SEOries

Indexability Signal Conflict Analyzer

Detect conflicting indexability signals that confuse search engines. Analyzes noindex directives, canonical tags, status codes, and internal linking patterns in one scan.

Please include https:// or http:// for accurate results.

High Severity Conflicts

Detects critical conflicts like noindex with internal links, canonical mismatches, and non-200 status codes with indexable signals.

Medium Severity Conflicts

Identifies issues like missing canonical tags and header-only noindex directives that may be overlooked.

Signal Alignment

Ensures your indexability signals are consistent and aligned with your SEO strategy.

What is Indexability Signal Conflict Analysis?

Indexability signal conflict analysis identifies contradictions in the technical signals your website sends to search engines. When these signals conflict, search engines may fail to index your pages correctly, leading to visibility issues.

Common Indexability Conflicts

1. Noindex with Internal Links (High Severity)

When a page has a noindex directive but receives internal links from other pages, it creates confusion. Internal links suggest the page should be indexed, while noindex explicitly blocks indexing.

Fix: Either remove the noindex directive to allow indexing, or remove internal links if the page should remain unindexed.

2. Canonical Mismatch (High Severity)

When the canonical URL points to a different page, search engines may ignore the current page's signals in favor of the canonical target.

Fix: Use self-referencing canonical tags unless you're intentionally consolidating duplicate content.

3. Non-200 Status with Indexable Signals (High Severity)

Pages returning error codes (404, 500) or redirects (301, 302) but still receiving internal links create mixed signals about whether the page should be indexed.

Fix: Resolve the HTTP status issue or update internal links to point to the correct destination.

4. Missing Canonical Tag (Medium Severity)

Without a canonical tag, search engines may choose their own preferred URL version, potentially causing duplicate content issues.

Fix: Add a self-referencing canonical tag to clarify your indexation intent.

5. Header-Only Noindex (Medium Severity)

Noindex directives set only via X-Robots-Tag headers are often overlooked by developers and may conflict with site architecture decisions.

Fix: Align header and HTML directives for consistency and better visibility.

How This Tool Works

Our analyzer performs a single HTTP request to fetch your page and examines:

  • HTTP status codes
  • Meta robots directives
  • X-Robots-Tag headers
  • Canonical URL tags
  • Internal and external link patterns

Risk Levels Explained

  • Low Risk (0-1 points): Signals are aligned. No significant conflicts detected.
  • Medium Risk (2-4 points): Minor conflicts present. Should be addressed but not critical.
  • High Risk (5+ points): Critical conflicts detected. Immediate action recommended.

Best Practices

  • Always use self-referencing canonical tags unless consolidating content
  • Align noindex directives with internal linking strategy
  • Ensure pages return 200 OK status codes when intended for indexing
  • Use both meta robots tags and X-Robots-Tag headers consistently
  • Regularly audit your site for indexability conflicts

When to Use This Tool

  • Before launching new pages or sections
  • When pages aren't appearing in search results
  • During technical SEO audits
  • After site migrations or restructuring
  • When troubleshooting indexation issues