sel logo
Search Engine Land » Platforms » Google » Google Search Console » Google Search Console launches new removals tool
SearchBot requires a free Search Engine Land account to use, and gives you access to all SearchBot personas, an image generator, and much more!
If you already have a Search Engine Land account, log in now. Otherwise, register here!
Google has launched a new removals tool within Google Search Console. This tool does three things (1) lets you temporarily hide URLs from showing in Google search, (2) show you which content is not in Google because it is “outdated content” and (3) shows you which of your URLs were filtered by Google’s SafeSearch adult filter.
How to access the tool. You can access the tool within Google Search Console, under the “Index” menu, labeled as “Removals.” You can also go to https://search.google.com/search-console/removals to access the tool and then select a property.
Temporarily remove URLs. Google allows you to remove URLs from showing in Google search quickly via Google Search Console. This was a feature in the old Search Console but now is available in the new version. Temporarily removals do not actually delete your URL from Google’s index, instead, it just hides the URL for about six-months from showing up in the search results. You will still need to permanently block the URL in the future, such as using a 404, robots.txt or another method to block the URL.
Google gives you two types of removals:
Here is what the screen looks like:
Here is what the request removal looks like in the new interface:
Outdated content. The outdated content section provides information on removal requests made through the public Remove Outdated Content tool, which can be used by anyone to update search results showing information that is no longer present on a page, Google said. You can see a history of all requests to update or remove outdated Google Search results for your site that were made using the Remove Outdated Content tool in the past 6 months.
Here is a screenshot:
SafeSearch filtering. This section shows you which of your content was reported as adult content. Google users can report specific URLs as adult-only to Google using the SafeSearch suggestion tool. URLs submitted using this tool are reviewed, and if Google feels that this content should be filtered from SafeSearch results, these URLs are tagged as adult content.
Often it is hard for SEOs and webmasters to know which of their content was removed due to SafeSearch. So this tool should help communicate that.
Here is a screenshot of this tool.
Why we care. This tool gives SEOs, webmasters, site owners and others access to not just quickly remove content from Google search but also see why some content was removed due to third-party requests. From there you can take action to try to not just unblock content removal requests you made but also third-party requests due to outdated content or SafeSearch filtering.
Related stories
New on Search Engine Land
About the author
Related topics
Get the daily newsletter search marketers rely on.
See terms.
Learn actionable search marketing tactics that can help you drive more traffic, leads, and revenue.
Online Feb. 28-29: SMX Master Classes
Online June 11-12: SMX Advanced
Online Nov. 13-14: SMX Next
Discover time-saving technologies and actionable tactics that can help you overcome crucial marketing challenges.
April 15-17, 2020: San Jose
A guide to Google: Origins, history and key moments in search
What Is SEO – Search Engine Optimization?
What is PPC – Pay-Per-Click marketing?
Leverage AI-driven SEO to Increase Traffic, Revenue and Online Reputation
AI-Forward Marketing: Your Roadmap to Revenue Growth in 2024
Power Up Your Marketing Programs with Google Analytics 4 and Salesforce Marketing Cloud
Identity Resolution Platforms: A Marketer’s Guide
Email Marketing Platforms: A Marketer’s Guide
Customer Data Platforms: A Marketer’s Guide
9 SEO A/B test case studies to boost your travel site’s SEO performance
Meet your new AI-powered marketing assistant!
Get the must-read newsletter for search marketers.
Topics
Our events
About
Follow us
© 2024 Third Door Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Third Door Media, Inc. is a publisher and marketing solutions provider incorporated in Delaware, USA, with an address 88 Schoolhouse Road, PO Box 3103, Edgartown, MA 02539. Third Door Media operates business-to-business media properties and produces events. It is the publisher of Search Engine Land the leading Search Engine Optimization digital publication.

source