Hiding pages is not really something you should do, but there are a few occasions where search engines such as Google will let you off for hiding pages. The reason they do not like it is because quite often when a person hides a page it is for nefarious reasons. These reasons are not in keeping with the rules on usability that Google have, and so you are likely to have your blog penalized for hiding pages. Here is a list of reasons why you may hide a page(s) on your blog. Some of them are Google approved, such as hiding secret sign in URLs or checkout pages, and some are not approved such as hiding offensive pages or link soliciting pages.
Hide Them If They Are a Separate And Secret Sign In Page
These are pages that only the blog contributors know about. They are not linked to, and are used as somewhere to sign it. It makes it harder for people who are trying to crack your password as they will have no idea where to enter it.
Hide Them If They Are For Preferred Viewers Only
This is what you may do if you want to communicate with a select group of people. It means that you must hide the pages from other users; otherwise what is so special about the preferred viewer pages?
Hide Them If They Have Information That Is Sensitive On Them
This is more of an eCommerce or staff website problem. Still, if you have information on a blog page that you do not want the whole world to see then not having them indexed by Google is a smart move.
Hide Them If They Are Any Sort Of Checkout Pages
Most of these pages are navigated to via a JavaScript widget so that Google does not index them. They offer no benefit to anyone other than the person buying the product, so there is no need for Google to index them. If you sell things on your blog then hide the checkout pages.
The search engines do expect that some pages need to be hidden, and this is one of the pages they expect. However, be aware that Google will not expect a checkout page on a blog, so keep an eye out for whether these pages are having any sort of drag effect on your SEO, especially if you discover that they were suddenly indexed.
Hide Them If They Ask For People To Link To The Blog
If Google catches you trying to solicit links for the rest of your blog then they will penalize your website. That is why it is a really good idea to hide any pages that solicit links or any that may be deemed as black-hat SEO. Obviously, when you submit your XML sitemap, you should not include these pages. You should also be wary of linking to them from social media sites, just in-case the link is mirrored on a website and then indexed by Google.
Hide Them If They Are Unfinished
Google will forgive you for this, and you may improve your case if the page actually says that it is being updated or constructed, just in case the Google admin staff find it. It is unclear what the rules are for having unfinished pages, but too many of them is going to be a bad thing, especially if your on-page links lead to multiple blank pages.
Hide Them If They Contain Content That May Offend Your Blog Viewers
Quite why you would have put such pages on your blog in the first place is really up to you. If the pages run the risk of offending your blog viewers or new blog viewers, then it is a good idea to not have links to the pages splashed across the Google SERP (Search Engine Results Page).
Hide Them If You Do Not Want The Pages Made Public Yet
You may be looking to release the pages soon at the most publicity friendly time. If this is the case, then hiding the pages for a few weeks should not get your blog penalized by Google. Any longer than that and it may just be a good idea to upload the data at a later date instead of just hiding it.
Hide Them If They Are a Separate And Secret Sign In Page
These are pages that only the blog contributors know about. They are not linked to, and are used as somewhere to sign it. It makes it harder for people who are trying to crack your password as they will have no idea where to enter it.
Hide Them If They Are For Preferred Viewers Only
This is what you may do if you want to communicate with a select group of people. It means that you must hide the pages from other users; otherwise what is so special about the preferred viewer pages?
Hide Them If They Have Information That Is Sensitive On Them
This is more of an eCommerce or staff website problem. Still, if you have information on a blog page that you do not want the whole world to see then not having them indexed by Google is a smart move.
Hide Them If They Are Any Sort Of Checkout Pages
Most of these pages are navigated to via a JavaScript widget so that Google does not index them. They offer no benefit to anyone other than the person buying the product, so there is no need for Google to index them. If you sell things on your blog then hide the checkout pages.
The search engines do expect that some pages need to be hidden, and this is one of the pages they expect. However, be aware that Google will not expect a checkout page on a blog, so keep an eye out for whether these pages are having any sort of drag effect on your SEO, especially if you discover that they were suddenly indexed.
Hide Them If They Ask For People To Link To The Blog
If Google catches you trying to solicit links for the rest of your blog then they will penalize your website. That is why it is a really good idea to hide any pages that solicit links or any that may be deemed as black-hat SEO. Obviously, when you submit your XML sitemap, you should not include these pages. You should also be wary of linking to them from social media sites, just in-case the link is mirrored on a website and then indexed by Google.
Hide Them If They Are Unfinished
Google will forgive you for this, and you may improve your case if the page actually says that it is being updated or constructed, just in case the Google admin staff find it. It is unclear what the rules are for having unfinished pages, but too many of them is going to be a bad thing, especially if your on-page links lead to multiple blank pages.
Hide Them If They Contain Content That May Offend Your Blog Viewers
Quite why you would have put such pages on your blog in the first place is really up to you. If the pages run the risk of offending your blog viewers or new blog viewers, then it is a good idea to not have links to the pages splashed across the Google SERP (Search Engine Results Page).
- Must Read:- Top 150 Free Directory Submission - Sites
Hide Them If You Do Not Want The Pages Made Public Yet
You may be looking to release the pages soon at the most publicity friendly time. If this is the case, then hiding the pages for a few weeks should not get your blog penalized by Google. Any longer than that and it may just be a good idea to upload the data at a later date instead of just hiding it.
No comments:
Post a Comment