I encountered a problem with my computer games information site. It used to rank well and bring in good traffic, but I made the mistake of using an auto-translation plugin to translate the pages into 5 additional languages earlier this year. This resulted in a large number of 404 pages in Google Search Console and a significant drop in traffic. I need advice on how to inform Google Search Console that these 404 pages have been inactive for six months and should not be included in reports. Additionally, I need guidance on how to improve indexing and visibility for my site, as it is currently being overshadowed by a related page in search results. Thank you for any assistance.
A significant number of 404 pages can negatively impact a site’s indexing and ranking in search results. The presence of numerous 404 pages signals to search engines that the website is broken or incomplete, leading to lower trust and authority. In your case, the auto-translation plugin might have created broken links, resulting in these 404 errors. While Google Search Console does not have a specific feature to mark 404 pages as inactive, you can implement the following strategies to address the issue:
1. Fix the 404 pages: If possible, fix the broken links leading to the 404 pages. This involves either redirecting them to the correct pages or removing them entirely.
2. Use 301 redirects: If fixing the pages is not an option, use 301 redirects to redirect the broken links to relevant pages. This helps inform search engines that the content has moved permanently.
3. Submit a sitemap: Submit an updated sitemap to Google Search Console, which includes all the valid and functioning pages on your site. This helps search engines crawl and index your website correctly.
4. Focus on high-quality content: Creating high-quality, relevant, and informative content is crucial for improving your website’s ranking. Ensure the content on your site is well-written, informative, and free of errors.
5. Optimize for keywords: Research and implement relevant keywords throughout your website’s content, meta descriptions, and titles. This helps search engines understand the content of your pages and match them with user searches.
6. Build backlinks: Backlinks from reputable and relevant websites can significantly boost your site’s authority and ranking. Focus on building backlinks naturally through guest posting, content promotion, and engaging with other websites in your niche.
7. Monitor your search console: Regularly monitor your Google Search Console for any errors or warnings and address them promptly.
By implementing these strategies, you can help improve your website’s indexing and ranking, ultimately increasing your site’s visibility and traffic. Remember, it takes time and effort to recover from a significant drop in rankings. Be patient and consistent with your efforts.