Does hiding a blog page from the public by not posting a public link affect SEO, or will Google's web crawlers still find the articles if they are included on the site's XML?
Hiding a blog page from the public by not posting a public link does have implications for SEO. While it is true that Google's web crawlers can still find and index the articles if they are included on the site's XML sitemap, there are several factors to consider:
Indexability: When a page is not linked from any other page on the website, it becomes harder for search engines to find and index that page. While XML sitemaps are useful for telling search engines about the existence of pages, they do not guarantee indexing or ranking. Therefore, it is important to have internal links pointing to blog articles to facilitate their discovery by search engine crawlers.
Crawl Priority: Search engines, including Google, prioritize crawling and indexing pages that have more internal and external links pointing to them. By not linking to your blog page, you are signaling to search engines that this page may not be as important or relevant as other pages on your site. As a result, it may receive lower priority in terms of crawling and indexing.
User Experience: SEO is not just about search engine rankings; it also considers the user experience. By hiding your blog page from the public, you are potentially denying website visitors the chance to access and engage with your valuable blog content. This can impact the overall user experience and may discourage visitors from spending more time on your site.
To maximize the SEO benefits of your blog page, it is recommended to follow these best practices:
- Include internal links to your blog articles from other pages on your website, such as the homepage, category pages, or related blog posts.
- Create a dedicated blog section on your website that is easily accessible from the main navigation menu or footer.
- Optimize your blog articles for relevant keywords to enhance their visibility in search engine results.
- Share your blog articles on social media and actively promote them to encourage external linking and engagement.
Ultimately, while search engine crawlers can still find and index your blog articles if they are included in the XML sitemap, it is important to prioritize user experience and ensure your blog page is easily discoverable and accessible for both search engines and site visitors.
Additional Questions:
- How can I optimize my blog for SEO?
- What are the benefits of internal linking for SEO?
- Can I improve my website's SEO by promoting my blog on social media?
