In 2024, Google plans to reduce the crawling of web pages: what are the consequences for SEO?

At the dawn of 2024, the world of SEO is about to experience a silent revolution. Google, the undisputed giant of online search, is beginning a trend to further push back the number of web pages it crawls, favoring more targeted and qualitative exploration. This approach, motivated by the need to reduce resource consumption while improving the relevance of its results, could profoundly change the way in which sites are positioned in search results. The question is no longer whether the crawl will decrease, but how this reduction will concretely impact the visibility, indexing and organic traffic of websites, particularly in a context where the quantity of online content continues to explode. The SEO strategy must therefore adapt to these new realities, otherwise they will see their online presence run out of steam in favor of more intelligently optimized competitors.

Google crawl changes in 2024: why this trend is growing

For several years, Google has been adjusting its algorithms to prioritize quality over quantity. In 2024, this logic will intensify with a clear desire to limit the number of pages crawled. The main reason? The rise of content production, fueled in particular by the advent of generative AI like ChatGPT or Gemini, which have exploded the number of pages considered “content” but often of low value. These useless or redundant pages clutter the web, saturate servers, and increase crawling costs for Google. The new strategic directive is therefore to crawl less but better, focusing on pages that have real value for the user. Moreover, a recent statement by Gary Illyes on LinkedIn confirms that Google’s approach today is based on crawling based on demand and relevance, rather than a fixed crawl volume. According to him, Google generally examines the same number of pages, but optimizes its strategy based on quality and demand signals, especially if these respond to high-growth queries in a given period.

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What are the concrete impacts of reducing crawl times on your SEO in 2024?

For SEO professionals, this shift isn’t just a minor change. It calls into question the entire foundation of website optimization. The crux of the problem: if Google doesn’t crawl all pages, those that aren’t crawled or are under-crawled will see their visibility decline. Indexing becomes more selective, and low-quality or poorly updated content is unlikely to be considered. Consequently, you need to rethink your strategy: produce truly relevant, well-structured, and high-value content. Moreover, indexing now relies heavily on technical signals, including loading speed, site architecture, and compliance with Core Web Vitals, which are becoming crucial elements for Google to “choose” to crawl your pages. Impact Factor

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Let’s start on the right foot: you need to review your priorities to stay in the race. Priority must be given to creating high-value content. This means prioritizing user search intent, focusing more on quality than quantity. There’s no need to multiply pages to fill the site; it’s better to regularly update existing ones, providing them with relevant data and refining their structure.

Another crucial step is to optimize the technical side: a fast, well-structured site that adheres to Core Web Vitals best practices increases the likelihood that Google will prioritize crawling your content. Tag management, data structuring, and mobile optimization are all non-negotiable.

Discover the impact of SEO on your online visibility and site optimization. Learn how SEO best practices can increase your web traffic and improve your search engine rankings.

📝 Regularly produce relevant and up-to-date content

• ⚡ Improve your site’s loading speed 📂 Consolidate the architecture to facilitate crawling
• 🔧 Effectively use the robots.txt file and sitemap
• 📊 Continuously monitor Core Web Vitals
• What tools and best practices can you use to track and improve your SEO in the age of limited crawling? To remain efficient in the face of these changes, you need to rely on appropriate tools and adopt a pragmatic approach. Platforms like SEO.fr or OnCrawl allow you to visualize how Google crawls your site, identify under-crawled pages, and adjust your strategy accordingly. For example, analyzing the crawl report to identify uncrawled pages will help you target your update or optimization efforts. A good practice is also to implement an evolving content strategy, prioritizing regular updates to your key pages. Content quality and technique now go hand in hand, and their joint optimization increases the chances of regular and thorough crawling by Google. Finally, why not consider working with an SEO expert to better anticipate these challenges? Consultants like Kevin Grillot or
• Kevin Grillot

offers in-depth expertise to adjust your practices. Their support allows them to integrate technical and strategic recommendations to ensure optimal indexing, even with a more restricted crawl.

FAQ – Key questions about the Google crawl rate reduction in 2024 Why is Google limiting its crawl rate in 2024? Because with the exponential increase in content, Google wants to focus its resources on the most relevant and highest-quality pages to improve the accuracy of its results.

How do I know if my site is under-crawled?

Use tools like Google Search Console or OnCrawl to diagnose the crawl rate of your pages and check if certain sections are under-crawled. Can the crawl rate reduction impact my traffic? Yes. If your content is not sufficiently optimized or updated, it risks losing visibility in search results. What should I do if my site is no longer receiving the desired crawl rate? Prioritize updating strategic pages, improve your technical capabilities, and increase the relevance of your content to search queries of interest. What tools can you use to monitor crawl performance?

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Platforms like AEP Digital or OnCrawl offer comprehensive dashboards to track your indexing and adjust your strategy in real time.

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Écrit par

Kevin Grillot

Consultant Webmarketing & Expert SEO.

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