Is there a risk of losing search engine rankings? No more Google rankings even though everything seems fine?

Over the last few days, I noticed something worrying: my most recent articles were no longer being indexed in Google News, and traffic from Google Discover was steadily decreasing. Of course, such developments do not leave you indifferent. Various wild assumptions ran through my mind, but I decided to put them aside and approach the problem rationally.

When I manually submitted my pages to Google, they were immediately indexed and displayed. However, if I waited, nothing happened. I observed this phenomenon over two days. So it was time for a thorough search for the cause.

Step 1: Review recent changes

First, I asked myself: What was the last thing that was edited on the website? It is essential to identify recent changes to narrow down possible sources of error. In my case, I had recently reworked the caching system.

Step 2: Identify hidden errors or errors in thinking

The caching overhaul could have unintended side effects. Are there hidden errors or errors in thinking? I started checking the new settings and looking for possible conflicts.

Step 3: Find the cause

After detailed analysis, I discovered the culprit: a new bot definition in my security configuration had done a great job - unfortunately too well. Nowadays, countless bots roam the Internet, and in order to reduce server load, unnecessary bots are often blocked. However, Googlebot, of all things, was mistakenly placed in the category of “unnecessary bots”. A small oversight with big consequences.

Notes from Microsoft Bing Webmaster Tools

My suspicions were confirmed by reports from Bing Webmaster Tools:

• “Some of your recently published important pages were not submitted through IndexNow. Find out why it’s important to submit through IndexNow.”
• Some of your important new pages are not included in your sitemaps.”**

Google Search Console also pointed out to me that pages without content were being indexed. These clues clearly showed that search engines were having trouble accessing my content.

conclusion

The realization was sobering: I see pages that Google doesn't see. In order for search engines to capture my pages, their bots must have unhindered access. If Googlebot is blocked, my content will remain invisible.

How do you check what Googlebot sees?

To ensure that Googlebot can crawl my website correctly, I wanted to view the pages from its perspective. There are several methods to visit a website the way Googlebot does.

1. How to use Google Chrome Developer Tools

A simple method is to use Google Chrome's developer tools:

• Open the developer tools: Press `Ctrl + Shift + I` (Windows) or `Cmd + Shift + I` (Mac).
• Switch to the Network tab: All network activity is displayed here.
• User agent customization: Click on the three dots in the top right, select “More tools” and then “Network conditions”. Uncheck the “Automatically select user agent” option and select “Googlebot” from the list.
• Reload page: Reloading displays the page as Googlebot sees it.

This method makes it possible to identify potential rendering problems or blocked resources.

2. Use of a user agent switcher

Alternatively, a browser extension such as the “User-Agent Switcher” can be used:

• Installing the extension: Search for User-Agent Switcher in the Chrome Web Store and install it.
• Selecting Googlebot as a user agent: After installation, you can select the desired user agent.
• Visiting the website: The page is now displayed from Googlebot's perspective.

This is particularly useful for quick testing and if you want to switch between different user agents frequently.

3. Using the Screaming Frog SEO Spider

The “Screaming Frog SEO Spider” is suitable for more in-depth analysis:

• User Agent Customization: Go to Configuration > User Agent and select Googlebot.
• Starting the crawl process: The tool crawls the website and displays how Googlebot sees it.
• Analyze results: Identify possible crawling issues or blocked resources.

This tool is ideal for large websites and detailed SEO audits.

4. Using Google Search Console

Google Search Console also provides valuable insights:

• URL check: Enter the desired URL and start the live test.
• Analyze results: You can see whether the page is indexed and whether there are problems with crawling.
• Fetch like Google: This feature allows you to see how Googlebot renders the page.

This helps identify specific issues that could be preventing the bot from capturing the page correctly.

solution to the problem

Using these tools, I was able to confirm that Googlebot was indeed blocked. To fix the problem I took the following steps:

1. Adjustment of bot definitions

I updated the security configuration to no longer block Googlebot and other major search engine bots.

2. Checking robots.txt

I made sure the file doesn't contain any instructions restricting access.

3. Sitemap updates

The sitemaps have been renewed and submitted to Webmaster Tools.

4. Monitoring

Over the next few days, I monitored indexing and traffic to make sure everything was running smoothly again.

Preventive measures for the future

To avoid such problems in the future, I have made a few resolutions:

• Regularly review security configurations: After each change, the impact on website functionality should be checked.
• Continuous monitoring: Using tools like Google Search Console helps identify problems early.
• Clear documentation of changes: All adjustments to the website should be documented in order to be able to react more quickly in the event of an error.
• Training: A better understanding of how search engines and their bots work helps to avoid misconfigurations.

The knowledge from it

I should have known better and remembered to be careful when editing the cache. But the operational blindness hit hard here. Problem identified, solved, straightened up and continued more mindfully.

Technical errors can have a significant impact on the visibility of a website. In my case, a misconfigured bot definition caused Googlebot to be blocked, which stopped indexing my content.

The realization: Even small changes can have big consequences.

Through systematic troubleshooting and the use of appropriate tools, I was able to identify and resolve the problem. It is essential to regularly check how search engines perceive your website.

I hope that my experiences will help other webmasters avoid similar problems or solve them more quickly. Visibility in search engines is crucial to the success of a website, and therefore the technical condition should always be kept in mind.

Suitable for:

• Blog for AIS Artificial Intelligence Search / KIS – AI search / NEO SEO = NSEO (Next-gen Search Engine Optimization)
• AIS (Artificial Intelligence Search) and Next Generation SEO – In German they say CKKK: “Content is king, but context is emperor”