Wix integrates Google’s URL Inspection API directly into the new Wix site inspection tool, giving users an easy way to achieve and maintain good search results.
Users can now view insights into how Google indexes websites and debug technical issues like structured data site-wide.
Search Console URL Inspection API
In January 2022, Google announced a new application programming interface (API) that can create tools that can access URL inspection data.
This is called the Search Console URL Inspection API.
The introduction of this API is important because it allows users to create custom ways to access and use valuable data about how a website is performing at Google.
The API released by Google in January explains its importance:
“The Search Console API is a way to access data outside of Search Console through external applications and products.
With the new URL Inspection API, we’re giving developers a new tool to debug and optimize their pages.
You can request data that Search Console has about the indexed version of the URL; the API will return the indexing information currently available in the URL inspection tool. “
Wix Integration for RL Inspection API
Users of Wix can now access this data in the Wix dashboard.
Nati Elimelech, head of SEO at Wix, explains what Wix users can do:
“The tool will report any indexing status reported by Google, sometimes in more understandable language.
For example, it might be “crawled but not indexed” or “blocked by robots.txt”, etc. Each index status detail will have a “Learn More” link to an article that explains it and mentions common reasons why it might happen, which links to a more relevant explanation.
We also tell users exactly what application and page type each URL is, so they can easily know where they need to take action. “
Google’s APIs also help with debugging structured data, which is very important. Appropriately structured data qualifies a site to display its pages in Google Search’s enhanced terms.
A search enhancement is a special kind of search result. They are also called rich results.
Google can sometimes read information on a page and algorithmically decide to include it as a rich result.
But using structured data makes it easier for Google to do that.
Therefore, it is crucial to use structured data for enhanced search results, which can make web results stand out and attract more website visitors.
Google’s structured data tool uses words like “warning” to give the false impression that something is wrong. But that’s not always the case. Google flags potential problems with “warnings” for optional variables.
Wix’s implementation of structured data debugging puts warnings in the proper context by naming them “optional fixes”.
Elimelech confirmed that Wix’s API implementation will help with debugging structured data:
“Of course, if a required field is missing, it will show up as a ‘question’ in the table, and in the panel you will see which field is missing.
Users will see the exact fields that are missing from the structured data markup and their severity – including issues that require action, or just optional fields that can be added to enrich the markup.
If the recommended fields are missing, you will see “Optional Fixes” in the table and exact fields missing panels.
We’ve adjusted some language to better reflect the actual impact on the user’s site, so we’ve changed the warning warning for the recommendation field to an “optional fix” so users will understand that this is a recommendation, not something that’s making them ‘s pages are not eligible for rich results on Google’s SERPs. “
Fix indexing issues
The new Wix URL inspection tool will also be able to draw attention to indexing issues, which will provide businesses with early warning to fix problems before they become major issues.
According to Vickers:
“Using this tool, users can debug any issues they would encounter if they manually used Search Console’s Check URLs tool.
Users can understand the index status of their pages in Google and the specific reasons.
For each question, we have additional resources to help guide users.
These articles provide in-depth explanations of each response, possible causes, and how to fix it.
Users can also debug their mobile readiness and structure data state. “
Wix Platform Processing Technology
The value of Wix is that it enables businesses to focus on running their business without having to deal with the underlying technology.
Wix continues to be the leader in professional website builders, being the first SaaS website builder platform to integrate the Search Console URL Checking API, making it easy to interpret data and use it to help maximize search presence.
Citation
Read the Wix documentation:
Learn about the Wix Site Inspection Tool
Featured image by Shutterstock/Gorodenkoff