Getting Started with InstaIndex
Welcome to InstaIndex, the only officially supported IndexNow app for Shopify. InstaIndex helps your store get discovered faster on search engines like Microsoft Bing, Yandex, Naver, Seznam.cz, and Yep by automatically notifying them of changes to your store.
Installation
If you haven't installed InstaIndex yet, you can do so from the Shopify App Store.
How It Works
InstaIndex leverages the IndexNow protocol to instantly notify supported search engines whenever you add, update, or delete products, collections, blog posts, or pages on your Shopify store. This means your content can be indexed faster, improving your visibility to potential customers.
After installing and subscribing to a plan, there's nothing more you need to do. InstaIndex operates seamlessly in the background, automatically handling URL submissions for you.
What's Next?
To maximize the benefits of InstaIndex and further enhance your store's search performance, consider the following:
Set Up a Bing Webmaster Tools Account
Creating a Bing Webmaster Tools account allows you to gain insights into how Bing interacts with your site. You'll be able to monitor your site's performance, view submission reports, and access various SEO tools to optimize your store. This step isn't mandatory but can provide valuable information to help you improve your online presence.
- Why It's Important:
- Monitor Site Performance: Understand how your store is performing on Bing.
- Access SEO Tools: Utilize tools to identify and fix SEO issues.
- View Submission Reports: See how InstaIndex submissions are processed.
- Learn More: Getting Started Checklist - Bing Webmaster Tools
Submit Your Sitemap
Submitting your sitemap provides search engines with a comprehensive overview of all your site's URLs. While InstaIndex notifies search engines about changes after installation, your sitemap helps them discover and index existing URLs at their own pace. This ensures that all parts of your store are accessible to search engines, enhancing your overall visibility.
- Why It's Important:
- Comprehensive Indexing: Helps search engines find all pages on your site.
- Improved Crawl Efficiency: Guides search engines through your site's structure.
- Complements InstaIndex: While InstaIndex handles updates, the sitemap covers existing content.
- Learn More: Sitemaps - Bing Webmaster Help
Why We Don't Submit All Existing URLs Upon Installation
You might wonder why InstaIndex doesn't submit all your existing URLs automatically after installation. The IndexNow protocol is designed to notify search engines about changes to your content in real time. Submitting URLs that haven't changed is considered misuse of the protocol and may lead to penalties from search engines.
By adhering to IndexNow best practices, InstaIndex focuses on:
- Significant Changes: Submitting only new or updated content to ensure efficient crawling.
- Avoiding Penalties: Maintaining a positive relationship with search engines by following their guidelines.
- Building a Strong SEO Foundation: Encouraging sustainable growth through proper protocol usage.
Rest assured, any new changes you make moving forward will be automatically submitted on your behalf, keeping your store's content fresh and up-to-date in search engine indexes.
Need Assistance?
If you have any questions or need help with any aspect of InstaIndex, please don't hesitate to contact our support team—we're here to help!