SEO for a forum?

[Surgation]

Not posting link here - i'm not advertising it.

I basically run a private forum, it's not open to everyone - want it to be gated.

Just wondering how that would work with Google? We've allowed Google to index pages, but second someone comes in its all join up, or apply to join - rather than showing the content.

Unsure of the stance of that in Google!

 

[kamleshkumarf5]

Yes you have to allow Google to index pages and about someone if joins it's your wish you approve them or not ?

 

[awesomewebsites]

How old is the forum and what is currently traffic? That should itself give you an idea about how is google treating your web property so far.

 

[Surgation]

How old is the forum and what is currently traffic? That should itself give you an idea about how is google treating your web property so far.

I only released it 7 days ago - currently have about 20-30 indexed pages. Ranking top 10 for 3-4 keywords, but they're not great. 100 traffic max each. But just made this change - so guess i'll give it 7-14days to see if there is any immediate de-index

 

[Deleted member 1501362]

It will rank, just continue to make new posts and making the community engaged.

 

[blackbeans]

OP, you might get lower rankings due to 'thin content'

Google's loyalty is to its users and if searchers are frustrated by search results featuring your page, Google will take the side of its users.

Think about it: the link results on Google says they will find certain info but when they click, they are asked to join. UX is low.

Google's RankBrain update factors in low or bad UX count for ranking purposes.

 

[Surgation]

OP, you might get lower rankings due to 'thin content'

Google's loyalty is to its users and if searchers are frustrated by search results featuring your page, Google will take the side of its users.

Think about it: the link results on Google says they will find certain info but when they click, they are asked to join. UX is low.

Google's RankBrain update factors in low or bad UX count for ranking purposes.

This is really insightful thank you! I will rethink my joining process - completely escaped my mind that part haha!

 

[Ashk881]

Unsure of the stance of that in Google

That's basically cloaking but if you are doing it right it shouldn't make much of a difference.

You can make googlebot see all the content and put up a big JS modal for human users asking them to sign-up/login.

Tho, don't put the js modal up right away. Let the user scroll around and browse your site a bit, and then you can impose a loginwall.

Very typical of websites and I don't see Google penalising them.

 

[achiever2011]

I only released it 7 days ago - currently have about 20-30 indexed pages. Ranking top 10 for 3-4 keywords, but they're not great. 100 traffic max each. But just made this change - so guess i'll give it 7-14days to see if there is any immediate de-index

How you got all pages indexed in so less time ?

 

[xixenon]

create a main blog and rnak it
from the blog link to the forum for people to visit

 

[Surgation]

How you got all pages indexed in so less time ?

I pretty much straight away do a facebook ad campaign every website l launch - usually put a few links on quora etc. Usually that gets me indexed. I have a few unindexed pages, but got 6 clicks today lol rising slowly

 

[k2h2]

You should let some part of forum available to search engine and new members. If they like the content, they can pay and join paid membership.

 

[Surgation]

That's basically cloaking but if you are doing it right it shouldn't make much of a difference.

You can make googlebot see all the content and put up a big JS modal for human users asking them to sign-up/login.

Tho, don't put the js modal up right away. Let the user scroll around and browse your site a bit, and then you can impose a loginwall.

Very typical of websites and I don't see Google penalising them.

I've got a nice little section dedicated to that now I've got one of my developers working on the event timing! Thank you

create a main blog and rnak it
from the blog link to the forum for people to visit

Started a blog, having them have acess to it is good idea!

You should let some part of forum available to search engine and new members. If they like the content, they can pay and join paid membership.

So we have an event trigger now, literally pops up with a few nice reasons why - i didnt wanna spam them loads, so its short, sweet and friendly!

 

[Project Limitless]

I think you need to keep a lot of your content public. As much as you can. And the rest of the content you can hide and make it visible only to members when they sign up. No public content = no ranking on google. You'll then have to look for alternate sources of traffic.

 

[morebymaria]

It will rank, just continue to make new posts and making the community engaged.