The link Google never sees

The link Google never sees

A quieter failure mode surfaced in a couple of places this week.

— A Reddit thread: a buyer's edits sat on pages that had dropped out of the index, so the links were never counted.
— An agency post explains aged pages can deindex from neglect or thin content, and your insert inherits that invisibility.
— Fix circulating: run a site: search on the exact host URL before and after placement to confirm it's indexed, and re-check a month later.

Editor's note: an unindexed host page is the most invisible way to waste a budget — the link is technically live, just uncounted. A 10-second site: check catches it.

Pick of the week: the thread with the pre- and post-purchase indexation checklist.