Heads up to all HostGator WP users!

15 years ago

Interesting. I set up Wordpress using Fantastico on HostGator a couple of weeks ago. I didn't even bother to check the privacy settings. On checking just now it is visible to everyone, including search engines.

John

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1088123].message }}

Ricky Parker

15 years ago

So far it was at least happening from August 4th. on. I had created a few sites that day and I had to change them all.

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1088134].message }}

rob6188

15 years ago

Yes, this is a very recent change. I have hostgator, and have to change my privacy settings now.

Is this happening on other hosting companies as well?

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1088193].message }}

Diana Lane

15 years ago

I've noticed that on new installations over the past week or so too. I was going to post about it, but I think there's another thread on the go here somewhere about it already. If I wasn't in the habit of editing the ping list thingy (where it now tells you that due to your privacy settings, there's no ping list thingy to edit), it's unlikely that I would have spotted it.

Un-private privacy settings are meat and drink to the search engines, and Google loves them WordPress-flavoured. It makes me wonder if anything else vital has been mucked up that I haven't noticed.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Fiction Ideas Writing Software: Ignite Your Inspiration: Create Illustrated Plots You Can Even Sell!

Plot short fiction, long fiction, even outline non-fiction * Edit the question prompts to suit your genre * Easily export text and image files for use with your word processor or Scrivener.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1088226].message }}

Sonja 15 years ago

Yep I just realized that today too because I got a warning that I couldn't build a sitemap with the private privacy settings as is. I had to go click the radio button to allow the search engines to see my blog.

I wonder what gives with that? If that warning hadn't popped up I wouldn't have known that it was set on private---that is until I finally checked it. :confused:
- Thanks
Signature
~Yeah I'm working on it~
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1088272].message }}

Ricky Parker

15 years ago

Yeah it would not have been a nice thing to find out a month from now after I've been working on the site I discovered it on.

I contacted Hostgator staff via chat and he said he would notify his supervisor.

I just see it as hurting a lot of newer people who may have just gotten started in the last month. And may be using WP. That is what I let the chat dude know.

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1088281].message }}

Michael_Pergrem 15 years ago

I have made a couple blogs and was wondering why they had been indexed! You just saved me a ton of time!

Thank you so much!

haha...
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1088304].message }}

InternetMarketingIQ

15 years ago

HostGator or not... when you are setting up a new site you should always work from a checklist of Tasks that need to be completed.

You should go through all your tasks one by one.

Create a folder for all the plugins you use... upload them all immediately after installation of the WP Program.

Then one by one go through your list. It is way to easy to forget something if you don't.

Had you been working from a checklist this would not have slipped past you.

Thanks
2 replies

Signature

Internet Marketing IQâ„¢

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1088298].message }}

Ricky Parker

15 years ago

Originally Posted by InternetMarketingIQ

HostGator or not... when you are setting up a new site you should always work from a checklist of Tasks that need to be completed.

You should go through all your tasks one by one.

Create a folder for all the plugins you use... upload them all immediately after installation of the WP Program.

Then one by one go through your list. It is way to easy to forget something if you don't.

Had you been working from a checklist this would not have slipped past you.

Thanks for the checklist and insight Yoda.

My point of this post was to notify others since this had never been set to default in the past with them.

Thanks

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1088326].message }}

Steven Carl Kelly 15 years ago

Originally Posted by InternetMarketingIQ

HostGator or not... when you are setting up a new site you should always work from a checklist of Tasks that need to be completed.

This is true, and something I've had to train myself to do as well.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature

Read this SURPRISING REPORT Before You Buy ANY WSO! Click Here
FREE REPORT: Split Test Your Landing Pages the Easy Way
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1089959].message }}
- Julian Lockhart 15 years ago
  
  Yes I can confirm this as well.
  
  I did not realize that it was from Fastastico.
  
  Who sets up a blog and says "don't read me"
  
  Its like having a email optin box saying we will spam and share your email pre-checked.
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  Sarasota Web Design
  
  Biz Launch Box - Marketing Consultant
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1091082].message }}

Mark Riddle

15 years ago

Some hosts do have the setting default to private.

Typically I set my blogs to private until I have the basic design and structure created, then I let 'em spider.

Mark Riddle

Thanks

Signature

Today isn't Yesterday, - Products are everywhere if your eyes are Tuned!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1088321].message }}

Seekness

15 years ago

Thanks a lot - I had no idea and just checked my three-day-old blog. Lo and behold, you were right.

[ 1 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1088322].message }}

Dustin_M

15 years ago

I have to give a HUGE thanks for pointing this out. I had 2 sites that were not ranking (which I attributed to be a noob). Of course, that stupid 'do not read me' button was checked. I cannot believe I missed that. Again, thanks!

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

Are You Ready? It's Coming!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1091144].message }}

David Cavanagh

15 years ago

Guys and Girls,

Do what I've been doing and install it manually with Expert Wordpress!

This is BY FAR a better option than Fantastico and you don't leave gigantic footprints for hackers.

Expert Wordpress is free, unless you want to grab his videos (which I feel are very good).

You can get it at Expert WordPress - Create A Blog - you won't regret it when you have as many sites as I've got, and sometimes out of the blue you get hacked by someone with language as good as 4am in the hotel carpark

Let me know how you get on!

David Cavanagh
David Cavanagh Internet Coach

[ 2 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Best Coaching Program -
High Level Individual Coaching & Mentoring

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1091147].message }}

Sandor Verebi

15 years ago

Originally Posted by David Cavanagh

Guys and Girls,

Do what I've been doing and install it manually with Expert Wordpress!

This is BY FAR a better option than Fantastico and you don't leave gigantic footprints for hackers.

Expert Wordpress is free, unless you want to grab his videos (which I feel are very good).

You can get it at Expert WordPress - Create A Blog - you won't regret it when you have as many sites as I've got, and sometimes out of the blue you get hacked by someone with language as good as 4am in the hotel carpark

Let me know how you get on!

David Cavanagh
David Cavanagh Internet Coach

Thanks, David. Let us not overcomplicate something what is possible to do more simply.

Regards,

Sandor
__________
"The motivation what starts you. The custom is, what carries to your goal."Anon

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1097378].message }}

Frankie D

15 years ago

Not a problem here, I always go through a list of steps of cleaning up my blog before I start posting. And like to have the privacy setting to be set to no search engine, while I'm configuring my site.

Thanks for the heads up anyway, that's what makes this place such a wonderful resource in the I.M.World.

[ 1 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1091758].message }}

terryrayburn

15 years ago

Where on the dashboard do you check these privacy settings?

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1096752].message }}

diggy20 15 years ago

Originally Posted by terryrayburn

Where on the dashboard do you check these privacy settings?

Settings > Privacy
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature
SENuke too expensive? Create powerful automated web bots using UBot. Use discount code: BOTSALE before you buy.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1096756].message }}
- terryrayburn 15 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by diggy20
  
  Settings > Privacy
  
  Thanks, but am I looking at the same dashboard?
  
  I don't see "settings".
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1096778].message }}
  
  Wade Watson 15 years ago
  
  Everybody should make it standard practice to check and tweak all settings at launch of a new WordPress Blog. You also want to make sure your comment settings are the way you want them, change your subhead from "Another WordPress Blog" and so forth. I hope nobody justs installs and starts writing content.
  
  Wade
  
  [ 1 ] Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1096855].message }}
  
  jplanigan 15 years ago
  
  I just setup a two new blogs on my HG account Monday night. I found the same thing. I need to put a checklist together as suggested here as I would not have noticed this had I not been trying to figure out why analytics wasn't working. I just happened to notice the privacy settings while figuring out the other issue.
  
  Anyone have a decent checklist they would like to share as a baseline for our own?
  
  Patrick
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1096931].message }}

terryrayburn

15 years ago

Nevermind. I realize now you're talking about the privacy settings in WP, not Hostgator!

Duh...

Thanks.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1096820].message }}

MDalton10

15 years ago

Thanks

Signature

Want to get flat abs fast? www.supertightabs.com
mattfacts.dangdeals.com - Matt's Tech Blog

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1096832].message }}

Arted4Life

15 years ago

Thanks for the tip. Sometimes the info on this site is priceless.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1097338].message }}

Xnode

15 years ago

Thanks so much for pointing this out. I've been banging my head on the wall for a couple of weeks now wondering why my blog wasn't showing up in the results. I just looked and it was on private.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1097388].message }}

Radix

15 years ago

LOLZZZZZZZZZZZZ

I feel really dumb sometimes

Thanks

Signature

Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.
-Groucho Marx

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1098277].message }}

Mr Money Maker

15 years ago

Hey thanks for the heads up.......I didn't even know this took place....Thanks again

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

California Famous People - Hollywood CA USA
Seattle,WA Weather Service Forecast 10 Day
Fresno,CA Weather Forecast,Local,National News
California Rock Guitar News , US American History

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1098306].message }}

CalGolden 15 years ago

This has got to be one of those "scratch my head" moments. Now why the hell would Hostgator even do that? Don't those fools know that most webmasters that host blogs with their company WANT search engines to pay their sites a visit? This is beyond me.

I launched 3 ass-stanking brand new blogs this month on my Hostgator account. Good thing that I out-source most of my install "grunt" work. My team is on the ball each and every time. My sites are spider bait out of the box.

Good look, OP!
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature

Who says men know nothing about dating and relationships? (My wife does not count)

Dating Tips Insider

Follow me on Twitter. Catch me if you can!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1098367].message }}
- netkid 15 years ago
  
  Actually all this is no big deal. When starting up new blog in fantastico, you should check and tweak all your "general settings," "permalinks," "privacy" and "discussion" anyway without batting an eye!!
  
  (smiling)
  
  Regards,
  
  Bruce
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1098391].message }}
  
  Ken Strong 15 years ago
  
  Wow -- thanks for posting this. I had several new blogs that hadn't been indexed after a couple of weeks, and I was scratching my head.
  
  Good point made by several people that this is the type of thing we should be checking every time anyways.
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  The RETURN of OBI:
  Learn IM From the Experts Who Are Already Doing It!
  
  "Sammy-approved, baby!" -- Offline Brat Pack
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1098441].message }}

peetred

15 years ago

Holy Cow Batman! Thank you for this! I just realized why I am getting no search engine traffic. Most valuable info I have gotten all day, 10 stars for you!

Thanks

Signature

[CENTER]Founder of Nerdy Millennial - a blog all about millennials sharing their passions, ideas, and expertise. We love to share our knowledge about blogging, healthy living, psychology, arts, culture, and more! Interested in contributing? Contact us to pitch your idea or submit an article.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1168134].message }}

sega001

15 years ago

thanks for the heads up man

Thanks

Signature

The Best Signature Coming Soon!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1168143].message }}

Sheryl Polomka

15 years ago

I noticed this a couple of weeks ago after I couldn't work out why my site wasn't getting indexed. Then it was actually one of my customers that had purchased a site let me know that his site had the noindex nofollow code and I checked my own site and sure enough it was in there too.

Took me a while to find it in the privacy settings and now I have that in my check list of things to do when I'm creating new sites.

Thanks

Signature

~~ TOP PETZ ~~

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1168177].message }}

Heads up to all HostGator WP users!

Trending Topics

Newbie

How did you turn it all around?

A healthy fascination for Hollywood...

Any thoughts on golf's latest phenom...Scottie Scheffler??

What's the Best IM-Related Skill to Learn Today That Can Help in the Future?