Google search results need to be maintained. It is not enough to publish something new and expect bots to do the rest. Not anymore, at least. The amount of online content is so massive these days that page owners really have to understand how to “talk” to Google in order to put their fresh content right there in the spotlight. Indexing API can help with that. In this article, we will cover some of the basics. Stay tuned!
What is the Indexing API exactly?
Indexing API is a form of informing Google search bots, so-called crawlers, that new pages have been added. It works the other way around too: when an admin removes a single site from a blog, for example, the crawlers get the message. Because of that, they can instantly schedule certain pages for analysis. That’s how new content data gets refreshed in the Google search results faster. A similar blogger who didn’t use the Indexing API won’t have a good position in the cue, so his/her content might be refreshed a bit later. Why does it matter?
The interaction with Google crawlers
Although we can’t control the search bots fully, we can work with them. That usually has a significant impact on user traffic, especially when our content has a short lifespan. The news media fight for immediate attention on Google, Indexing API can therefore provide a constant update in search results when presidential elections take place or through sports events. News like these changes incredibly fast, so the bots also need to move rapidly and index pages accordingly.
A similar thing can be said about hot job offers or a 24-hour discount in, let’s say, a virtual bookstore. We also shouldn’t forget about livestream videos, which are gaining popularity due to faster network capacity and better online broadcast solutions. When that exemplary bookstore conducts a live interview with a writer, it could really use digital crawlers to crawl its content immediately. That way, the attention of potential clients can be stimulated more efficiently. As a result, user interest is pointed in the right direction without any delays. A bookstore’s offer gets proper exposure, or a literary blogger gains better statistics from Google Search Console, which they can use while negotiating a new deal with an advertiser.
What are the disadvantages of Indexing API?
The benefits of Indexing API implementation can be meaningful, yes. But there are also some disadvantages to consider. A single project can have only 200 requests on Google Cloud per day. For a small webpage, that might not be an issue, but a bigger broadcaster needs to prioritize such requests. And if that’s not enough, only 100 of them can be processed in a row. This is quite a drawback if you’re a news agency, is it not? But wait, there’s more: daily limits of Indexing API requests are recognized by the US Eastern Time (GMT-4). That means page owners worldwide have to adjust their schedule to this particular time offset. These are only some of the inconvenient details of Indexing API. One should therefore investigate the subject more carefully before diving into the Application Programming Interpreter (the expansion of API)… or using the services of professionals who actually know all the bolts and nuts of it.
The above is just an introduction. The first step to improve webpage performance in Google. There are many ways to do this, obviously, but Indexing API works well for short-lived content. Especially if it’s published via online publishing platforms that offer a comprehensive understanding of Google mechanisms.
