Google has updated its crawl budget guidelines, emphasizing the importance of maintaining consistent link structures across mobile and desktop versions of websites. This change aims to improve crawling efficiency and page discovery, particularly for large websites with extensive content.

Key Highlights of the Update

1. Consistent Link Structures Are Now Essential
2. Google recommends that websites using separate HTML for mobile and desktop versions include the same set oflinks on both. If matching link structures isn’t feasible, all desktop links must be included in a sitemap file.
3. “Google only indexes the mobile version of pages, and limiting the links shown there can slow down the discovery of new pages.”
4. Primary Impact on Large Websites
5. The update targets websites with:
   • Over 10,000 pages or those frequently updating content
   • Significant URLs listed as “Discovered – currently not indexed” in Search Console
6. Mobile-First Indexing Focus
7. Since Google prioritizes the mobile version for indexing, discrepancies in link structures can delay page discovery and affect search visibility.

Why Crawl Budget Matters

Crawl budget determines the number of pages Googlebot crawls and indexes within a specific timeframe. For websites with large-scale content, managing this budget effectively ensures that new or updated pages are discovered promptly. Poor crawl budget management can leave critical pages languishing in obscurity.

Actionable Recommendations

To align with Google’s updated guidelines:

• Audit Mobile and Desktop Link Structures: Ensure link parity across both versions.
• Update Sitemaps: Include all essential URLs to assist Google’s crawling process.
• Prioritize Mobile Accessibility: Critical navigation paths must be available on mobile.
• Monitor Search Console Data: Pay attention to crawl stats and indexing statuses.

Who Should Act on This?

• Websites with 1M+ pages that frequently update content
• Medium-sized sites with 10,000+ pages or daily changes
• Sites experiencing crawl issues, such as a high number of unindexed URLs

The Bottom Line

With this update, link structure consistency is now a recommended best practice for optimizing crawl budgets. By ensuring mobile and desktop link parity—or leveraging robust sitemaps—you can avoid indexing delays and improve your site’s overall visibility in search results.

Don’t let crawl inefficiencies hold you back. Take action today to stay ahead in Google’s ever-evolving SEO landscape!

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