If you’re running a WordPress website, ensuring that Google can properly crawl and index your pages is crucial for search engine visibility. However, Google Search Console (GSC) often reports crawl errors that can impact your rankings. In this guide, we’ll cover the most common crawl errors and how to fix them effectively.
1. 404 Not Found Errors
What It Means:
A 404 error occurs when a page is missing or has been deleted but is still linked somewhere on your site or externally.
How to Fix:
- Use Google Search Console to identify broken links.
- Redirect missing pages using a 301 redirect with a plugin like Redirection.
- Update or remove internal links pointing to the missing page.
- Check external backlinks and contact the referring site to update their links.
2. Server Errors (5xx Errors)
What It Means:
These errors occur when Googlebot encounters an issue with your server, such as it being down or overloaded.
How to Fix:
- Contact your hosting provider to check for server downtime.
- Monitor website performance using tools like GTmetrix or Pingdom.
- Increase server resources or consider upgrading your hosting plan.
- Enable WordPress caching using plugins like WP Rocket to reduce server load.
3. Redirect Errors
What It Means:
Googlebot may have trouble following redirects due to excessive redirect chains or loops.
How to Fix:
- Use Screaming Frog SEO Spider or GSC to identify problematic redirects.
- Avoid long redirect chains by pointing redirects directly to the final URL.
- Fix redirect loops by ensuring the destination URL is not redirecting back to itself.
- Use 301 redirects for permanent moves and 302 redirects for temporary changes.
4. Blocked by robots.txt
What It Means:
Your robots.txt file is preventing Google from crawling certain pages or sections of your site.
How to Fix:
- Go to Google Search Console > Coverage Report to identify blocked pages.
- Check your robots.txt file by going to
yourwebsite.com/robots.txt. - Edit your robots.txt file in WordPress > Yoast SEO > Tools > File Editor.
- Ensure critical pages like the homepage and blog posts are not disallowed.
5. Duplicate Content Issues (Canonical Errors)
What It Means:
Google may be indexing multiple versions of the same page, leading to SEO issues.
How to Fix:
- Use canonical tags in Yoast SEO by going to the page settings and adding a preferred canonical URL.
- Set up 301 redirects for duplicate URLs.
- Use Google’s URL Parameter Tool to tell Google how to handle similar pages.
- Ensure your www and non-www versions redirect to a single URL.
6. Soft 404 Errors
What It Means:
Google thinks a page is missing or thin in content but doesn’t return a proper 404 status code.
How to Fix:
- Add valuable content to thin pages or remove them.
- Use a 301 redirect if the page is no longer needed.
- Ensure deleted pages return a proper 404 status code.
7. DNS Errors
What It Means:
Googlebot is unable to connect to your site’s server due to domain resolution issues.
How to Fix:
- Check if your domain is properly pointing to the correct nameservers.
- Use tools like Google’s DNS Checker to confirm if your domain is resolving.
- Contact your hosting provider for support if the issue persists.
8. Mobile Usability Errors
What It Means:
Your site has issues that make it difficult for users to browse on mobile devices.
How to Fix:
- Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to analyze issues.
- Implement a responsive WordPress theme.
- Optimize images and fonts for mobile viewing.
- Use caching and AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) to improve speed.
Final Thoughts
Crawl errors can hurt your SEO and user experience, but fixing them doesn’t have to be complicated. Regularly monitor your Google Search Console, optimize your site’s performance, and use WordPress plugins like Yoast SEO, WP Rocket, and Redirection to maintain a healthy website. By addressing these errors proactively, you ensure Google can efficiently index your pages, leading to better search rankings and increased organic traffic.
