If you want search engines to pick up your content faster, Pingomatic might seem like a simple solution. This free tool sends notifications (pings) to search engines and blog directories whenever you update your site, helping your content get indexed quicker. But is it still effective?
In this Pingomatic review, we’ll explain how it works, its benefits and drawbacks, and whether it’s the best tool for the job. We’ll also explore alternative pinging services that might better suit your needs.
Pingomatic is a tool that notifies search engines and other services that a website, particularly a blog, has been updated or has new content.
This notification process, known as “pinging,” helps search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing to index new content quicker. By sending these alerts, Pingomatic facilitates faster indexing and can potentially increase traffic to the site by making its content visible in search results sooner.
How Pingomatic works
Pingomatic notifies search engines and content aggregators when your blog or website has been updated.
When you send a “ping”, it alerts multiple platforms about your new content, including:
Pingomatic makes it easier for search engines to discover new or updated content, but like any tool, it has its pros and cons. Below is a breakdown of what it does well and where it falls short.
Benefits
Drawbacks
Faster indexing: Notifies multiple search engines and directories, helping content get indexed more quickly
Limited service updates: The site appears outdated, lacks SSL certification, and some services it pings may no longer be active.
User-friendly: No registration required, making it easy to use for quick notifications.
Over-pinging risks: Excessive use can be seen as spam by search engines, potentially harming rankings.
Automatic WordPress integration: WordPress automatically pings Pingomatic when new content is published.
Redundant services: Some services Pingomatic pings may be inactive or overlap, reducing its efficiency.
How to use Pingomatic
Using Pingomatic is simple and doesn’t require registration. You enter your website details, select the services you want to notify, and click “Send Pings.” The tool then alerts search engines and directories about your latest updates, increasing the chances of faster indexing.
For WordPress users, the process is even easier—Pingomatic is integrated by default.
Every time you publish or update a post, WordPress automatically sends a ping, ensuring your content is always on search engines’ radars.
Select which services you want Pingomatic to ping. It’s recommended to check all available options.
Click on the “Send Pings” button.
Once you’ve completed these steps, Pingomatic will send notifications to search engines and blog directories, alerting them that your site has been updated.
For WordPress users, there’s an option to automate the pinging process, as Pingomatic is integrated by default.
Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
Go to Settings > Writing.
Under “Update Services,” you’ll find the Pingomatic URL already included.
You can add other pinging services if desired.
With this setup, WordPress will automatically ping search engines whenever you publish or update a post or page.
If you’re looking for other tools to notify search engines about your website updates, here are five solid alternatives—each with its own strengths depending on your needs.
Pingler is a freemium pinging tool that notifies search engines, blog directories, and indexing services about new content. It supports both manual and automated pinging for those who want more control over their indexing speed.
Why it’s a good alternative: It offers automated pinging for premium users, reducing manual effort and making indexing faster.
Best for: Bloggers, website owners, and SEO professionals who want an automated solution for faster search engine indexing.
Pingoat is a blog-focused pinging tool that notifies multiple blog services and search engines about updates. It’s lightweight, simple to use, and doesn’t require sign-ups.
Why it’s a good alternative: It specifically targets blog services and aggregators, making it ideal for content-heavy sites.
Best for: Bloggers, content creators, and marketers who want a quick, no-login pinging service.
PingMyUrls is a bulk URL submission tool that allows users to ping multiple URLs at once to search engines and directories. It’s great for sites that publish frequently and need efficient content discovery.
Why it’s a good alternative: It supports bulk submissions, helping large websites speed up indexing without submitting URLs one by one.
Best for: Webmasters, SEO professionals, and agencies managing multiple sites or large amounts of content.
PingFarm is a mass URL submission tool that allows you to submit multiple pages at once, helping search engines discover them faster. It’s useful for sites with frequent updates or large content archives.
Why it’s a good alternative: It enables bulk indexing, making it more efficient for those managing multiple domains or large sites.
Best for: Website owners, SEOs, and digital agencies that need to ping multiple URLs at once.
Pingomatic is a quick and free way to notify search engines and directories about website updates, making it a useful tool for bloggers and content creators.
The fact that WordPress integrates it by default adds to its appeal.
However, some of the services it pings may no longer be active, and over-pinging can be seen as spam, potentially affecting search rankings. While Pingomatic is helpful, it shouldn’t be your only indexing strategy. Using sitemaps, high-quality content, and other pinging tools can give your site the best chance of appearing in search results quickly.