How to Fix Crawl Errors on Your eCommerce Site

 

If you’re running an online store and wondering why your pages aren’t showing up in search results, crawl errors could be the culprit. Search engines need to access and understand your site’s content to rank it—but when they run into errors, it’s like hitting a brick wall. That’s why learning how to fix crawl errors on your eCommerce site is so important for your success.

In this guide, you'll learn exactly what crawl errors are, how they affect your rankings, and—more importantly—how to fix them fast. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced store owner, this will help you keep your site running smoothly and visible to search engines like Google.

What Are Crawl Errors?

Crawl errors happen when search engine bots (like Googlebot) try to visit your site but run into problems. These issues can prevent pages from being indexed or even discovered.

Two Main Types of Crawl Errors:

• Site-level errors: These affect your entire site.

  • Server errors

  • DNS issues

  • Robots.txt file blocking access

• URL-level errors: These affect individual pages.

  • 404 “Not Found” pages

  • Soft 404s (pages that look like errors but return a 200 status)

  • Redirect loop issues

Why Crawl Errors Matter for eCommerce Sites

In eCommerce Seo Service, every product page is a potential sale. If search engines can’t crawl those pages, they won’t rank. That means:

• Fewer organic visitors

• Lost revenue opportunities

• Lower visibility for new products

Here’s the deal—solving crawl errors quickly can directly impact your traffic, SEO, and customer experience.

Step-by-Step: How to Fix Crawl Errors on Your eCommerce Site

Now let’s walk through the exact steps you should take to detect and fix these errors.

Step 1: Use Google Search Console (GSC)

Start by logging into your GSC account. This free tool from Google gives you all the info you need about your site’s crawl health.

• Go to the “Pages” report under “Indexing”

• Look for “Not indexed” sections and error types

• Check each listed URL for error details

This gives you a full picture of what’s broken.

Step 2: Fix Server and DNS Issues

If bots can’t access your site, nothing else matters.

• Talk to your hosting provider if you see server (5xx) errors

• Use tools like DNS Checker to test DNS status

• Make sure your robots.txt isn’t blocking important sections

Step 3: Resolve 404 Errors

Product pages can disappear over time, but 404s still hurt SEO.

• Set up 301 redirects for removed products to relevant alternatives

• Avoid linking to dead pages from your navigation, sitemaps, or internal links

• Use custom 404 pages with helpful links to keep users engaged

Step 4: Clean Up Soft 404s

These are tricky because they look like real pages but don’t serve any value.

• Use descriptive titles and useful content on all pages

• Make sure empty category pages show suggestions or top sellers

• Return a proper 404 status if the page no longer exists

Step 5: Repair Broken Redirects

Redirect loops or chains confuse both users and bots.

• Use a redirect checker tool to scan for issues

• Replace old or stacked redirects with clean, direct paths

• Avoid temporary (302) redirects unless absolutely necessary

Step 6: Optimize Your XML Sitemap

Your sitemap is your store’s roadmap for search engines.

• Keep it updated and clean—only include live, indexable pages

• Submit it in GSC under “Sitemaps”

• Check for pages listed in the sitemap that return errors or are blocked

Step 7: Monitor Crawl Stats Regularly

Google Search Console’s “Crawl Stats” tool shows how bots interact with your site.

• Look for spikes in crawl errors

• Track pages crawled per day to spot slowdowns

• Identify pages with slow response times

Smart Tips for Ongoing Crawl Health

Keeping your site error-free is an ongoing process. Here’s how to stay ahead:

• Use structured data: Helps Google understand your product pages

• Create mobile-friendly layouts: Google’s mobile-first indexing means mobile matters most

• Improve page speed: Faster pages = better crawl rates

• Avoid duplicate content: Use canonical tags to guide bots to the right version

• Audit internal links: Make sure they point to valid and valuable pages

I’ve used these techniques on client stores and from my own experience, they make a real difference in traffic and sales.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes crawl errors on an eCommerce site?

Crawl errors can come from deleted products, incorrect redirects, server downtime, or blocked resources in robots.txt. Even something as simple as a broken internal link can trigger them.

How can I tell if Google is having trouble crawling my site?

Check your Google Search Console. It will show crawl errors, blocked pages, and coverage issues. You’ll also see which URLs are indexed and which aren’t.

Should I worry about every 404 error?

Not always. Some 404s are natural, especially when products go out of stock. The key is to redirect or replace them with related items when possible—and don’t let broken links pile up.

How often should I check for crawl errors?

Monthly is a good rule of thumb, but high-traffic or frequently updated stores should check weekly. Automation tools like Screaming Frog or SEMrush can help you monitor changes.

What’s the difference between crawl errors and indexing issues?

Crawl errors stop bots from seeing your page. Indexing issues happen when bots see the page but choose not to rank it. Fixing crawl errors helps ensure pages get seen, while good content and SEO help them rank.

Final Thoughts

Fixing crawl errors is one of the most important things you can do to keep your eCommerce site healthy and visible. It may sound technical, but with tools like Google Search Console and a little effort, it’s totally doable. Don’t let broken pages and bad redirects hurt your search rankings—or your sales.

Ready to clean up your site and boost your visibility? Now that you know how to fix crawl errors on your eCommerce site, it’s time to take action and keep your store running at full speed.