Google Indexing API

Definition

The Indexing API accepts two request types: URL_UPDATED (notify Google that a page has new or updated content; request crawl) and URL_DELETED (notify Google that a page has been removed; request deindexation). **Official eligibility**: Google officially supports the Indexing API for pages with JobPosting schema (job listing pages that change frequently), BroadcastEvent schema embedded in VideoObject (live stream pages), and pages using the Indexing API via the Jobposting/BroadcastEvent schema verification. Using the Indexing API outside these use cases is technically against Google\'s terms of service, though in practice many publishers have used it for general content pages during periods when Google was slow to crawl new content. **How to implement**: register a service account in Google Cloud Console, add the service account email as Owner in Google Search Console (not just Verified User), use the service account credentials to authenticate OAuth 2.0 API requests, POST to https://indexing.googleapis.com/v3/urlNotifications:publish with the target URL and notificationType. **Rate limits**: 200 requests per day by default; higher limits available via GSC quota request. **Alternative for faster indexation**: for sites that don\'t qualify for the Indexing API, use GSC URL Inspection > Request Indexing for individual URLs, ensure internal links from frequently-crawled hub pages point to new content, and submit accurate sitemaps with fresh lastmod dates.

Why it matters for SEO

For publishers with high-velocity content (news, job boards, live event pages), the Indexing API reduces the time between publishing and Google indexing from hours or days to minutes. For JobPosting sites specifically, fast indexation is critical for competitive job listing visibility. For general content sites, the GSC URL Inspection tool provides a manual equivalent for individual URLs, and sitemap freshness with correct lastmod dates is the sustainable path to faster standard crawl frequency.

How DeepSEOAnalysis checks this

The audit does not test Indexing API integration directly, but validates the structured data types that qualify for the Indexing API (JobPosting, BroadcastEvent in VideoObject) for property completeness and server-rendering. For general indexation health, the audit checks sitemap freshness, sitemap URL correctness, and canonical configuration — the signals that influence regular Googlebot crawl frequency.

Useful tools and resources

• Free site audit and indexability check
• XML sitemap guide