.

  • Write blog posts or create videos to showcase the changes.

8. Use Google Search Console Tools

Google Search Console has many tools to help you with indexing.

  • Use the URL Inspection Tool to test how Google views your site.

  • Make sure no important pages are excluded from indexing.

9. Be Patient and Track Progress

Google may take some time to fully re-index your website. Keep an eye on your website’s performance to see if things are improving.

  • Use Google Analytics to track your traffic.

  • Monitor your rankings with tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Ubersuggest.

  • Check Google Search Console regularly for updates.

Final Thoughts

Getting Google to re-index your website after a redesign may seem like a big task, but it is important for your website’s success. By fixing errors, updating your sitemap, and using Google Search Console, you can make sure your new design is visible to search engines. Take the time to promote your website and monitor your progress. With a little patience, your website will be fully re-indexed and ready to attract visitors.

Understanding how to get Google to re-index your website after redesign is essential. Follow these steps carefully, and your website will remain visible to your audience and search engines alike.