How do I "hide" my blog from public view while I'm building it– can't find

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  amandaerinc · Member · Oct 23, 2013 at 1:01 am

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  I want to hide my blog from public view before it’s ready. I looked at the old forum, “How do I “hide” my blog from public view pre-launch while I am still building it”; I don’t have an “Options” choice under my dashboard. Please help!

  The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

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  timethief · Member · Oct 23, 2013 at 1:04 am

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  To change blog visibility to private go to > Settings > Reading. See the guide here http://en.support.wordpress.com/settings/privacy-settings/
  Then see these entries please:
  adding users http://en.support.wordpress.com/adding-users/
  user roles http://en.support.wordpress.com/user-roles/

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  timethief · Member · Oct 23, 2013 at 1:07 am

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  I never ever do that. I just don’t tell anyone what the URL is and leave the blog public and if you read what follows you will know why that is.

  re: Google and other search engines
  There is no instant recognition of any blog launch from search engines. It takes weeks for search engines to index content in a new blog and/or to re-index content under a new URL. What attracts search engines is unique content in posts that cannot be found anywhere else on the internet. I would start now publishing original content posts frequently two or even three times weekly. For more information read > http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/2010/01/21/omg-i-cant-find-my-blog-on-google/

  The process we use for verifying free hosted WordPress.com blogs with search engines is found here > http://en.support.wordpress.com/webmaster-tools/

  Note: Even if you do not verify the blog the content will be indexed by search engines so don’t feel panicky about this please.

  WordPress.com provides the search engines with site maps. We bloggers do nothing. http://en.support.wordpress.com/sitemaps/

  Lastly note that we cannot assist with search engine issues. They are between the blogger and the search engine. http://en.support.wordpress.com/search-engines/

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  amandaerinc · Member · Oct 23, 2013 at 1:14 am

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  Thank you. I just want the site hidden while I get it going– it’s my portfolio site, and I don’t want potential employers seeing it earlier than necessary.

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  timethief · Member · Oct 23, 2013 at 1:18 am

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  Undertsood … LOL :D as that’s what they all say.
  But at least you won’t be posting the day after you make the blog public asking why your blog content isn’t reflected in search engine results, right. ;)

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  amandaerinc · Member · Oct 23, 2013 at 1:39 am

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  Of course- I understand the whole SEO and how it takes time to build that. No worries here.

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  timethief · Member · Oct 23, 2013 at 1:53 am

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  Good and best wishes for successful blogging. :)