Be indexed on Google to be recognized by AI
Description
Google indexing determines which pages of a site are discovered, analyzed, and stored in the search engine's index. It depends on technical crawlability, content quality, site structure, and the absence of technical obstacles.
Optimal indexing ensures visibility in search results and accessibility of content by automated systems.
Why is this important for ai search?
Google indexing indirectly influences content accessibility for AI systems that rely on massive web data. Well-indexed content is more likely to be included in training datasets and knowledge bases used by LLMs.
Indexing also signals the quality and legitimacy of content, criteria that models incorporate into their assessment of source reliability.
Namely, a recent report from Abondance confirms that ChatGPT now relies on Google for its search queries. This pivot is crucial for GEO, as it means that optimizing for Google becomes even more essential for your content's visibility to LLMs. If your content isn't well indexed and ranked on Google, it's less likely to be discovered and used by ChatGPT to generate responses.
Technical details
- Page presence in Google search results
- Domain presence in the Google Knowledge Graph
- Update the displayed information
- Submit a new page crawl
- Verify and enrich the Knowledge Graph attributes
1. Page presence in Google search results
Indexing is the first fundamental step for a website to be visible on Google. If a page is not indexed, it cannot appear in search results (SERPs), and therefore, it cannot be discovered by users or generative AI engines. Proper indexing ensures that Google has properly crawled, understood, and stored your content in its index.
Use the site:yourdomain.com command in the Google search bar to check which pages of your site are indexed. For more accurate verification and diagnostics, use the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console.
2. Domain Presence in the Google Knowledge Graph
Google's Knowledge Graph is a knowledge base that collects information about entities (people, places, organizations, things) and their relationships. For brands and businesses, appearing in the Knowledge Graph means that Google recognizes your entity and understands who you are and what you do. This often results in a detailed information panel on the right side of search results, increasing your brand's visibility and credibility.
Tip: Perform a Google search for the exact name of your brand or entity. If an information panel appears on the right-hand side, your entity is likely in the Knowledge Graph. Presence in the Knowledge Graph is a strong signal of authority and trust for generative AI engines.
3. Updating the Information Displayed
To keep your site relevant and reliable, it's crucial that the information presented in the SERPs and the Knowledge Graph is up-to-date. Outdated information can damage your credibility and lead to a poor user experience, potentially affecting your ranking and visibility to AIs.
Regularly update your site's content. For key business information (address, phone number, hours), make sure it's consistent across your entire site, your Google My Business profile, and any other structured data sources.
4. Submitting a New Page Crawl
If you've made significant changes to a page or it isn't yet indexed, you can speed up the process by requesting Google to recrawl it. Google Search Console offers a URL Inspection tool that allows you to submit individual pages for rapid crawling and indexing.
After major updates or for newly created pages, use the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console to request a recrawl. This helps Google quickly discover and index changes.
5. Checking and Enriching Knowledge Graph Attributes
The Knowledge Graph is powered by a variety of sources, including your site's structured data, Wikipedia, Wikidata, and other trusted databases. To enrich your presence in the Knowledge Graph, it is essential to provide clear and consistent information about your entity.
Use Organization or LocalBusiness structured data (Schema.org) on your site to provide detailed information about your business. Ensure this information is consistent with that found on other trusted platforms. If you have a Wikipedia or Wikidata page, ensure it is up-to-date and accurate.
Resources & useful links
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