Why does the Google Indexing API require a custom domain?

Google requires you to verify domain ownership in Search Console before it accepts Indexing API requests. Verification is only possible on a custom domain you control, not on a shared subdomain.

What happens if I hit the Google Indexing API quota?

The default quota is 200 requests per day. Submissions that exceed the quota are queued and retried the next day. If you regularly exceed 200 requests, you can request a higher quota through the Google Cloud Console.

Will indexing requests be sent for password-protected boards?

No. Password-protected boards skip all indexing submissions because the pages are not publicly accessible. Once you disable password protection, queued submissions resume automatically.

Do I need to manually add the service account to Search Console?

No. When you connect Google Search Console, Cavuno automatically adds the service account as an owner and enables the Indexing API. You only need to add it manually if the automatic setup didn't complete.

Should I use the Google Indexing API together with IndexNow?

Yes. They complement each other. The Google Indexing API handles Google, while IndexNow covers Bing, Yandex, and other participating search engines. See the IndexNow guide for details.

Google Indexing API

Notify Google instantly when jobs are published, updated, or removed to accelerate indexing.

By Abi Tyas Tunggal and Jack Walsh

The Google Indexing API tells Google directly that a URL has been updated or removed. It is especially effective for job postings because Google prioritizes Indexing API requests for pages with JobPosting schema markup.

Cavuno auto-provisions a Google Cloud service account for each board and configures everything when you connect Search Console. No GCP project to create and no manual steps required.

For instant indexing on Bing, Yandex, and other engines, see the IndexNow guide.

Prerequisites

A custom domain connected to your board (required for Search Console verification)
Google Search Console connected (see How to connect Search Console)

Setup

When you connect Google Search Console, Cavuno automatically enables the Indexing API for your board. Behind the scenes it adds the service account as an owner on your Search Console property and turns on indexing. No extra steps needed.

If you haven't connected Search Console yet, follow the Search Console setup guide. The Indexing API activates as part of that process.

Once enabled, Cavuno automatically submits URLs to Google whenever jobs are published, updated, or removed. No manual URL submission is needed.

Manual setup

If the automatic setup didn't complete (for example, if the service account wasn't added as an owner), you can configure it manually:

Go to Board Settings > General tab
Under Google Indexing API, copy the service account email
Open Google Search Console
Select your property, then go to Settings > Users and permissions
Click Add user, paste the service account email, and set the permission to Owner
Return to Board Settings > General and toggle Google Indexing API on
Click Save changes

What gets submitted

Cavuno sends requests to Google when:

A job is published: a URL update notification is sent
A job is edited: a URL update notification is sent
A job is removed or expired: a URL removal notification is sent

Quota

Google grants a default quota of 200 requests per day. For most boards, this is more than enough. If you need a higher limit, you can request one through the Google Cloud Console.

Submissions that exceed the daily quota are queued and retried automatically.

When indexing is skipped

Cavuno skips Google Indexing API submissions in two cases:

Password-protected boards: pages are not publicly accessible, so notifying Google would be pointless
Boards temporarily offline: submissions are paused until the board is back online

In both cases, queued submissions resume automatically once the board is accessible again.

Tips

Use both protocols. Pair the Google Indexing API with IndexNow to cover all major search engines.
Submit your sitemap too. The Indexing API handles real-time changes, but a sitemap gives Google a complete picture of your board. See Sitemap submission.
Check Search Console for results. After enabling, monitor the Pages report in Search Console to confirm your jobs are being indexed.