IndexNow is a simple web standard that lets you instantly tell search engines 'I just published something new here -- please come index it now.' Without IndexNow, search engines discover new content by periodically re-crawling your site on their own schedule -- which can take days or weeks for Bing. With IndexNow, you send a notification the moment you publish, and Bing typically comes to crawl within 24 to 48 hours. For AEO, this matters because ChatGPT Search, Microsoft Copilot, and Meta AI all use Bing's index -- faster Bing indexing means faster availability of your new content for AI citations.
Setting up IndexNow takes three steps: generate a random API key, host a file containing that key at your domain root so search engines can verify you own the site, and send an API notification whenever you publish or update content. If you use WordPress, this is as simple as installing Microsoft's free 'IndexNow' plugin from the Plugin Directory. If you use a different CMS, the CMS-specific guide below shows the setup steps.
IndexNow was developed by Microsoft and Yandex as a shared open protocol. When you submit a URL to IndexNow, all participating search engines receive the notification simultaneously through the single API endpoint -- you do not need to notify Bing and Yandex separately. This makes IndexNow the most efficient URL notification method available for Bing-powered AI platform AEO.
How IndexNow Cuts Your Bing Indexing Lag From Weeks to Hours
IndexNow is an open protocol developed by Microsoft and Yandex that allows websites to instantly notify participating search engines when URLs are published or updated. For AEO, faster Bing indexing means faster availability of your content for ChatGPT Search, Microsoft Copilot, and Meta AI web citations.
In CMS context
Your CMS publishes or updates a page. The URL is now ready to notify search engines.
API / technical view
Your publish hook fires. The new or updated URL is added to the IndexNow notification queue.
AEO result
A content change has occurred. No search engine knows about it yet. Typical discovery lag without IndexNow: 3 to 21 days for Bing; 1 to 7 days for Google.
URL Notification Protocols: IndexNow vs Alternatives
Multiple protocols exist for notifying search engines about new or updated content. For AEO -- where fresh Bing-indexed content directly affects AI platform citation availability -- protocol selection determines how quickly your content enters the AI citation pool. Hover rows for strategic notes.
| Protocol | Notification speed | Engines covered | Bidirectional | Submission limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IndexNow (Bing, Yandex) | Immediate (on publish) | Bing, Yandex + additional partners | Yes -- one API call notifies all partners | No fixed daily limit (reasonable use policy) |
| Google Indexing API | Rapid (minutes to hours) | Google only | No -- Google only | 200 requests per day |
| XML Sitemap (sitemaps.org) | Days to weeks (when re-crawled) | All major search engines (read differently by each) | No -- passive discovery only | 50,000 URLs per sitemap file |
| Bing Webmaster API URL submission | 24 to 48 hours | Bing only | No -- Bing only | 10,000 URLs per month |
How to Implement IndexNow for Your CMS
IndexNow implementation complexity varies by CMS. Select your platform for specific setup instructions.
Plugin / integration
IndexNow Plugin (by Microsoft) -- available free on WordPress Plugin Directory
Setup steps
Install and activate the plugin. Enter your IndexNow API key (or generate one through the plugin). The plugin automatically fires IndexNow notifications on post/page publish and update events. No further configuration required for basic use.
Advanced configuration
Advanced config: restrict IndexNow notifications to post types that matter for AEO (exclude attachment/media post types to reduce noise). Configure the notification batch size if your site publishes many updates simultaneously. The plugin logs notifications in Settings > IndexNow for verification.
Verification
After first publish event with the plugin active, check Bing Webmaster Tools URL Inspector for the published URL. It should show as 'URL Submitted via IndexNow' within 24 to 48 hours.