Google: GoogleBot Doesn't Make Up URLs To Crawl & Index

Jan 3, 2018 - 7:32 am 13 by

Google Web Flows

There is this long run theory in the SEO world that Google will sometimes make up URLs with the attempt to try and discover, crawl and index pages they can't find otherwise. If you think of that theory, it kind of seems inefficient and un-Google like - but hey, that is why we have theories.

Well, John Mueller from Google pretty much said that Google does not do that. He said in a Google Webmaster Help thread "in general, Googlebot doesn't make up URLs." In general, of course, he said in general. But again, if you think about it, why would Google go through the effort?

John said:

In general, Googlebot doesn't make up URLs, so if they were found (and not in your sitemap file), it's likely that they were linked from somewhere within your website (it's also possible that these links have since been removed).

I would assume, most of these cases are people linking to you weird or broken links that Google follows from other sites or your own internal site.

Either way, do you think Google tries to crawl URLs that they make up out of the blue?

Forum discussion at Google Webmaster Help.

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Follow

Search Video Recaps

 
Google Core Update Flux, AdSense Ad Intent, California Link Tax & More - YouTube
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Blog Administration

Programming Note: Offline For Passover

Apr 22, 2024 - 4:05 pm
Search Forum Recap

Daily Search Forum Recap: April 22, 2024

Apr 22, 2024 - 4:00 pm
Google Search Engine Optimization

Google: We Need Very Few Links To Rank Pages; Links Are Less Important

Apr 22, 2024 - 7:51 am
Google

Google Tests Discussion and Forums Questions With Answers Box

Apr 22, 2024 - 7:41 am
Google Search Engine Optimization

Forbes Blocks Its Coupon Directory Before Google Enforces The Site Reputation Abuse Policy

Apr 22, 2024 - 7:31 am
Google Maps

Google Tests Posts Button In Local Listing Business Profile

Apr 22, 2024 - 7:21 am
Previous Story: Pamela Lund - The Search Community Honors You