"How can I prevent certain pages on my WordPress website from being indexed by Google? When I search my site without the .com, Google displays strange results with minimal information and links to logos instead of the most important pages. Can I control how Google displays my site in search results?"
This is likely due to a combination of factors. First, Google’s indexing algorithms may not be fully recognizing the content on your pages, resulting in less relevant results. This can happen if your website has a complex structure, uses a lot of JavaScript, or has poorly written meta descriptions.
Secondly, Google’s search results often prioritize visual elements like logos to enhance user experience, especially when searches are conducted without the domain name. This can lead to results showing logos instead of the actual content on the page.
You can control how Google displays your site in search results by:
- Optimizing your website structure and content: Ensure that your pages have clear titles, descriptions, and headings. Use relevant keywords and avoid keyword stuffing.
- Writing compelling meta descriptions: These are short snippets that describe your pages and appear in search results. Craft them carefully to entice users to click.
- Using structured data: This helps Google understand the content on your pages and display it more accurately. You can use schema markup to provide information about your website, products, and services.
- Submitting a sitemap: This helps Google discover and index your pages more efficiently.
- Monitoring your search console: This free tool from Google allows you to track your website’s performance in search results and identify any indexing issues.