Audit crawl and indexation using verified server logs.
- Audit crawl and indexation using verified server logs2 cited sources1 category
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Why this matters
Server logs provide authoritative data on actual Googlebot activity, revealing crawl inefficiencies like redirects and non-canonical URLs that affect indexing.
Hypothetical standard operating procedure
Adapt this example to your site, access, tools, and change process. It is our suggested procedure, informed by the sources below.
- Obtain raw server logs for at least three months.
- Verify Googlebot IPs to exclude fake traffic.
- Analyze crawl path distribution focusing on redirects, 404s, and parameters.
- Cross-check crawl data with Search Console index coverage reports.
- Identify pages of low crawl frequency needing attention.
Watch for
Relying solely on Search Console or third-party crawlers can misrepresent real crawl behavior.
Definition of done
Audit identifies all crawl paths, shows crawl waste, and prioritizes money pages for crawl improvement.
Sources & attribution
Original checklist wording and example SOP by Best SEO Checklist, using source-grounded AI assistance. Editorial contact: Ted Kubaitis, @tedkubaitis on Teams. Check current source guidance before implementation.