FR
EN
ES
DE
IndexNow is an instant indexing protocol that notifies search engines (Bing, Yandex) as soon as content is created or updated. Unlike traditional crawling which can take days, IndexNow triggers immediate processing. AI Labs Audit uses it for Showcase Pages.
What is IndexNow?
IndexNow is an open-source instant indexing protocol developed by Microsoft and Yandex. It allows directly notifying search engines that a page has been created, modified or deleted, without waiting for their crawlers to discover it naturally.
How IndexNow Works
- The site sends an HTTP POST request to the IndexNow API with the page URL
- The request includes a verification key proving domain ownership
- The search engine processes the URL as a priority
- The notification is shared across all engines supporting the protocol
Supported Engines
- Bing — the engine used by ChatGPT for RAG
- Yandex — Russian search engine
- Naver — Korean search engine
- Seznam — Czech search engine
IndexNow and GEO
IndexNow's importance for GEO strategy is tied to RAG: when ChatGPT performs a web search, it queries Bing. Content indexed quickly on Bing via IndexNow is available faster for AI responses.
Usage by AI Labs Audit
AI Labs Audit uses IndexNow automatically for Showcase Pages. When a Showcase Page is created or updated, an IndexNow notification is sent, ensuring rapid indexing.
IndexNow vs XML Sitemap
- XML Sitemap: complete list of site pages, crawled periodically
- IndexNow: real-time push notification for changes
More details in our article Showcase Page and GEO Backlinks.