parameters

Google Analytics has nothing to do with indexing or even WordPress. These links you see are because someone or something (likely automated tools) tried visiting those pages. I can make your Analytics record anything, for example, if I type into browser https://www.youandus.events/the-seo-framework-is-the-best you will see it in your dashboard, especially if I visit the page multiple times.

Unless you have thousands of 404 errors like these, I would not worry.

Spamming Google Analytics is a common tactic, although most common is referrer spam.

Please consider rating TSF here on w.org, it only takes a second. Thank you!

If you have any other questions, feel free to open a support topic any time!
Cheers,
Pierre

Sorry it was my search console that shows these pages being indexed not google analytics. They are not being submitted by the plugin sitemap but google found them somehow and indexed.

My comment applies 100% to GSC as well. The only thing that is truly indexed is what is shown in the index, here https://i.imgur.com/762T1we.png If you check those results you will see there are no spammy links there.

Ok thanks, these links are listed in coverage under Indexed, not submitted in sitemap, so it would suggest google is indexing these pages, possibly creating duplicates.

I did however researched it a bit more and it could be caused by wordpress itself, something to do with categories, so I’m trying to get some advice from worpdress support forum.

I also found this parameter while reviewing the GSC. This is not indexed,it’s excluded as there is alternate page with proper canonical tag according to google. So this is less of a worry but when I searched online I found that it could be linked to xml files so the sitemap. Is this from the plugin and is there anything to worry about.

https://www.youandus.events/?ref=xranks

Thanks
Celina

Basically, if it ends up as 404, you should not worry, you don’t even have to redirect them if there was no content on said url previously.

Some plugins/themes might create special URLs, but the examples you provided do not seem to be that case, since https://www.youandus.events/?ref=xranks can be made by anyone. In url, ?something= is a parameter and can be passed by anyone or anything. I can just make https://www.youandus.events/?hithisisparameter=lebaux, and it will show up in your GSC.

There isn’t a way to prevent this and quite frankly, it has virtually no impact on SEO rankings, Celina. I hope this helps!

Cheerio,
Pierre

Ok I understand
thanks

No problem! If you are still not sure about this specific problem, feel free to ask here. Meanwhile, I am marketing this as solved and if you need help with anything else, please open a new support topic, anytime. Have a productive day!