5 Essential Tools To Test Website Crawlability
Updated: Sep 10
If a search engine cannot reach a page, nothing else you do to that page matters. That is what crawlability means, and it is worth checking before you spend money on anything else.
But what is website crawlability?
Simply put, it's how easily a search engine can scan and index your website. A vital part of search engine optimization (SEO) exists.
Why does it matter?
Well, if search engines can't crawl your site effectively, it won't rank well in search results. This can lead to less traffic and fewer sales.
In this guide, we'll explore five essential tools to test your website's crawlability. We'll demystify the technical aspects of SEO, providing practical advice to improve your website's performance.
Here is what to check, and in what order.
Testing Website Crawlability and Its Impact on SEO
Website crawlability is a critical factor in SEO. It refers to a search engine's ability to access and understand the content on your website. When you make your site easily crawlable, it allows for efficient indexing and improves visibility.
Search engines use crawlers, also known as bots or spiders, to scan web pages. These crawlers follow links from one page to another, building an index of the site. They rely on this index to determine where your site appears in search results.
A well-structured website aids in efficient crawling. Clear navigation and logical hierarchy guide crawlers to your content. Sitemaps serve as a roadmap for these bots, helping them ensure they don’t miss important pages.
Common issues can disrupt crawlability, such as broken links, improper redirects, or blocked pages. These issues can negatively affect your site’s visibility on search engines, leading to decreased traffic.
Fixing crawlability problems helps search engines and visitors at the same time. A site that loads cleanly and links sensibly keeps people reading, and that shows up in your results too.
Here’s a quick list to keep in mind:
Ensure proper site structure.
Regularly check for broken links.
Use sitemaps and robots.txt effectively.
Optimize for mobile devices.
Tool 1: Google Search Console
Google Search Console is a powerful tool for monitoring website crawlability. Google offers it for free and provides valuable insights into how your site performs in search results. Using this tool helps identify and fix problems that affect your site's search rankings.
One of its key features allows users to see which pages the system crawls and indexes. You can submit sitemaps, check for any crawl errors, and view the mobile usability of your site. These features help ensure your site is search-engine-friendly.
To test crawlability with Google Search Console, start by verifying your site ownership. Once verified, you can explore the "Coverage" section. Here, you’ll see which of your pages Google indexes and any errors that prevent indexing.
Here's how to make the most of it:
Submit updated sitemaps regularly.
Check and fix crawl errors.
Monitor your site's indexing status.
Use the URL Inspection tool for individual pages.
By using Google Search Console regularly, you can keep your site healthy and easy to crawl. This can improve your visibility and possibly boost your rankings. Regularly checking your data ensures your site is always in good shape for search engines and your visitors.
Tool 2: Screaming Frog SEO Spider
Screaming Frog SEO Spider is a desktop program known for its in-depth crawlability assessment. It scans websites like a search engine, identifying SEO issues in real-time. It provides a wealth of information that helps improve website structure and content. Most crawlability checkers allow you to check crawlability and page indexing for pages on your site.
One of its notable features is its ability to crawl websites of any size with speed and accuracy. It identifies common issues such as broken links, duplicate content, and redirect chains. These features make it integral for many SEO professionals. This helps website owners see the xml sitemap and crawl budgets to measure seo strategy effectiveness.
To start using Screaming Frog, download and install the software on your computer. Enter your website URL, and the tool will start crawling your site. The text will highlight various problems related to SEO and crawlability, providing actionable insights.
Here is how to get the most out of it:
Analyze site architecture and internal linking.
Identify and fix broken links.
Detect and manage duplicate content.
Review site metadata for optimization.
Screaming Frog gives you a full picture of what a crawler can and cannot reach. Running it regularly catches problems while they are still small.
Tool 3: Ahrefs Site Audit
Ahrefs Site Audit is a powerful tool for discovering crawlability issues. It performs a deep examination of your site’s SEO health. It highlights problems impacting your website’s visibility in search engines.
Ahrefs excels with its user-friendly interface and detailed reports. It detects a wide range of issues from the more common, like broken links, to the complex, like orphaned pages. Its insights help rectify these issues to improve overall site health.
Using Ahrefs Site Audit is straightforward. First, you need to log in to your Ahrefs account and navigate to the Site Audit feature. Enter your domain to begin the crawl. The results will uncover crawl errors, identifying areas for improvement.
Key actions with Ahrefs include:
Finding and resolving broken and redirected links.
Checking internal links and structure.
Identifying slow-loading pages for optimization.
Pinpointing thin or duplicate content for enhancement.
Ahrefs will keep an eye on whether your site stays crawlable, and regular audits stop small issues turning into missing pages.
Tool 4: SEMrush Site Audit
SEMrush Site Audit looks at site health in detail. It finds crawlability issues and tells you which pages a search engine is struggling to reach.
This tool comes packed with features that analyze various aspects of your site. It detects issues such as errors in HTTP status codes, broken links, and other technical SEO errors. These insights allow businesses to act quickly and efficiently to fix problems.
Using SEMrush Site Audit is user-friendly. Simply log in to your SEMrush account and start a new site audit project. Enter your website URL to commence the evaluation, and the tool will highlight critical issues affecting your SEO.
Important functionalities of SEMrush Site Audit include:
Evaluating internal linking structure for optimization.
Assessing page loading speed and related impact.
Identifying duplicate content or missing metadata.
Providing a prioritized list of errors to fix.
Used regularly, it will keep your site's crawlability from drifting, which is usually how these problems appear in the first place.
Tool 5: Moz Pro Site Crawl
Moz Pro Site Crawl is an excellent tool for monitoring website crawlability over time. It helps businesses identify and solve technical SEO problems. This tool supports continuous improvement for better search engine visibility.
Key features of Moz Pro include detailed site audits and error detection. It scans your website to uncover issues like duplicate content, broken links, and missing tags. Moz Pro provides actionable insights to enhance crawlability and SEO results.
Moz Pro Site Crawl is straightforward to run. Add your site in the Moz dashboard, start a crawl, and it returns a report listing the crawl issues it found.
Moz Pro Site Crawl offers several advantages, such as:
Regular monitoring of site health with automated reports.
Easy-to-understand visual data and actionable recommendations.
Specific insights into how crawl issues affect your SEO performance.
Access to a historical timeline of site changes and error resolution.
Moz Pro's ongoing tracking allows businesses to maintain an optimized website. This proactive approach manages crawlability issues before they impact search engine rankings.
Interpreting Data and Taking Action
Read the results carefully rather than acting on the first red row. Look for patterns, because a repeated issue usually has one cause, and fix them in the order that affects the most pages.
Addressing crawl errors should start with fixing those that most affect search engine rankings. Broken links, server errors, and blocked resources can significantly hurt SEO performance. Resolve these issues promptly to improve both crawlability and user satisfaction.
Regularly updating your website is essential for maintaining good crawlability. Implementing ongoing maintenance keeps your site free of crawl errors. Stay proactive with SEO best practices to ensure continued online visibility and effective search engine interactions.
The Continuous Journey of SEO and Crawlability
SEO and crawlability are not one-time tasks but ongoing processes. Continual effort and adaptation are necessary to maintain strong online visibility. Regularly reviewing and updating your strategies is key to success.
Search engines keep changing what they reward, so this is not a job you finish. Checking crawlability a few times a year costs very little and catches the things that quietly stop pages being found.
If you would rather have someone run this against your own site, book a free SEO consultation. We will tell you what a search engine can and cannot reach, and there is nothing to buy at the end of it.
Written by Spencer Capron at Capron Media, in collaboration with our AI agents. The same way we do the work for clients. Spencer reviews everything published here.
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