Crawl errors occur when bots can’t access a page (e.g., 404 errors, server errors). They can prevent pages from being indexed.
What is a Crawl Error?
A crawl error happens when a search engine bot like Googlebot tries to access a page on your website but fails. These errors prevent pages from being indexed, which can lead to lost traffic and lower search rankings.
Crawl errors can arise due to broken links, server issues, incorrect redirects, or blocked pages. Understanding and resolving them is crucial for maintaining healthy SEO, ensuring all important content is visible to search engines, and avoiding unnecessary ranking penalties.
Crawl Errors Across Different CMS Platforms
WordPress
In WordPress, crawl errors often occur due to broken plugins, outdated themes, or misconfigured redirects. SEO plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math can help identify and fix these errors efficiently.
Shopify
Shopify stores may experience crawl issues when product pages are removed, URLs are changed, or apps create broken links. Regularly auditing the sitemap can prevent indexing problems.
Wix
Wix users may face crawl errors when pages are unpublished or incorrectly redirected. Built-in SEO tools help detect and resolve these issues quickly.
Webflow
Webflow allows full control over URL structure and redirects, but crawl errors can arise if pages are deleted without proper 301 redirects. Using Search Console for audits is essential.
Custom CMS
Custom CMS platforms may have unique crawl issues caused by server misconfigurations, dynamic URL structures, or improper robots.txt rules. Regular technical SEO checks are critical.
Crawl Errors in Different Industries
Ecommerce
Ecommerce sites face crawl errors when products are discontinued without proper redirects. Missing pages can lead to lost sales and traffic.
Local Businesses
Local businesses can suffer from crawl errors if service pages are removed or addresses are incorrectly linked. This can hurt local SEO visibility.
SaaS
SaaS websites may encounter crawl issues when features or documentation pages are moved or removed. Maintaining accurate sitemaps ensures indexation of critical content.
Blogs & Content Sites
For blogs, crawl errors occur when posts are deleted, links break, or URL structures change. Fixing errors keeps all content discoverable and maintains search visibility.
Do’s and Don’ts for Handling Crawl Errors
Do’s
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Regularly monitor Google Search Console for crawl error reports.
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Use 301 redirects for removed or moved pages.
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Fix broken internal and external links.
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Keep your XML sitemap updated and submit it to search engines.
Don’ts
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Don’t ignore server errors (5xx) or page errors (4xx).
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Don’t block important pages in robots.txt.
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Don’t create too many temporary redirects (302) unnecessarily.
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Don’t delay fixing errors, as they accumulate and harm SEO.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Failing to audit new pages after site updates.
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Using complex URL structures that confuse bots.
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Ignoring crawl errors in Google Search Console.
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Assuming minor errors don’t affect rankings they can accumulate.
FAQs
What is a crawl error in SEO?
A crawl error occurs when a search engine bot (like Googlebot) attempts to access a page on your website but encounters an issue preventing it from reading or indexing the content.
What are the types of crawl errors?
Crawl errors are categorized into two main types:
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Site Errors: Affect the entire website, such as DNS issues or server problems.
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URL Errors: Specific to individual pages, like 404 (Not Found) or 403 (Forbidden) errors.
Why do crawl errors matter for SEO?
Crawl errors prevent search engines from accessing and indexing your content, which can lead to lower visibility in search results and missed opportunities for organic traffic.
How can I identify crawl errors on my website?
You can use tools like Google Search Console or Bing Webmaster Tools to monitor and identify crawl errors. These tools provide reports detailing any issues encountered by search engine bots.
How can I fix crawl errors?
Fixing crawl errors involves addressing the specific issues causing them, such as:
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Correcting broken links (404 errors)
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Resolving server issues or DNS problems
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Ensuring proper permissions and access settings
Regularly monitoring and updating your website can help prevent future crawl errors.
