Google Scholar

Why my article in not indexed on Google Scholar

If your article has been recently published in SMART MOVES JOURNAL IJELLH (SMJI) but is not yet visible on Google Scholar, there is no cause for concern. This is a common situation, and we are happy to explain the technical process behind Google Scholar indexing and what you can do to help improve visibility.

Understanding the indexing process

SMJI operates on Open Journal Systems (OJS) — an open-source platform developed by the Public Knowledge Project (PKP) that is highly compatible with Google Scholar and other indexing services. In fact, Google Scholar itself recommends using OJS for journals that wish to make their content discoverable online.

Google Scholar does not index articles manually. Instead, it uses automated software tools known as:

  • Crawlers (or “robots”) – which fetch articles from journal websites
  • Parsers – which extract and understand metadata, such as title, author name, abstract, references, etc.

These tools work much like the regular Google search engine. However, inclusion in Google Scholar can take time — in some cases, up to 6 months or more — depending on how frequently Google re-crawls our site and how well the metadata has been parsed.

What IJOHMN ensures indexing

  • SMJI uses Open Journal Systems (OJS), recommended by Google Scholar for optimal indexing.
  • All articles are published with structured metadata, including DOI, title, author details, and references.
  • The journal’s archives are openly accessible to allow crawlers full access for discovery.

According to Google Scholar Inclusion Guidelines for Webmasters:
“We recommend the Open Journal Systems (OJS) software that’s available for download from the Public Knowledge Project (PKP).”

What authors can do to increase visibilityy

Publishing in a peer-reviewed journal is just the beginning. To maximize the reach and impact of your research, we recommend the following steps:

Share your article on academic platforms:

  • Academia.edu – Upload your paper and engage with other scholars.
  • ResearchGate – Share your research, connect with peers, and track impact.

In summary

  • Your article will appear on Google Scholar, but it may take a few weeks to several months.
  • SMJI’s OJS system is fully compatible with Google Scholar indexing.
  • Sharing your article on scholarly platforms and maintaining consistency in metadata helps accelerate visibility.