How to remove errors from Google index?

[JustAddBlue]

Hi, This is my first post here. I build websites, and have just found an error in the Google search results listing for one of the sites I built. It looks like I submitted incorrect info under the 'comments' box on Google's submit URL page, so the info refers to a different site. Not too good for the client! I've searched and searched and I can't find the best way to remove or correct the data registered for this site with Google.

Do I resubmit?
Should I remove it from Google's index then resubmit?
Is there another way I can tackle this problem?

I need to fix this up quickly!

Thanks for your help,
Blue

[Receptional Andy]

Hi JustAddBlue, welcome to WebmasterWorld :)

It looks like I submitted incorrect info under the 'comments' box on Google's submit URL page

I've never been a one for URL submissions, but as far as I'm aware whatever you add when using a submit form will have no impact whatsoever on what you see in Google search results.

It sounds like you may have incorrect info within the content of the actual page (perhaps within a meta description?). I would check the source code of the page for the text you feel is wrong.

If that's the case, what's needed is for this text to be corrected, the page to be re-spidered by Google and updated in the index.

You can get an idea of how quickly changes are likely to be picked up by either looking at googlebot's visits to the page within web server log files, or looking at the most recent cached date for the page. You can get a page spidered more quickly by ensuring there are prominent links to it.

[JustAddBlue]

Hi,

thanks, I've checked the meta and it's correct. Even updated and reuploaded the site and meta. I've resubmitted to Google and DMOZ, with correct info, and hope that will crack it.

Cheers,
Blue

[Receptional Andy]

Note that Google may use a dmoz description unless you use a robots meta element with a value of "noodp". Is the text you see the same as listed in the Open Directory?

[JustAddBlue]

Wrong. I got it wrong. I had missed on of the meta description updates. Have checked an fixed all pages and met now, so it will come good, but not sure how long it will take for it to update on Google search results. Spiders last called on 1 August. Just updated and reuploaded entire site and sitemap, so hoping to get a Googlebot visit off the back of the changes. Any tips on how to speed this bit up?

[Receptional Andy]

Google doesn't generally visit because something has changed - it visits because of it's own spidering cycle (that is in part determine by historical activity on a site). You may be able to influence this via a sitemap (depending on how often your sitemap is spidered) or as mentioned above, by ensuring there are links to the page you need updated from pages that are themselves frequently spidered.

Other than that, it's a waiting game, I'm afraid.

[JustAddBlue]

Okay, great, thanks for your help Andy!

[g1smd]

*** Google doesn't generally visit because something has changed ***

They don't know that something has changed until after they visit.

Having found a change, they might come back a bit sooner next time to see if there are more changes.

[JustAddBlue]

great, thanks! you're a helpful bunch here!

Blue.