500-series errors
Fetch errors
Timeouts
DNS problems
These issues can significantly impact crawling efficiency and search visibility for larger websites hosting millions of pages.
Splitt says:
“Pay attention to the responses your server gave to Googlebot, especially a high number of 500 responses, fetch errors, timeouts, DNS problems, and other things.”
He noted that while some errors are transient, persistent issues “might want to investigate further.”
Splitt suggested using server log analysis to make a more sophisticated diagnosis, though he acknowledged that it’s “not a basic thing to do.”
However, he emphasized its value, noting that “looking at your web server logs… is a powerful way to get a better understanding of what’s happening on your server.”
Potential Impact
Beyond security, fake Googlebot traffic can impact website performance and SEO efforts.
Splitt emphasized that website accessibility in a browser doesn’t guarantee Googlebot access, citing various potential barriers, including:
Robots.txt restrictions
Firewall configurations
Bot protection systems
Network routing issues
Looking Ahead
Fake Googlebot traffic can be annoying, but Splitt says you shouldn’t worry too much about rare cases.
Suppose fake crawler activity becomes a problem or uses too much server power. In that case, you can take steps like limiting the rate of requests, blocking specific IP addresses, or using better bot detection methods.
For more on this issue, see the full video below:
Featured Image: eamesBot/Shutterstock