IndexNow API
Massblogger automatically notifies search engines when you publish or update posts using the IndexNow protocol. This speeds up indexation so new and updated content appears in Bing, Yandex, and other participating search engines sooner.
What is IndexNow?
IndexNow is an open protocol that lets websites proactively notify search engines when content is added or updated. Instead of waiting for crawlers to discover changes, you tell search engines exactly which URLs to recrawl. This leads to faster indexation and helps new or updated pages appear in search results within hours or days instead of weeks.
Massblogger integrates with IndexNow so that whenever you publish a new post or update an existing one, we automatically send a ping to the IndexNow API with the URL of the changed page. No manual submission or plugins required.
Setup
To enable IndexNow in Massblogger, you need to configure an API key. The key verifies that you own the domain and allows search engines to trust the notifications.
1. Generate your API key
Go to Bing Webmaster Tools - IndexNow and generate an API key. It's a random string (e.g. a1b2c3d4e5f6).
2. Add the key to Massblogger
In your Massblogger dashboard, go to Integrations → IndexNow and paste your API key.
3. Host the key file on each website
Create a text file named {your-key}.txt and upload it to the root of each website you want to use IndexNow with. The file should contain only the API key itself. This verifies domain ownership.
Example: if your key is abc123, the file must be accessible at https://yoursite.com/abc123.txt
One key, all your sites: The same API key works across all your websites. Just make sure the key file is hosted on each domain you want to use IndexNow with.
How Massblogger Sends Signals
When you publish a new post or update an existing one (via Massblogger or WordPress), Massblogger automatically sends an IndexNow ping to the shared IndexNow API endpoint. The ping includes:
- The URL of the new or updated page
- Your API key
- The location of your key file (for verification)
Participating search engines (Bing, Yandex, Seznam, Naver, and others) receive the notification and can crawl your page sooner. Massblogger handles this in the background—no manual action needed.
IndexNow API (Protocol Reference)
Massblogger uses the public IndexNow API. If you're building your own integration or want to understand the protocol, here's the reference.
https://api.indexnow.org/indexnowNotify search engines about a new or updated URL.
Query Parameters
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| url | Yes | The full URL of the page that was added or updated |
| key | Yes | Your IndexNow API key |
| keyLocation | Recommended | Full URL to your key file (e.g. https://yoursite.com/key.txt). Helps search engines verify ownership. |
Example Request
Response Codes
| 200 | Success |
| 400 | Bad request format |
| 403 | Key not valid (key .txt file not found on domain) |
| 422 | URL doesn't belong to the host or key mismatch |
| 429 | Too many requests |
Full protocol spec: indexnow.org/documentation
Supported Search Engines
IndexNow is supported by Bing, Yandex, Seznam, Naver, and other search engines. One ping notifies all of them. Google does not currently support the IndexNow protocol—for Google, use Google Search Console to submit URLs or rely on normal crawling.
IndexNow vs. Sitemap
A sitemap lists all URLs for crawlers to discover. IndexNow notifies search engines about specific URLs that changed right when they change. IndexNow is more immediate for new or updated content; sitemaps are useful for overall site structure. You can use both—Massblogger sends IndexNow signals, and you can still maintain a sitemap for broader discovery.
Troubleshooting
If IndexNow pings fail, common causes include:
- 403 (Key not valid): The key file is not hosted at the root of your domain, or the URL is incorrect. Ensure
https://yourdomain.com/{key}.txtreturns your key. - 422 (URL doesn't belong to host): The URL you're submitting doesn't match the domain where your key file is hosted.
- 429 (Too many requests): Rate limited. Wait before sending more pings.
Massblogger does not fail your publish job if IndexNow fails—your content still publishes. Check your integration settings and key file hosting if you want to debug IndexNow specifically.
Need help? Contact us at support@massblogger.com