Google Uses RSS Feeds for Faster Indexing

Chris Munch · 08-25-2010, 08:54 AM

I've found that when myself or friends have had broken RSS Feeds that Google indexing slows down, and in some instances it grinds to a halt and does not index new posts.

How often Google will check your RSS feed for updates really depends on how much Google likes your site and how much of an authority it is (I suspect they may even use Feedburner subscription counts to help decide that since they own Feedburner).

Having an RSS Feed really helps to encourage Google to index your new posts.

Note: You don't need to do any of that pinging crap, that died years ago. I've tested with or without pinging and I found it makes no difference.

stevecl · 08-25-2010, 09:14 AM

I've noticed that the old googlebot is always crawling my feed. The quickest i had a post indexed was under 5 minutes.

Chris Munch · 08-26-2010, 10:13 AM

Google BlogSearch is good for seeing how quickly Google is hitting your RSS feed (assuming you have a blog included in the blog search).

Just search for your site in Google Blogsearch.

The more authority your site has the more often Google checks your feed. I don't think they respond to pinging, although maybe if your have a really important site.

The bot would probably check your feed more often if you post more regularly too.

08-25-2010, 08:54 AM	#1
Chris Munch Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 577 Thanks: 350 Thanked 479 Times in 156 Posts	Google Uses RSS Feeds for Faster Indexing I've found that when myself or friends have had broken RSS Feeds that Google indexing slows down, and in some instances it grinds to a halt and does not index new posts. How often Google will check your RSS feed for updates really depends on how much Google likes your site and how much of an authority it is (I suspect they may even use Feedburner subscription counts to help decide that since they own Feedburner). Having an RSS Feed really helps to encourage Google to index your new posts. Note: You don't need to do any of that pinging crap, that died years ago. I've tested with or without pinging and I found it makes no difference.
	Find me in Google: Munchweb

08-25-2010, 09:14 AM	#2
stevecl I Can See You Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: , , United Kingdom. Posts: 464 Thanks: 16 Thanked 26 Times in 26 Posts	Re: Google Uses RSS Feeds for Faster Indexing I've noticed that the old googlebot is always crawling my feed. The quickest i had a post indexed was under 5 minutes.
	I started with nothing and still have most of it left!

08-26-2010, 10:13 AM	#3
Chris Munch Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 577 Thanks: 350 Thanked 479 Times in 156 Posts	Re: Google Uses RSS Feeds for Faster Indexing Google BlogSearch is good for seeing how quickly Google is hitting your RSS feed (assuming you have a blog included in the blog search). Just search for your site in Google Blogsearch. The more authority your site has the more often Google checks your feed. I don't think they respond to pinging, although maybe if your have a really important site. The bot would probably check your feed more often if you post more regularly too.
	Find me in Google: Munchweb