How to Index Backlinks Faster (8 Methods)

You’ve just built a network of backlinks, but they’re not doing diddly squat.

Why? Because Google hasn’t indexed them (yet).

The fix? I’m about to show you eight different ways to index backlinks faster. Stay tuned!

1. Earn Backlinks and Chill

The first and easiest way to index your backlinks is to earn them and then sit back and relax.

That’s right. Most backlinks will index all by themselves in a timeframe that won’t take till the next millennia to happen. This is particularly true if the site that’s linking to you is viewed by Google and other search engines as, here’s that word that Google loves to spruik at every corner, “authoritative.”

But if Google’s advice bores you and you’re here for maximum speed, not this passive, do-nothing, and hope clap-trap, the next few steps are probably more your style.

2. Use GSC’s URL Inspection Tool

Not a chiller? No worries. Using the Google Search Console’s (GSC) URL Inspection tool is a damn good option. Why? It can streamline the indexing process by manually telling Google which pages (and the backlinks that are on these pages) you’d like them to index.

Okay, so how does this work?

Let’s say you’ve got a backlink on a page you don’t control (like a post from a high-quality website calling out one of your products or services). You can use the URL Inspection tool to potentially speed up indexing. How?

Here’s the step-by-step:

1. Find a relevant page on your website and add the backlink to the page that’s linking to you. Don’t worry. You’ll remove it later.
2. Paste the URL of your page (the one with the temporarily added backlink) into the search bar.
3. Hit Enter and wait for GSC to do its thing.
4. Once GSC’s wheels have finished spinning, click Request Indexing, telling Google to crawl your page and hopefully discover the backlink to the third-party’s page. Once Google has crawled the page, it should follow the links on the third-party’s page and, bingo, find the backlink to your website.
5. And once your backlink has been indexed? Simply remove the backlink to the third-party’s page from your website. But how long should you wait? It can be hard to tell when Google has crawled the pages and discovered the backlink, so give it at least a few days.

And done. Easy as that!

3. Ping the Host Page’s URL

Another option you might want to consider? Pinging. What’s pinging? It’s like saying, “Yo, Google, check this out. Something has changed on this web page!”

So, what’s the g-o here? Well, you’ll need to use a, uh-huh, pinging tool to get this job done. There are a bunch of free pinging tools out there. Ultimate Indexing and Link Indexing Expert, which are both paid options, aren’t bad options. For a free option, try Ping Farm.

Once you’ve landed on your weapon of choice, simply paste in the third-party URLs that contain a backlink to your website. The pinging tool will flag the page for crawling. Google will then do its thing and discover the backlink to your content.

A caveat: Some claim pinging is black hat. I probably wouldn’t go that far. Instead, I’d call it old hat—an outdated practice. We ping, but it’s really a preliminary step, and I’m not completely convinced it works. Nevertheless, it can’t hurt.

4. Post Linking URLs to Social Media

Built a decent following on social media? You might just be able to use your online clout to index backlinks… fast.

How? In your social posts, naturally incorporate URLs that contain a backlink to your website.

The best approach? It turns out that X (yup, Twitter) is the MVP for speedy backlink indexing. Google’s been in cahoots with Twitter since 2015, indexing posts in real-time. So, if you tweet your backlink, Google’s spider(bot) senses start tingling.

But hold up, there’s a catch. With a gazillion X posts flying around every second, Google can’t index ’em all.

Here’s how to make your tweets stand out:

• Rack up those retweets.
• Encourage those likes and show Google your post is popular.
• Spark conversations and get those replies rolling!

You got it. The more engagement your X posts get, the more Google is gonna notice it and view it as worth indexing.

Just don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

Sure, while X is the king of real-time indexing, Google also keeps an eye on other platforms like Pinterest, LinkedIn, Reddit, Quora, and, of course, YouTube. So, spread those URLs and get your backlinks indexed ASAP.

5. Earn High-Quality Backlinks from Authoritative Sites

Okay, okay, so this tactic isn’t exactly low-effort, but before you write it off, here’s something to consider: news-focused websites (like the NY Times, BBC, and CNN) get their pages indexed stat. Like, fast, fast.

The same goes for other high-authority websites. Google prioritizes authoritative websites’ newly published content because it sees it as high-value and relevant to a wide audience.

How is this relevant to you?

If you hadn’t guessed, earning backlinks from high-authority websites gets said backlinks to your website indexed fast and, in some cases, almost instantly.

So, how can you land backlinks from high-authority websites?

Media outreach platforms like Featured or Qwoted (RIP HARO 😢) connect journalists with experts. Get your name and website featured in a major publication, and watch those backlinks get indexed in a flash.

Building relationships with influencers and industry leaders will go a long way here, too. It’s not what you know but who you know. Yup, and the stronger your connections, the more likely you are to earn high-quality backlinks.

Attend industry events, participate in online communities, slide into those DMs, and become a valuable resource for their stories. All of these tactics will go a long way to establishing a mutually beneficial relationship with writers who are simply frothing for the insights you can offer… rewarded with a fast indexing backlink, of course.

6. Make Use of Web 2.0 Platforms

By this stage, you’ve tried the best tricks, but some of those stubborn backlinks are still playing hard to get—it’s time to unleash Web 2.0 platforms. Think Medium, WordPress.com, and even ol’, reliable blogger.com.

Here’s how to use these platforms to get backlinks indexed:

1. Pick a platform.
2. Write a title and a short intro, then strategically sprinkle in your backlinks (shoot for no more than 10 per post).
3. Now wait. Web 2.0 platforms tend to get indexed quickly, so your post (and those backlinks) should be on Google’s radar in no time.
4. Once Google crawls your post and indexes those backlinks, you can remove them from the Web 2.0 platform. Why? It’ll avoid any “footprint” issues and keep your link profile looking natural.

Moving forward? Why not reuse the same Web 2.0? As it ages, the indexation rate will only improve.

7. Hire Third-Party Indexing Services

You’ve tried everything—sitemaps, pinging, social media—but those backlinks are still crawling at a snail’s pace. So why not consider third-party indexing services?

But before you hit the gas, there are a few things you should know.

The good:

• These services can often get your backlinks indexed in a matter of days, sometimes even hours. If you need results fast, they can be tempting.
• There are tons of services out there, each with its own claims and pricing. Some popular ones include Omega Indexer, IndexInject, and Giga Indexer.

The not-so-good:

• Some services use questionable tactics that could get your website penalized by Google. Think link farms, spammy directories, and other black-hat shenanigans.
• Some services are just scams. They’ll take your money and run, leaving your backlinks stranded in the indexing ether.
• Even if a service gets your backlinks indexed quickly, it doesn’t guarantee they’ll stay indexed. Google’s algorithms are constantly changing, and those quick wins could turn into long-term losses.

Some friendly advice: If you’re considering using a third-party indexing service, do your research. Look for reputable services with transparent pricing and a proven track record. Read reviews, compare features, and if you’re at all suspicious that an indexing service isn’t going to live up to the hype, walk away.

8. Consider Video Sitemaps

Still stuck? We’ve covered just about every way you can speed up indexing backlinks, but now it’s time to explore a more…unconventional tactic. This one involves using video sitemaps in a way they weren’t, well, exactly designed for.

Here’s the gist:

1. Choose a relevant video from YouTube or Vimeo and embed it on a page on your website.
2. Use a tool like XML-Sitemaps to create a video sitemap for that page.
3. Open the sitemap file and replace the video URLs with your backlink URLs.
4. Submit the modified sitemap to Google Search Console using the Sitemaps report.
5. And bam! Backlinks indexed ASAP.

Disclaimer: This method is considered a gray-hat SEO technique, and that always comes with some risk. Sure, while it’s true that Google prioritizes indexing video content, and by submitting a video sitemap, you’re potentially speeding up the process, Google might just be all over this tactic. Proceed with caution!

Backlink Indexing No-Nos

Now that you know what to do, let’s talk about not what to do:

1. Fiverr fiascos: Don’t even think about buying a mass link package from Fiverr (or any other freelancing marketplace). Those links are usually from spammy, low-quality sites that will do more harm than good.
2. Noindex nightmares: Building backlinks on platforms that use noindex tags is like throwing your hard-earned links into a black hole. Google won’t even bother crawling those pages, so your backlinks will be invisible to the search engine. Always make sure the pages you’re building links on are indexable.
3. Over-pinging pandemonium: Pinging your backlinks can be helpful, but don’t go overboard. Pinging too often can make you look like a spammer, and Google might penalize you for it. Stick to one pinging site and use pinging sparingly and strategically.

Still can’t find the cause of the indexing issue? We’ve got you: index coverage error fixes.

Conclusion and Next Steps

From sitemaps and pinging to social media and even a few bla… *cough* gray hat hacks, you’ve got the tools to put the peddle to the meddle indexing style.

But let’s be real: building high-quality backlinks can be a wild ride.

If you’d prefer to leave it to the experts, our team eats, sleeps, and breathes backlinks. We’ll help you craft a winning strategy, build relationships with authoritative websites, and create content that Google’s crawlers simply can’t resist.

Ready to make ranking a reality?

🚀 Head over to our link-building services, and let’s earn you some backlinks. 🚀