Search Engine has me listed ANYWAY

  • Unknown's avatar
    soulintent · Member ·

    I have had the box checked to NOT allow search engines to find me, but while doing a check today, my blog came up as the very first listing on Google under my blog name.

    Anyone have any suggestions on this????

  • Unknown's avatar
    timethief · Member ·

    Your blog is not a private blog. I know because I just connected to it. Even if it was a private blog some search engine spiders will locate it anyway and disregard the “keep out”. Also when bloggers assign categories to their posts in private blogs and, their readers provide links back to the private blog in their own blog posts the private blog will be “found”. Lastly, note that “private” blogs do not have rss feeds. So if you have rss feeds on this blog it will be “found”.

    Perhaps you would like to review your settings here -> Options -> Privacy and maybe change them.
    Privacy Options
    Blog visibility: ____I would like my blog to appear in search engines like Google and Sphere, and in public listings around WordPress.com.
    ____ I would like to block search engines, but allow normal visitors
    ____I would like my blog to be visible only to users I choose

    You can also password protect your entire blog if you so prefer http://faq.wordpress.com/2006/05/07/can-i-password-protect-my-whole-blog/

  • Unknown's avatar
    timethief · Member ·

    Update: I have just done a Google blog search for your blog and found 3 entries. You have assigned categories to your posts and this is one means of the blog being “found”. I see 13 categories listed in your footer in addition to blogroll and uncategorized. It’s also important to note that if other bloggers are including your blog’s url in their blogroll your blog will be “found”.

    If you truly want your blog to be “private” I would suggest:
    (1) changing the privacy setting where I described above;
    (2) password protecting the whole blog and allowing members only to view it and comment on it – >Options -> General Options -> Membership
    (3) not creating a “breadcrumb” trail back to your blog through use of category tags;
    (4) enlisting the cooperation of your readers in not linking to your blog in their posts or in their blogrolls.

    Perhaps other bloggers have more advice to give.

  • Unknown's avatar
    drmike · Member ·

    Well, telling us which blog you’re talking about would be helpful. Until you do that, all we can do is make guesses.

    TT, the poster states that they have the box checked to block the search engines.

  • Unknown's avatar
    timethief · Member ·

    @drmike
    How astute. And here I was assuming she meant the blog linked to her username %( I know she said she had the box checked but I also know that it doesn’t always work when you have categories and links.

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