Running a blog on Blogger is an exciting task, but encountering errors in Google Search Console can be frustrating. These errors can affect your site's visibility and performance. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the ten most common Blogger Search Console errors and provide practical solutions to fix them.
1. Indexed, but blocked by robots.txt
Problem:
When a page gets indexed by Google, despite being blocked by a robots.txt file.
Solution:
- Check your robots.txt file by going to Settings > Crawlers and indexing > Custom robots.txt.
- Make sure the file is correctly blocking pages you don’t want indexed.
- Update the file if necessary and request re-indexing via Search Console.
2. The submitted URL is marked ‘Noindex’
Issue: A submitted URL is marked with a 'noindex' tag, causing it to not appear in search results.
Solution:
- Open the relevant Blogger post.
- Click on Post settings > Search description.
- Remove any 'noindex' tags or confirm the correct settings in Settings > Search preferences > Crawlers and indexing.
3. Crawl anomalies
Problem: Google encounters unknown issues while crawling your site.
Solution:
- Diagnose specific issues using the URL Inspection tool in Search Console.
- Check for errors in your website's server logs.
- Make sure your site is accessible and loading correctly.
4. Duplicate without user-selected Canonical
Issue: Google has found duplicate content without a Canonical URL specified.
Solution:
- Identify duplicate content using Search Console's Coverage report.
- Set Canonical URLs in Blogger by going to Post settings > Advanced settings > Custom Canonical URL.
- Make sure each duplicate page points to the correct Canonical URL.
5. Redirect error
Problem: Redirect chains or loops prevent correct Indexing.
Solution:
- Identify problematic redirects using tools like Screaming Frog or an online redirect checker.
- Simplify redirect chains, making sure they are pointing directly to the final destination.
- Update your Blogger settings and custom redirects correctly.
6. Server error (5xx)
Problem: Googlebot encountered a server error while trying to access your site.
Solution:
- Check for any server issues with your hosting provider.
- Monitor your site's uptime and performance.
- Make sure your site isn't overloaded with excessive plugins or traffic.
7. Alternate page with correct Canonical tag
Problem: Pages are identified as duplicates but have the correct Canonical tags.
Solution:
- Make sure Canonical tags are correctly applied in Blogger settings.
- Use the URL Inspection Tool to verify Canonical URLs.
- Make sure Canonical tags are consistently pointing to the preferred version of your content.
8. The submitted URL has a crawl issue
Problem: A submitted URL cannot be crawled by Googlebot.
Solution:
- Use the URL inspection tool to identify the specific problem.
- Check the blocking instructions in your robots.txt file.
- Make sure your site and pages are accessible and linked correctly.
9. Excluded by the ‘noindex’ tag
Problem: URLs are excluded from indexing due to 'noindex' tags.
Solution:
- Remove 'noindex' tags from the HTML of the affected pages.
- Update your Blogger settings to allow indexing.
- Request re-indexing of the affected URLs through Search Console.
10. Soft 404
Problem: Pages return Soft 404 errors, indicating they do not exist without returning a 404 status.
Solution:
Review pages marked as Soft 404 in Search Console.
Make sure these pages provide meaningful content or redirect them to related pages.
Fix any incorrect custom error pages in your Blogger settings.
conclusion
Keeping your Blogger site in top shape requires careful monitoring and resolving errors reported by Google Search Console. By following the steps above, you can resolve common issues, improve your site’s performance, and ensure better visibility in search results.
If you have any specific questions or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to comment below! Happy blogging!
