What is Index Bloat?
TL;DR
When Google indexes pages that shouldn't be in search results, thin content, duplicate pages, tag archives, or parameter URLs. Index bloat wastes Crawl Budget, dilutes your site's quality signals, and can confuse search engines about which pages matter. Regular audits using Google Search Console help identify and fix bloat with Noindex tags.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Index Bloat
How do I know if I have index bloat?
Search site:yourdomain.com in Google and compare results to pages you actually want indexed. Check Search Console's 'Pages' report for indexed pages. If you see thin archive pages, parameter URLs, or duplicate content indexed, you have bloat.
Why is index bloat harmful?
Index bloat dilutes your site's quality signals, Google sees lots of low-value pages alongside your good content. It wastes crawl budget, can cause keyword cannibalization, and makes it harder for Google to identify your most important pages.
How do I fix index bloat?
Audit indexed pages and identify what shouldn't be there. Apply noindex tags to low-value pages, consolidate thin content, use canonical tags for duplicates, and block parameter URLs from indexing. Monitor Search Console to confirm removal over time.
Terms Related to Index Bloat
Crawl Budget
The number of pages Google will crawl on your site within a given timeframe. For most small business sites, this isn't a...
Read definition SEOIndexing
The process of Google adding your pages to its searchable database. If a page isn't indexed, it won't appear in search r...
Read definition SEONoindex
A directive that tells search engines not to include a page in search results. Add noindex to pages that shouldn't rank,...
Read definition SEO301 Redirect
A permanent redirect that tells browsers and search engines "this page has moved forever, go here instead." When someone...
Read definition SEO302 Redirect
A temporary redirect that tells search engines "this page has moved for now, but it's coming back." Unlike a 301 Redirec...
Read definition SEOAlgorithm
The complex set of rules Google uses to rank websites. Google updates its algorithm thousands of times per year, with ma...
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