Get new pages found faster with IndexNow and IndexMeNow
Updated
What instant indexing does#
Search engines find new pages through your sitemap and links, which can take days or weeks. Instant indexing tells them about a new or changed page right away. It does not force a page into results: each search engine still decides what to show.
| Channel | Tells | Works on | Plan and cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| IndexNow | Bing, Yandex, Seznam and Naver. Bing also feeds ChatGPT search. | Sites that can serve a small file at the root of your domain: WordPress with SEO Writer, GitHub-connected sites, or any site where you can upload a file | Any paid plan or trial. IndexNow itself is free. |
| IndexMeNow | Any site, including Shopify, Wix and Webflow | Scale and above, with your own IndexMeNow account. Uses your IndexMeNow credits. | |
| Google Search Console | Google, but only for job posting and livestream pages | Any site with Search Console connected | Any paid plan or trial. Needs one extra Google permission. |
Google ignores IndexNow, and does not accept direct requests for ordinary pages through Search Console. For those pages, Google relies on your sitemap and links, or on IndexMeNow.
When SEOmatic sends your pages#
- When an index request task runs. Your agents propose these for pages search engines have not picked up.
- When your agents publish a new article. It goes to every channel you have set up.
Sending pages uses no SEOmatic credits. If no channel is set up, Google still finds your pages through your sitemap and links, and nothing waits on you: an index request task that has no way to send its page closes as done with Google finds this page through your sitemap; nothing to do on your side. With no Search Console, IndexNow or IndexMeNow at all, your agents stop proposing these requests.
Only the account owner sees the Integrations tab
If you are not the owner, ask them to turn this on. If Slack is connected, the Owner or an Admin can also turn it on from Slack with /seomatic indexing. See use SEOmatic from Slack.
Turn on IndexNow on WordPress#
- Make sure the free SEOmatic SEO Writer plugin, version 1.4 or later, is active on your site, and that your site is connected with an administrator login. See connect WordPress.
- Open Settings > Integrations.
- On the Instant indexing card, click Turn on IndexNow.
- SEOmatic adds the key file through the plugin, checks it on your live site and sends one test request. When it works, the card says IndexNow is on.
If IndexNow is still checking the key, the card says it is validating. SEOmatic checks again within the hour and turns it on by itself.
Turn on IndexNow on a GitHub-connected site#
- On the Instant indexing card, click Open the pull request. SEOmatic opens a pull request that adds one small key file to your repository.
- Merge the pull request on GitHub and let your site deploy.
- Back on the card, click Check again. Once your live site serves the file, SEOmatic turns instant indexing on.
Add IndexNow by hand on another site#
If you can upload a file to the root of your domain, you can set up IndexNow yourself.
- In Settings > Integrations, under Connect apps, turn on IndexNow. A window opens with a new key already filled in.
- Click Copy key. Keep the window open.
- Create a text file named after the key, ending in
.txt, that contains only the key. The window shows the exact file name. - Upload the file to the root of your site, so it opens at your domain followed by
/and the file name. - Open that address in your browser to check it shows the key.
- Back in SEOmatic, click Save & verify. Under Stored keys, the IndexNow key shows Verified.
Upload the file before you click Save & verify
If the file is not live yet, the key is saved as Not verified. On the Launch plan or a Launch trial, the Check again button then asks you to upgrade. To avoid this, put the file live first. If you are stuck, email contact@seomatic.ai and a person will help, usually within one business day.
Use IndexMeNow on Shopify, Wix, Webflow and other hosted builders#
Shopify, Wix, Webflow, Squarespace, BigCommerce, HubSpot, Framer, Ghost and Blogger cannot serve a file at the root of your domain, so IndexNow cannot work there. IndexMeNow is a paid service that sends pages to Google instead.
- Get an API key from your IndexMeNow account.
- In Settings > Integrations, under Connect apps, turn on IndexMeNow.
- Paste your key in API key and click Connect. SEOmatic checks the key before saving it.
Adding your own IndexMeNow key needs the Scale plan or above. See pricing. Each page sent uses your IndexMeNow credits, not SEOmatic credits.
Google job posting and livestream pages#
If your site has job posting or livestream pages, SEOmatic can send them straight to Google. On the Google Search Console row in Connect apps, click Turn them on next to the note about index requests. Google asks for one more permission. See what SEOmatic can do with your Google data.
If IndexNow does not turn on#
| The card says | What to do |
|---|---|
| The SEO Writer plugin (1.4 or later) did not answer for an administrator login | Update SEO Writer to 1.4 or later, and reconnect WordPress with an administrator account. |
| The key file did not answer with the key on your live site | A page cache or security plugin is blocking the file. Exclude .txt files at your site root from caching and firewall rules, then try again after an hour. |
| An IndexNow key is already on for this site | Another tool, like the Instant Indexing plugin, already set up IndexNow. Nothing more is needed. |
| SEOmatic sent IndexNow a test request for this site less than an hour ago | Wait an hour. SEOmatic checks again on its own. |
| Something went wrong. Try again. | Check that your plan is active in Settings > Billing Details. If it is, email contact@seomatic.ai. |
- How do I turn IndexNow off?
- If SEOmatic set it up, click Turn off on the Instant indexing card. On WordPress, your site stops serving the key file. On GitHub, a merged key file stays in your repository until you delete it, but it does nothing on its own. For a key you added by hand, click Remove under Stored keys.
- Will this get my page on Google faster?
- IndexNow does not reach Google. Only IndexMeNow, or Search Console for job posting and livestream pages, sends pages to Google directly.
- Do I need IndexMeNow if I am on WordPress?
- No. IndexNow is free and covers Bing and others. IndexMeNow is optional if you also want to send pages to Google.
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Still need help?Email contact@seomatic.ai with your site address and a screenshot. A person replies, usually within one business day.