Help Please - Google Indexing Problem!

by npaige
10 replies
  • SEO
  • |
Hi all,

my site is http://mountainriverstream.com
when i put "mountain river stream" into google, 1/2 way down the first page it shows my site and it says:
A description for this result is not available because of this site's robots.txt

i have no robots.txt file. i searched and also chatted w/ support at bluehost - no robots.txt file.

he suggested i set up a webmaster tools account so i did.
he sent me the red fetch button but it was not clickable.
he could not help me further.
webmaster says i have no sitemaps but i have two sitemap plugins so i don't understand. i took the sitemaps off my menu but that's all i did.

under settings - reading - search engine visibility is not checked to discourage search engines. they should see it. is there another privacy setting?

thanks so much!
dr. nicki
#google #indexing #problem
  • Profile picture of the author cynthiaSEL
    Hm. When google de-indexed a website I owned (total black list!) I contacted them.

    When I explained my plan they put me back.

    So contact google -- there are real people who work there.

    Be persistent, tell the truth, and answer all their questions honestly and completely.
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    • Profile picture of the author npaige
      What is the best way to access them? From where?

      Originally Posted by cynthiaSEL View Post

      Hm. When google de-indexed a website I owned (total black list!) I contacted them.

      When I explained my plan they put me back.

      So contact google -- there are real people who work there.

      Be persistent, tell the truth, and answer all their questions honestly and completely.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7653118].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    Simple: go to wp-admin > Settings > Privacy.

    Your blog is set to: "I would like to block search engines, but allow normal visitors".
    CHANGE IT!
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    • Profile picture of the author npaige
      You see this on my site? I do not!

      Under Settings - Reading, there is a box that can be checked to discourage search engines from indexing the site. I do NOT have it checked.

      This is the only privacy setting I have found.

      Are you seeing something different?

      Thanks!

      Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

      Simple: go to wp-admin > Settings > Privacy.

      Your blog is set to: "I would like to block search engines, but allow normal visitors".
      CHANGE IT!
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  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    Sorry, I looked at a WP site that had a version earlier than 3.5. - in those there was a tab under Settings > named Privacy.

    Recently it has been moved under Reading, you are right.

    But the message you see is consistent with the "blocked" sites: just recently I forgot to change that setting on a new site after playing with a few themes... and when googling it, I got exactly the same message.

    Even when changed to not block SEs... it still takes some time until the big G. is coming around to index it.
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    • Profile picture of the author npaige
      Well maybe that's it then because I did have it set to block as of a couple of days ago. How long do you think it takes?

      Why does webmaster tools say there is no sitemap when I have a sitemap plugin installed and activated?

      Thanks.

      Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

      Sorry, I looked at a WP site that had a version earlier than 3.5. - in those there was a tab under Settings > named Privacy.

      Recently it has been moved under Reading, you are right.

      But the message you see is consistent with the "blocked" sites: just recently I forgot to change that setting on a new site after playing with a few themes... and when googling it, I got exactly the same message.

      Even when changed to not block SEs... it still takes some time until the big G. is coming around to index it.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7653478].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author UMS
    You shouldn't need to change anything on your site.

    It see that Google has indexed and picked up the description for your "about" page.

    The other pages still say:

    "
    A description for this result is not available because of this site's
    robots.txt
    learn more"

    but they should all get updated in a while (could be days or a couple of weeks).

    I suspect that when Google first indexed your site your settings were blocking Google.

    You just need some patience and it should all come good.
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    • Profile picture of the author npaige
      Great, thanks. I'll hold tight. Hey.. an about page is something!

      Originally Posted by UMS View Post

      You shouldn't need to change anything on your site.

      It see that Google has indexed and picked up the description for your "about" page.

      The other pages still say:

      "
      A description for this result is not available because of this site's
      robots.txt
      -
      learn more"

      but they should all get updated in a while (could be days or a couple of weeks).

      I suspect that when Google first indexed your site your settings were blocking Google.

      You just need some patience and it should all come good.
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