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SEO 101 – Understanding Noindex Tags and Headers

When it comes to Search Engine Optimization (SEO), there’s a lot to keep track of, especially for small business owners juggling multiple roles. This is a running theme in many of our blog post on the topic. Among the myriad of strategies and technical details, the “noindex” tag and “noindex” header tests play crucial roles. But what are they, why are they important, and why might they be challenging for a small business owner to manage? In this edition of SEO 101, we’re going to dive into these small, but meaningful pieces of the on-page SEO puzzle.

Editor’s Note: This post is part of our SEO 101 series. Click below for the previous entries:

What is a Noindex Tag?

The “noindex” tag is a meta tag used in the HTML of a webpage to instruct search engines not to index that page. In simpler terms, it’s a way to tell search engines, “Hey, don’t include this page in your search results.” This tag looks like this in the HTML code:the code for a noindex tag

What is a Noindex Header?

A “noindex” header, on the other hand, is an HTTP response header that serves the same purpose as the “noindex” meta tag. It’s a directive sent from the server to the search engine’s crawler, instructing it not to index the page. An example of how this might be configured on the server is: a picture of code for a noindex header

Why Are They Important for SEO?

  1. Control Over Search Visibility: Not all content on your website is meant for public viewing through search engines. Pages like login screens, thank you pages, and internal search results are examples of content that should not appear in search results. By using “noindex” tags and headers ensures these pages stay out of search results. As a result, we maintain a clean and relevant presence for your website.
  2. Focus on Quality Content: Search engines favor websites with high-quality, relevant content. By excluding low-value pages from being indexed, you signal to search engines which pages are worth indexing, helping improve your overall site quality and potentially boosting your rankings.
  3. Prevent Duplicate Content Issues: Duplicate content can confuse search engines and dilute your SEO efforts. By using “noindex” tags and headers on duplicate or similar pages, you can avoid these issues and maintain a stronger SEO profile.John Cena saying you can't see the pages for seo

Why Are They Difficult for Small Business Owners to Manage?

  1. Technical Expertise Required: Implementing “noindex” tags and headers involves a good understanding of HTML, server configurations, and SEO best practices. Small business owners often wear many hats and may not have the technical background needed for these tasks.
  2. Time-Consuming: Regularly auditing your website for pages that should be “noindexed” and then implementing the tags and headers is time-consuming. For a small business owner, time is a precious resource, and managing SEO might not always be at the top of the priority list.
  3. Risk of Errors: Incorrectly using “noindex” tags and headers can have adverse effects. As such, accidentally “noindexing” important pages can remove them from search results, negatively impacting your site’s visibility and traffic.
  4. Continuous Monitoring: SEO is not a set-it-and-forget-it endeavor. It requires ongoing monitoring and adjustments. Keeping track of which pages should be “noindexed” and ensuring they remain that way as your site evolves, is a daunting task.                                                                  woman thinking about seo concepts

Making It Manageable

So, how can small business owners manage this aspect of SEO without feeling overwhelmed?

  1. Use an SEO Plugin: For those using content management systems like WordPress, SEO plugins can simplify the process of adding “noindex” tags to pages.
  2. Hire a Professional: Sometimes, the best solution is to bring in an expert. An SEO professional or agency (*cough* Strottner Designs *cough*) can handle the technical details, allowing you to focus on running your business.
  3. Educate Yourself: While it’s challenging, learning the basics of SEO can empower you to make informed decisions about your website. There are plenty of online resources and courses designed to help small business owners understand SEO. This means that reading posts like this, and the rest of our SEO 101 series is a good first step.
  4. Automate Where Possible: Look for tools that can automate parts of the process. For instance, some site audit tools identify pages that should be “noindexed” and help you manage these tasks more efficiently.

Conclusion

Crazed man sharing conclusions

Understanding and implementing “noindex” tags and headers is a critical part of managing your website’s SEO. While it may seem daunting for small business owners, leveraging tools, seeking professional help, and educating yourself can make the process more manageable. By keeping non-essential pages out of search results, you can improve your site’s quality and focus your SEO efforts on the content that truly matters. Contact us at support@strottner.com to learn more! And definitely use the free audit tool on our homepage to see how your site is performing!

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