When you build a backlink, it’s not immediately part of Google’s searchable database. For a backlink to impact your site’s ranking, Google must find and store that link—indexing. Until it’s indexed, it’s practically invisible.
Imagine putting up a billboard in the middle of a desert. That’s what an unindexed backlink is like—it exists but doesn’t help anyone. Indexing makes sure Google recognizes your backlink and passes SEO value (aka link juice) to your site.
It depends. Some backlinks get indexed in a few hours, while others take weeks or months—or never at all. Factors include:
Authority of the referring site
Crawl frequency of that site
Internal linking and content freshness
If your backlinks are not being indexed, these might be the culprits:
Low-quality or spammy referring domain
No crawlable content on the page
Backlink buried in footer or JavaScript
Page is noindexed or blocked by robots.txt
To verify if a backlink is indexed:
Use site:example.com/page-url in Google search
Paste the URL into a tool like Ahrefs or SEMrush
Check the referring page’s cache in Google
If you get no results, it’s likely not indexed yet.
Here’s a simple routine to follow:
Submit the URL to Google Search Console
Create internal links pointing to the backlink page
Build Tier 2 backlinks to that page
Share the backlink page on social media and web 2.0 sites
Use pinging services to notify search engines
Repeat weekly for all new backlinks.
Some tools make this easier:
Google Search Console – Direct URL submission
IndexMeNow – Paid service for guaranteed indexing
SEO Autopilot – Automates Tier 2 backlinks
Ahrefs & SEMrush – Monitor index status over time
OneHourIndexing – API-based bulk indexing tool
This free tool by Google should be your first stop. Simply:
Log in
Go to URL Inspection Tool
Paste the backlink URL
Click Request Indexing
Note: Works only for websites you own.
Yes, to an extent. Pinging is like shouting “Hey Google, check this out!” Use ping tools like:
Pingomatic
IndexKings
BulkPing
However, don’t rely solely on this—it’s just a nudge.
Think of this as adding fuel to fire. If you link to the page that contains your backlink, Google is more likely to notice and index it.
Examples:
Comment on blogs with links to the referring page
Submit that page to web 2.0 platforms like Medium or Tumblr
Bookmark the referring URL
Google bots crawl social platforms too. Post the backlink page on:
Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
LinkedIn
Quora
This creates fresh crawl paths and traffic signals.
Put your backlink in pages that already get good traffic and crawl frequency. For example:
Guest posts
Updated blog articles
Resource pages
Evergreen content
Google loves freshness + authority.
Some “gurus” promote shady tactics like:
Link farms
Bots that simulate traffic
Fake social shares
These may get you penalized or deindexed. Play it safe. Stick with white-hat SEO.
Don’t chase quantity—focus on quality backlinks
Monitor index rate every 30 days
Use internal linking wisely
Refresh or republish your old referring content
Stay updated with Google algorithm changes
Indexing is not a one-time task—it’s an ongoing effort.
Indexing backlinks isn’t rocket science, but it does require consistent effort and smart strategies. Once you’ve built a solid backlink, don’t let it go to waste. Use the methods above to ensure Google finds it, indexes it, and gives your site the SEO credit it deserves.
1. How can I tell if a backlink is helping my SEO?
If it’s indexed and from a relevant, high-authority site, you’ll see gradual improvements in rankings and traffic.
2. Can I pay Google to index my backlinks?
No, indexing is based on crawl behavior. You can’t pay to force Google to index specific URLs.
3. Do nofollow backlinks get indexed?
Yes, nofollow links can get indexed, but they pass little or no SEO value.
4. Should I use automated indexing tools?
Only if they are trusted and have positive reviews. Avoid black-hat or spammy tools.
5. How many backlinks should I index per day?
There’s no set limit, but avoid spammy link bursts. Keep it natural—5 to 20 per day is a safe range.