Removing Pages from Search Results
Removing a Page from Google Search Results
This guide provides a detailed walkthrough on how to remove a page hosted on your website from Google Search results. If you're looking to remove personal information and don't own the website hosting it, please refer to the guide on Removing your personal information from Google.
Quick Removals using the Removals Tool
For swift removal requests, leverage the Removals tool to delist a page from Google Search results within a day. This tool is particularly useful for temporary removals while you make permanent changes.
Important:
Removal Duration: Requests made through the Removals tool typically last for about 6 months. After this period, Google might re-index the page if it's still accessible.
URL Variations: Ensure you submit removal requests for all variations of the URL pointing to the content you want to remove. This includes different capitalization, protocols (http vs. https), and query parameters.
Example:
Let's say you want to remove a blog post about dog grooming tips. Consider these URL variations:
https://www.mypetsite.com/blog/dog-grooming-tipshttps://www.mypetsite.com/blog/DOG-grooming-tipshttp://www.mypetsite.com/blog/dog-grooming-tips?utm_source=newsletter
You need to submit separate removal requests for each of these URLs to ensure complete removal from Google Search.
Finding the right URL to block:
Check your sitemap: Your sitemap lists all URLs you want Google to index. Identify the specific URL of the page you want to remove.
Use Google Search Operators: Use the
site:operator followed by your domain and keywords to pinpoint the exact URL in Google's index. For example, searchingsite:www.mypetsite.com dog grooming tipswill list all indexed URLs from your site containing those keywords.
Making Your Removal Permanent
For long-term removal, consider the following methods:
Remove or Update the Content:
Deleting the page entirely: This is the most effective way to ensure its permanent removal from Google and other search engines.
Updating the content: If you need to keep the page live but with different content, replace the existing content entirely. Ensure the new content is significantly different and doesn't trigger duplicate content issues.
Password-Protect Your Page:
Restricting Access: Implement password protection or place the page behind a login wall. This limits access to authorized users while preventing search engines from accessing and indexing the content.
Add a "noindex" Tag:
Controlling Indexation: The
noindexmeta tag instructs search engines not to index a specific page. It's important to note that while Google respects this tag, other search engines might not.
Code Example:
Avoid Relying Solely on robots.txt:
Robots.txt Limitations: While
robots.txtcan instruct search engines not to crawl certain parts of your website, it's not a foolproof method for blocking pages from the index. It's recommended to userobots.txtin conjunction with other methods likenoindexfor robust protection.
By following these steps and understanding the different methods available, you can effectively manage your website's presence in Google Search results and ensure the desired pages are removed.
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