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How to keep blog private even from normal viewers?

by Carol_A
5 replies
I may be missing something VERY easy . . .

I have a new domain registered. I want to install a free WordPress blog onto this domain, install the paid theme I bought and work on it without Google indexing it until I am ready for it to go "live."

I realize you can do this with individual posts, but how to keep a site hidden after actually having it live on the Internet?

Under Privacy Settings:
  • Site Visibility I would like my site to be visible to everyone, including search engines (like Google, Bing, Technorati) and archivers
  • I would like to block search engines, but allow normal visitors
I don't want either one......I want it invisible to all...until I'm ready.

Work around?

Second part to my question:

Is there a way to "copy" or "clone" all of my Thesis settings in my original blog so that I can just click a button so as to "copy" settings into new blog that will also have the Thesis theme?

I've heard of WP Twin, and also heard mention of Core Tweaks plug in...but will these do the trick?

Recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

#blog #normal #private #viewers
  • Profile picture of the author andrewjustice03
    I think, until you ever told someone, or posted somewhere, the link to your page, you are Hidden but Live. Because Search Engine cannot look for you. Is there a deeper reason for this?

    About your second question, I never got used on both. What I do is copy the config files from a Wordpress project, so I can use it again to another WP project.

    Hope it helps!
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  • Profile picture of the author Carol_A
    That does help - thanks so much!

    Signature
    Carol Amato
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  • Profile picture of the author SteveJohnson
    Originally Posted by Carol_A View Post

    I may be missing something VERY easy . . .

    I have a new domain registered. I want to install a free WordPress blog onto this domain, install the paid theme I bought and work on it without Google indexing it until I am ready for it to go "live."

    I realize you can do this with individual posts, but how to keep a site hidden after actually having it live on the Internet?

    Under Privacy Settings:
    • Site Visibility I would like my site to be visible to everyone, including search engines (like Google, Bing, Technorati) and archivers
    • I would like to block search engines, but allow normal visitors
    I don't want either one......I want it invisible to all...until I'm ready.

    Work around?

    Second part to my question:

    Is there a way to "copy" or "clone" all of my Thesis settings in my original blog so that I can just click a button so as to "copy" settings into new blog that will also have the Thesis theme?

    I've heard of WP Twin, and also heard mention of Core Tweaks plug in...but will these do the trick?

    Recommendations?

    Thanks in advance.
    For the first, if someone does know the URL, it will be visible. The following code snippet inserted at the very top of your theme's header.php file, will redirect to google any user who isn't logged in (including you, so you'll need to login to view/work on the site):
    PHP Code:
    <?php
            if ( !is_user_logged_in() && !is_admin() )
                wp_redirect( 'http://google.com' );
    ?>
    Copying the Thesis settings involves getting into the database and copying all of the Thesis settings in the options table. If you're going to do this a number of times it could be worth it to have someone write a custom function to go in your Thesis custom_functions file that pre-populates the options.

    Or you could pick up one of the cloning plugins/scripts. Both of the ones you list work OK.

    EDIT EDIT EDIT EDIT EDIT EDIT EDIT EDIT EDIT EDIT EDIT

    Well, duh. You can't use the above for Thesis, because it doesn't work like normal themes.

    Instead, put this in your custom_functions.php file in the custom folder:
    PHP Code:
        function temp_redirect() {
            if ( !    is_user_logged_in() && !is_admin() )
                    wp_redirect( 'http://google.com' );
        }
            add_action( 'wp_head', 'temp_redirect' ); 
    Signature

    The 2nd Amendment, 1789 - The Original Homeland Security.

    Gun control means never having to say, "I missed you."

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  • Profile picture of the author Carol_A
    Thanks, Steve

    Your "Edit" made me laugh.

    Appreciate your help!

    Signature
    Carol Amato
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  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    There is a plugin "maintenance mode" or something like that: only the logged in admin can see the site/blog - everybody else gets a 'down for maintenance' message.

    As for the theme setting: normal themes (which Thesis isn't; see above Steve's post) store their settings in the database. Meaning, copying over (export/import) the database .sql file would transfer the settings, so theoretically it is possible.
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