Is it normal for a website published on Webflow not to be indexed by Google after 6 weeks? How long does it typically take for Google to index a website? I followed all the necessary steps recommended by Webflow, including signing up for Google Search Console, verifying my site with them, submitting a sitemap, and requesting indexing. I'm unsure if I missed a step or if there's a problem. Can anyone provide assistance? Thank you.

If your Webflow website is still not indexed by Google after 6 weeks, that’s longer than usual—especially since you've already submitted a sitemap and requested indexing. Let's go through key diagnostics and considerations.

1. Typical Indexing Timeframe

• Google can index a site in a few days to a few weeks, depending on factors like content quality, crawlability, domain age, and backlink profiles.
• Most sites see at least some pages indexed within 1–3 weeks after proper setup in Google Search Console.

2. Double-Check Webflow Project Settings

• Go to Project Settings → SEO in Webflow.
• Make sure "Disable Webflow subdomain indexing" is turned off if you're using the webflow.io domain temporarily.
• Ensure “Disable indexing” is not enabled; this setting adds a noindex tag to all pages.

3. Confirm Page-Level Index Settings

• In the Webflow Designer, open Page Settings for key pages (e.g., Home).
• Ensure "SEO Settings → Custom code → Robots meta tag" is not preventing indexing (e.g., no noindex or nofollow directives).
• Check that each page has a valid title tag and meta description.

4. Confirm Sitemap and Robots.txt Are Correct

• Webflow auto-generates a sitemap.xml if enabled in Site Settings → SEO.
• Ensure the sitemap.xml is accessible at yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml.
• Check your robots.txt (also found in SEO settings) has no disallow rules that block Googlebot from pages (e.g., avoid “Disallow: /”).

5. Use URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console

• Go to Google Search Console → URL Inspection Tool.
• Enter a full page URL (e.g., yourdomain.com).
• Click ‘Test Live URL’ and see if:
• Google can access and crawl the page.
• Page is marked as "URL is on Google" or "Discovered - not yet indexed".
• If listed as “Discovered - not indexed,” be patient or request indexing again.

6. Check Content and Technical Quality

• Make sure your site:
• Has high-quality, original content.
• Isn't an empty shell with just placeholder text or template content.
• Loads quickly and is mobile-friendly (use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test).
• Zero or weak backlinks can slow initial indexing. Consider sharing your site on social media or other platforms to get links.

7. Monitor GSC Coverage Reports

• In Google Search Console → Index → Coverage, look for:
• Crawl errors
• Pages marked as Excluded, Noindexed, or Blocked by robots.txt
• Insights on why pages are not appearing in search

Summary

If your Webflow website hasn’t been indexed after 6 weeks despite submitting a sitemap and requesting indexing, then something may be blocking Googlebot—like incorrect meta tags, robots.txt settings, or thin content. Use the URL Inspection Tool to get real-time crawl diagnostics. With the right settings and content, Google typically begins indexing pages within a few days to a few weeks.