here are some steps you can take to resolve the issue:
Remove ‘noindex’ from Robots Meta Tag: The fact that the ‘noindex’ robots meta tag is enabled by default for each article is likely causing Google not to index your pages. You should ensure that this default setting is changed to “index” for each article you publish. Additionally, check if the same ‘noindex’ tag is applied to your homepage or any other important pages, and change it to “index” as well.
Check Sitemap Submission: Although you mentioned that the sitemap index was successfully submitted in Google Search Console, it’s worth double-checking to ensure that all relevant pages are included in the sitemap. Sometimes, certain pages might be excluded accidentally. You can also submit the sitemap again in the Google Search Console to make sure it’s up to date.
Inspect URLs in Google Search Console: Use the “Inspect URL” tool in Google Search Console to check if there are any issues with your website pages. It will provide insights into how Google sees your pages and whether there are any crawling or indexing errors.
Check WordPress SEO Plugins: You mentioned using RankMath for SEO on your WordPress site. Verify that there are no settings in RankMath that could inadvertently block search engine indexing. Review the settings and make sure they are optimized for SEO and indexation.
Review Robots.txt File: Ensure that your website’s robots.txt file is not blocking Googlebot from crawling your website. The robots.txt file might contain directives that restrict search engines from accessing certain areas of your site.
Check for Manual Actions: Sometimes, Google may apply manual actions to a website if it violates Google’s guidelines. Check your Google Search Console for any notifications about manual actions and take appropriate action to resolve them.
Create Quality Content: Ensure that your website has high-quality, valuable, and original content. Google is more likely to index and rank websites with valuable and relevant content.
Build External Backlinks: Get links from other reputable websites to your site. Quality backlinks can help search engines discover and crawl your site more effectively.
Be Patient: After making the necessary changes, give Google some time to recrawl your site and index the updated content. Indexing may not happen instantly, so be patient and monitor your progress over time.
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issues preventing Google from indexing your site. If you encounter any specific errors or need further assistance, you can always refer to Google’s documentation or seek help from SEO experts. Good luck with getting your site indexed!