How Google discovers pages (crawling) in SEO Fundamentals - Interactive Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the sentence to explain how Google finds new pages.

SEO Fundamentals

Google starts crawling the web by following [1] from known pages.

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Avideos

Bimages

Clinks

Dads

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Choosing images or videos instead of links.

Google discovers new pages by following links from pages it already knows.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the sentence to describe what Google uses to find new pages.

SEO Fundamentals

Google uses a program called a [1] to browse the internet automatically.

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Acrawler

Bindexer

Cadvertiser

Dserver

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Confusing crawler with indexer or server.

The program Google uses to browse the web automatically is called a crawler.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the sentence about Google's crawling process.

SEO Fundamentals

Google discovers pages only by [1] URLs manually submitted by website owners.

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Ablocking

Bignoring

Cdeleting

Dfollowing

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Thinking Google only uses manual URL submissions.

Google does not rely only on manually submitted URLs; it discovers pages by following links automatically.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to complete the explanation of crawling.

SEO Fundamentals

Googlebot starts with a list of [1] and then [2] links on those pages to find new URLs.

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Aknown URLs

Bignores

Cfollows

Drandom pages

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Choosing 'ignores' instead of 'follows' for link behavior.

Googlebot begins with a list of known URLs and follows links on those pages to discover new URLs.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to describe how Google updates its index.

SEO Fundamentals

After crawling, Google [1] the page content, [2] it for relevance, and [3] it in the search index.

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Aanalyzes

Bevaluates

Cstores

Dignores

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Choosing 'ignores' instead of 'stores' for the last step.

Google analyzes the page content, evaluates it for relevance, and stores it in the search index.

Practice

1. What is the main method Google uses to discover new web pages?

easy

A. Guessing URLs based on popular keywords

B. Manually adding pages submitted by users

C. Waiting for website owners to email URLs

D. Using automated crawlers that follow links from known pages

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Google's discovery process

   Google uses automated programs called crawlers or spiders to find new pages by following links from pages it already knows.

2. Step 2: Compare options

   Only Using automated crawlers that follow links from known pages describes this automated crawling method. Other options describe manual or guessing methods which Google does not rely on.

3. Final Answer:

   Using automated crawlers that follow links from known pages -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Google uses crawlers = A [OK]

Hint: Remember: Google bots crawl links automatically [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking Google manually adds pages
• Believing Google guesses URLs randomly
• Assuming email submissions are main method

2. Which of the following is the correct term for Google's automated program that finds new pages?

easy

A. Crawler

B. Indexer

C. Ranker

D. Optimizer

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify Google's discovery tool name

   The program Google uses to find new pages by following links is called a crawler or spider.

2. Step 2: Eliminate other terms

   Indexer organizes pages after crawling, Ranker orders results, Optimizer improves site SEO. Only Crawler finds pages.

3. Final Answer:

   Crawler -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Google's discovery tool = Crawler [OK]

Hint: Crawler = program that finds pages [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing crawler with indexer
• Thinking ranker finds pages
• Mixing optimizer with crawler

3. If a website has no links from other sites and no sitemap, what will likely happen when Google tries to discover its pages?

medium

A. Google will find the pages quickly by guessing URLs

B. Google will automatically add the pages to its index

C. Google will not find the pages easily because there are no links or sitemap

D. Google will send a manual request to the website owner

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand how Google discovers pages

   Google relies on links and sitemaps to find new pages. Without these, discovery is difficult.

2. Step 2: Analyze options

   Google will not find the pages easily because there are no links or sitemap correctly states Google won't find pages easily without links or sitemap. Other options describe guessing, automatic adding, or manual requests which do not happen.

3. Final Answer:

   Google will not find the pages easily because there are no links or sitemap -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   No links or sitemap = hard to find pages [OK]

Hint: No links or sitemap means hard for Google to find pages [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming Google guesses URLs
• Thinking Google adds pages automatically
• Believing Google contacts owners manually

4. A website owner notices Google is not discovering some new pages. Which of these is a likely cause?

medium

A. The new pages are not linked from any other page on the site

B. The website has a sitemap listing all pages

C. The pages have clear, descriptive titles

D. The website uses HTTPS protocol

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify why Google misses pages

   Google finds pages by following links. If new pages are not linked anywhere, crawlers cannot find them.

2. Step 2: Evaluate other options

   Sitemap helps discovery (B), titles help ranking (C), HTTPS helps security (A). Only lack of links (D) blocks discovery.

3. Final Answer:

   The new pages are not linked from any other page on the site -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   No links = no discovery [OK]

Hint: Pages must be linked or in sitemap to be found [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking HTTPS affects discovery
• Confusing titles with discovery
• Ignoring importance of internal links

5. You want Google to discover a new section of your website quickly. Which combination of actions will help the most?

hard

A. Change the website's color scheme and add meta descriptions

B. Add internal links to the new pages and submit an updated sitemap

C. Remove old pages and increase page load speed

D. Use HTTPS and add social media share buttons

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify key factors for fast discovery

   Google discovers pages by crawling links and reading sitemaps. Adding internal links and updating sitemap helps crawlers find new pages quickly.

2. Step 2: Analyze other options

   Changing colors or meta descriptions (B) does not affect discovery speed. Removing old pages or speed (C) helps ranking but not discovery. HTTPS and social buttons (D) improve security and sharing but not crawling.

3. Final Answer:

   Add internal links to the new pages and submit an updated sitemap -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Links + sitemap = faster discovery [OK]

Hint: Links plus sitemap speed up Google discovery [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Focusing on design changes instead of links
• Ignoring sitemap importance
• Confusing ranking factors with discovery