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Do You Block Search Engines While Constructing a WP Site?

by SiegerVinnare
13 replies
Hi Warriors,

This might be a noob question but I was just wondering if anyone here "asks search engines not to index their site" via wordpress privacy settings while they are constructing it? Then once you are finished "allow search engines to index site".
#block #constructing #engines #search #site
  • Profile picture of the author hassan007
    It doesn't effect your website but some times it does so better to stop search engines when site is under construction....

    All the Best....
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  • Profile picture of the author wbgclient
    I usually don't block search engines while developing a new website but I don't know if that is the best to do.
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  • Profile picture of the author DeMango25
    I actually do block search engines while the site is under construction and only turn the switch when I've got my home page and 1st post finished (together with the usual privacy policy, affiliate disclosure and contact pages)
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  • Profile picture of the author stefffff
    yes i do... it's really nasty to get indexed with Lorem Ipsum content or maybe a mysql/php error... first build your website and then you can start promoting your website, that's what i recommend .
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  • Profile picture of the author John BR
    Whenever I build wordpress blog/site, at times I come across the need to test out various content types, layouts, designs etc as I am not sure which ones will suit best. This involves tweaking and updating the post on a high frequency basis.

    In such case I prefer to work with privacy setting to "Ask search engines not to index this site." and/or remove the ping update service url. Otherwise it is going to get pinged excessively and the post may get indexed before I have finalized the design or content.

    Once I am ready I just restore the settings.
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  • Profile picture of the author OldLodgeSkins
    A website under construction shouldn't be open to the public - be it real visitors or search engines. Close it one way or another, the most efficient being with a .htaccess requiring an authentication.
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  • Profile picture of the author SiegerVinnare
    Thank you for your replies! Really helps me out. Appreciate it. Looks like I'll be blocking search engines for my next site.
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  • Profile picture of the author ThisTimeNextYear
    It depends - I generally don't because it's good to educate the spiders that your content will be changing regularly.
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  • Profile picture of the author SiegerVinnare
    I'm thinking that I will allow search engines once I have my first couple posts up but I usually spend some time fine tuning the design for the first little while before I get much actual content up.
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  • Profile picture of the author David G Ford
    There are quite a few "Under Construction" themes that help you put up a false front while you complete the site. I would definitely block search engines while it is under construction also.

    I blogged about a free theme for 'Under Construction" recently - it is a newish site so I had used the theme myself while building it

    What do Visitors see while you are building your site? | Internet Expert
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    • Profile picture of the author madison_avenue
      Yes and I use the: Yoast Seo plugin - free. Set up Robots Meta to keep a single post or page out of the index, or if you prefer you can make entire sections of your site unfindable.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ettienne
    Nah, just prepare some content beforehand. Make a "to-do" list before you actually install WP for the first time. If I know the exact steps I'm gonna take and have everything ready, content, plugins, meta tags, etc. It's a matter of an hour or two before you go from nothing to a complete page with proper on-page SEO.
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  • Profile picture of the author DeadRooster
    I build all my sites on a "test" subdomain on one of my existing sites, then when it's finished I use WP Twin to move it to its own domain. While I'm building the site I block search engines and use a Maintenance Mode plugin in case some knucklehead somehow finds the subdomain.
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