IndexNow, a platform launched two years ago to simplify how websites notify search engines about updates, is showing significant growth. Currently, the service welcomes 60 million new websites every day and handles a jaw-dropping 1.4 billion URL submissions daily.
Bridging the gap between search engine results and real-time website updates
Internet users commonly face a situation where search engine results lag behind actual website updates. The root cause of this problem is that search engines often lack real-time information on changes to website content. To fill this gap, they continuously crawl the web, consuming precious bandwidth and often missing genuinely new updates. This lack of timely information is a pain point for both businesses and consumers, as it limits access to up-to-date and relevant search results.
How IndexNow makes real-time updates easy
IndexNow tackles this challenge directly. It pings search engines whenever there’s a new, updated, or removed URL. This method allows website owners to guide search engines on what should be crawled, making the whole process more efficient. Many popular services make it simple to enable IndexNow; if you’re using cloud services like CloudFlare or content management systems like WordPress, it’s pretty much a plug-and-play experience. Also, top SEO plugins like Yoast, All-in-One SEO, RankMath, and SEOPress come with IndexNow functionality built-in. For users of Wix Premium and Duda, the feature is pre-enabled and requires no additional setup.
Simple steps to get started with IndexNow
For those not using any of the above-mentioned services, getting started with IndexNow is still a breeze. All you have to do is:
- Generate an API key.
- Store this key in your web server’s root directory.
- Implement the code on your website to send URL updates to IndexNow’s API.
- Keep track of your submitted URLs through Webmaster Tools.
In today’s world, having real-time information is more of a necessity than a luxury. IndexNow is revolutionising the way search engine updates work, making it easier for both businesses and consumers to find timely and relevant information.
