As someone who regularly reviews SEO tools, I’ve seen my share of indexing solutions come and go through AppSumo. Today, I’m taking a close look at Index Guru, a tool that promises to streamline your website indexing process with Google. After thorough testing, I’ve found some interesting points – both positive and concerning – that you should know about before making your purchase decision.
Introduction [00:00]
Index Guru connects to your website’s sitemap.xml file and automatically submits URLs to Google Search Console for indexing. While this won’t guarantee first-page rankings, it’s an essential first step in getting your content noticed by search engines.
For regular viewers of my channel, you might remember my reviews of similar tools like Warp Index and URL Monitor. Both were previous AppSumo deals that are no longer available. If you already own either of these tools, they’ll likely serve your needs just fine – these are essentially commodity tools at this point.
IndexGuru Setup [01:22]
The initial setup process requires connecting your Google account, which is necessary for Search Console integration. One limitation worth noting immediately is that Index Guru only allows connection to a single Search Console account. While this might sound restrictive, it’s generally not a problem since you can add multiple sites to one Search Console account.
For comparison, Warp Index allowed multiple Search Console connections, which was nice but not essential. URL Monitor had the same single-account limitation as Index Guru.
Sites [02:40]
Once connected, Index Guru displays all sites from your Search Console account. You can add multiple sites to your Index Guru account, with the exact number depending on your plan tier. The interface is straightforward, showing your connected sites and their indexing status.
Performance [03:18]
The performance section provides useful analytics, including:
- Date-based filtering
- Keyword tracking
- Page performance metrics
- Country-based data
- Device-specific statistics
While these metrics are helpful, they’re relatively basic compared to dedicated SEO tools.
URLs [03:57]
The URLs section displays your indexed pages. This section becomes more valuable over time as Index Guru tracks your indexing history and status. The site map section automatically detects your website’s XML sitemap – a process that works seamlessly with most modern CMS platforms like WordPress and Ghost.
Indexing [04:41]
The indexing setup process is where Index Guru shows both its strengths and limitations. While the tool automates the complex process of setting up Google Cloud project connections and API configurations, there are some concerning aspects:
- Auto-indexing has a fixed schedule rather than immediate processing
- Limited to 200 URLs per domain per day
- Questions about Google’s indexing API usage remain inadequately addressed
- Manual instant indexing is available for urgent content
Monitoring [07:22]
The monitoring feature sets Index Guru apart from some competitors. It allows you to:
- Track specific URLs closely
- Monitor for broken links
- Check images without tags
- Generate overall page scores
While useful, the monitoring features are basic compared to dedicated SEO tools.
Three More Menu Items [08:07]
Index Guru’s interface shows three additional features that aren’t actually available:
- Keyword research
- Link building
- Content creator
According to the founder’s responses on AppSumo, these features aren’t included in the current deal and might become paid add-ons later. Their presence in the interface feels misleading and detracts from the tool’s polish.
Plans & Pricing [08:57]
Index Guru offers several tier options:
Tier 1 ($49):
- 5 domains
- 1,000 Google page indexes per day
- 500 per day per domain limit
- 1,000 Index Now page indexes per day
Tier 2 ($149):
- 20 domains
- 4,000 Google page indexes per day
- Same 200 per day per domain limit
Tier 3:
- 50 domains
- 10,000 Google page indexes per day
- Same 200 per day per domain limit
Higher tiers (4 and 5) mainly increase domain limits while maintaining the same per-domain restrictions.
Conclusion [10:06]
After thorough testing, I’ve rated Index Guru at 5.9/10. While it’s a functional tool, several factors contribute to this rating:
Pros:
- Easy initial setup
- Automated indexing process
- Basic performance monitoring
- URL monitoring features
Cons:
- Limited to one Search Console account
- Restrictive daily URL limits
- Delayed auto-indexing schedule
- Unclear responses about Google API compliance
- Advertised features that aren’t actually available
If you’re managing a small website with basic indexing needs, Index Guru might serve your purposes. However, the limitations and some concerning aspects of the developer’s communication make it difficult to give this tool a strong recommendation.
For most users, I’d suggest waiting for future iterations of similar tools or exploring alternative solutions. The SEO tool market moves quickly, and better options often become available.
Remember: If you decide to purchase Index Guru or any other tool through AppSumo, using my affiliate link helps support the channel and allows me to continue providing detailed reviews like this one.
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