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Can google crawl password protected content for membership sites?

by Dustin Blevins
10 replies
  • SEO
    • |
I am wanting to start a membership site and I need to find out if the information I give out in my members area will count as "fresh content" or should I be posting in an un-protected area as well in order to please the Queen(Google).
#content #crawl #google #membership #password #protected #sites
  • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
    If you have to login to see it, Google will not know it exists.
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    • Profile picture of the author connorbringas
      Originally Posted by MikeFriedman View Post

      If you have to login to see it, Google will not know it exists.
      This is true, it will be considered a soft 404.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dustin Blevins
    Thank you. That is what I assumed, now I just need to find the right mix of content to give for free as well as to charge for
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    • Profile picture of the author HKSEO Jonbones
      Originally Posted by Dustin Blevins View Post

      Thank you. That is what I assumed, now I just need to find the right mix of content to give for free as well as to charge for
      General overview in the free stuff, but don't give away any details, put all the specifics in the subscribed section...
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  • Profile picture of the author Dead Body
    Google Can crawl your password protected pages but never show it to public in Google Results..
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    • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
      Originally Posted by Dead Body View Post

      Google Can crawl your password protected pages but never show it to public in Google Results..
      No, Google cannot do that. If the site is only visible with a password, then it is only visible with a password.
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      • Profile picture of the author kaytav
        Originally Posted by MikeFriedman View Post

        No, Google cannot do that. If the site is only visible with a password, then it is only visible with a password.
        That is true. There is no way Google can crawl a Password protected site. Your sites will remain hidden from Google.
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  • Profile picture of the author jxam69
    Mike is completely correct.

    Where I think some people get confused is that they see relevant Adsense ads running on password protected pages, and then assume the Google or Adsense bots are crawling those pages - this is not the case.

    Adsense is able to display relevant ads because the ad code can quickly grab H1 & h2 tags from the page when it's viewed, and then display ads relevant to that.

    How do I know this?

    Because I've done testing on password protected pages that have never been viewed by the public or any bot - Adsense is still able to show ads relevant to the H1 & H2 tags. I haven't tested for anything else like H3 tags - but it's easy to do if want to.
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    This space will be awarded to the first WSO owner who can prove they make Million$ from their methods.

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  • Profile picture of the author MaroshIS
    I use OptimizePress theme and all content that is inside membership area is automatically protected against all Search Engines. What i wanted to say is I encourage you to use a professional solution instead of trying to hide the membership content on your own.
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  • Profile picture of the author webdesigndevelopment
    In just one sentence we can say that. No Google can't crawl password protected content.
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