How does Google handle password protected pages?

gordonr · 01-29-2009, 09:46 PM

Hi, I need some help answering a technical question.
If I add a page to my existing site, and that page is password protected,
is Google still able to "spider" and index that page, and if so, will the fact
that the page is password protected, negate any beneficial SEO benefit
for the site that the page might otherwise have provided?
Thanks to anyone in advance who can assist with the answer.

krishananda · 01-29-2009, 11:44 PM

There are some social bookmarking sites that require login for us to see the bookmarked links.

I believe google won't crawl on those pages, as most of my clients also concern about this.

I don't have full proof about this, hopefully someone would clear this issue.

sauravverma · 01-30-2009, 02:49 AM

When a password protected page is requested from the web server, the login page is served to the user. In the same fashion if a crawler is trying to access the page, it would be served a login page. Since it cannot go any further, because to it inability to enter the required credential, it would be able to crawl it.

That is how it is.

gordonr · 01-31-2009, 10:51 AM

Thanks a lot for your answer Sauravverma. Now I can proceed
with a better strategy. Your help is much appreciated.

theaffiliatemom · 02-02-2009, 12:07 AM

Contact the techs at adsense. There are some password protected sites that DO have adsense on them. It requires some wite authentication steps, but you might qualify. Good luck!

01-29-2009, 09:46 PM	#1
gordonr Active Warrior Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 54 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	How does Google handle password protected pages? Hi, I need some help answering a technical question. If I add a page to my existing site, and that page is password protected, is Google still able to "spider" and index that page, and if so, will the fact that the page is password protected, negate any beneficial SEO benefit for the site that the page might otherwise have provided? Thanks to anyone in advance who can assist with the answer.

01-29-2009, 11:44 PM	#2
krishananda HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 406 Thanks: 48 Thanked 22 Times in 20 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: How does Google handle password protected pages? There are some social bookmarking sites that require login for us to see the bookmarked links. I believe google won't crawl on those pages, as most of my clients also concern about this. I don't have full proof about this, hopefully someone would clear this issue.
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01-30-2009, 02:49 AM	#3
sauravverma Warrior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 13 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Social Networking	Re: How does Google handle password protected pages? When a password protected page is requested from the web server, the login page is served to the user. In the same fashion if a crawler is trying to access the page, it would be served a login page. Since it cannot go any further, because to it inability to enter the required credential, it would be able to crawl it. That is how it is.

01-31-2009, 10:51 AM	#4
gordonr Active Warrior Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 54 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: How does Google handle password protected pages? Thanks a lot for your answer Sauravverma. Now I can proceed with a better strategy. Your help is much appreciated.

02-02-2009, 12:07 AM	#5
theaffiliatemom Active Warrior Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: The Interwebs ;) Posts: 33 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Social Networking	Re: How does Google handle password protected pages? Contact the techs at adsense. There are some password protected sites that DO have adsense on them. It requires some wite authentication steps, but you might qualify. Good luck!