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Make Sure You Change This Stoopid New Default Wordpress Setting!

by Terry Kyle
16 replies
  • SEO
    • |
I've noticed with a couple of new WP self-hosting installations in the last few days that in Settings-Privacy, WP chooses the

"I would like to block search engines but allow normal visitors"

by default:



Kinda defeats the SEO-friendly nature of a WP blog!

Check the settings on your WP blog as it/they may not be as search engine-friendly as you were hoping.

Silly, huh?
#change #default #make #setting #stoopid #wordpress
  • Profile picture of the author Radix
    Originally Posted by Terry Kyle View Post

    I've noticed with a couple of new WP self-hosting installations in the last few days that in Settings-Privacy, WP chooses the

    "I would like to block search engines but allow normal visitors"

    by default:



    Kinda defeats the SEO-friendly nature of a WP blog!

    Check the settings on your WP blog as it/they may not be as search engine-friendly as you were hoping.

    Silly, huh?
    There was much gnashing of teeth and fist shaking over this last week.

    100 developers throwing up sites and backlinks like drunken rabbits and no one could get indexed.

    And then a collective, "well @#&*!"
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  • Profile picture of the author Richelo Killian
    I actually think it's better. I used to turn it for for new sites till I was ready to make them live.

    I install, setup, test, design theme, and can do this without SE's coming and indexing test stuff.

    Once ready, I just turn it on. Takes 2 secs.

    I honestly believe this is a better way. Get the site READY, and then bring the SE's.
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    • Profile picture of the author Goatboy
      Originally Posted by Richelo Killian View Post

      I actually think it's better. I used to turn it for for new sites till I was ready to make them live.

      I install, setup, test, design theme, and can do this without SE's coming and indexing test stuff.

      Once ready, I just turn it on. Takes 2 secs.

      I honestly believe this is a better way. Get the site READY, and then bring the SE's.
      That's the way I've been using it. My time is tight and I can throw up the blog on Monday, install a theme on Tuesday, start putting in posts on Wednesday...
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      • Profile picture of the author dollyputzu
        Banned
        [DELETED]
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        • Profile picture of the author emasaa
          Noticed that after a week of not being indexed.

          I even changed my robot.txt file thinking it was the problem.

          That button is rather annoying. I wonder how many don't know it even exists? Could be the reason we are seeing all these 'why aren't I getting indexed' posts.
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          • Profile picture of the author fir3d
            It would be much better if the feature was right on top of the dashboard in big letters so that you would know about it.
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  • Profile picture of the author grainosalt
    Yeah, its there for a reason. But it should be made more clear so when you are building your umpteenth you don't forget about it
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  • Profile picture of the author dollyputzu
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
      Originally Posted by dollyputzu View Post

      I actually think it's better. I used to turn it for for new sites till I was ready to make them live.
      I see you copy and pasted a line from a post above you. You couldn't come up with an original thought?:rolleyes:

      Tina


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  • Profile picture of the author Fernando Veloso
    Tell me something new... this is been going on for what? a Month now?

    I expected to be corrected in latest version but no way.

    Many non-techie guys using WP in their new sites are getting hammered with this.

    lol?
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  • Profile picture of the author goclarkanderson
    Allow visitors. This should be chosen.
    :-)
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    • Profile picture of the author LIndaB
      I've been told that this is a Fantastico problem, not a WP problem. I heard about it a few weeks ago, and then forgot to check it with a new site I just put up. Sure enough, it was set to block SE's.
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      • Profile picture of the author jayveen
        Originally Posted by LIndaB View Post

        I've been told that this is a Fantastico problem, not a WP problem. I heard about it a few weeks ago, and then forgot to check it with a new site I just put up. Sure enough, it was set to block SE's.
        Yep, its big time Fantastico problem. I built all of my first sites by hand and then I foolishly took someone's advice here and started using Fantastico. I spent an entire week searching site:mysite.com with no results, until I read about this little "feature" of Fantastico and went out and fixed it. Sigh.
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  • Profile picture of the author nigelvibations
    Thanks for the heads up. Call me a misanthrope, but I actually *like* stuff that thins out the competition and rewards those of us who stay up to date with the technology.
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  • Profile picture of the author bluelambda
    I don't use fantastico and so I never had the problem.

    If you install wordpress manually the install process lets you choose whether to let your new blog/site be indexed. The default is set to index.

    Personally, installing wordpress the manual way is faster for me as I customize the whole installation package so I have an install package with the plugins I want, the permalink structure configured, first "hello world" post deleted, etc.

    More information on custom wordpress installs here: Automating WordPress customizations – the install.php way WordPress Bits

    Besides, fantastico tends to give some random database name and username for the mysql database which irritates me to no end.

    But that's just me
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  • Profile picture of the author redfoxrunning
    Complete newb to this whole thing and only found the block in WP by accident. This whole thing is driving me insane
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    • Profile picture of the author RobinInTexas
      For what it's worth, I use fantastico to create the database and install the files, then I import a sql file that has all my plugins configured.

      Saves going through and entering a few API keys and other repetitive stuff.

      That has the privacy set to no search engines, and I change it after I add a post or two.
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      Robin



      ...Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just set there.
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