Hiding bbpress pages in membership site from Google

[ClaireM]

I have a successful bbpress installation with S2 Member - it works great.

However, when I do a search in Google for my website (checking wording, links, etc) the members and groups pages of bbpress show up. When one clicks through they are able to access these bbpress pages in the membership site. The site is locked down after that - clicking further takes the user to the membership options page. However, I would prefer that these pages not show up in a Google search. I have the following in "URIS requiring level 1 or higher:"

/activity/
/groups/
/forums/
/members/
/profile/
/messages/

Should this not protect those pages, from Google and from click through from Google? I don't do any coding but have set this site up entirely by myself. I love how S2 Member works, with this only exception.

Thanks for any replies.

[rossagrant]

As far as I know S2member does nothing with site SEO, to stop Gogle from seeing your BBPress pages.

I would install the SEO plugin 'SEO For Wordpress' from Yoast and then set your BBPress pages within Yoast to 'no_index'. That means the pages tell the search bots not to index those pages of your site.

Not quite sure how BBPress interacts with Yoast's plugin, but it would be worth dropping them a mail, as I'm sure it could do what you need it to.

Hope that helps a little at least!

http://yoast.com/articles/wordpress-seo/

[ClaireM]

Wow I really like this plugin. The only problem is, bbpress pages don't show up anywhere that I can find them? I see where I can make this option on normal pages though (I was using All-in-one SEO pack, similar plugin).

Thanks for the advice though, I appreciate it. I will message them at Yoast.

[Cristián Lávaque]

Well, if the page is restricted from non-logged in users, then it shouldn't be served to the search engine bot either.

Are those pages that you don't want in Google, viewable by someone not logged in? If they are when they shouldn't, then you have to fix your restrictions so they aren't. Then Google won't have access to them either.

Having them not be indexed, won't stop someone that finds the URL from opening the page, the no-index only stops Google from indexing it, doesn't restrict someone from opening the page.

I hope that helps.

[ClaireM]

What is the best way to restict buddypress pages (groups, members, activity, etc.) from non-logged in users using S2member? Currently these pages come up in a Google search, and then can be clicked through to so you can see all the members in my S2 protected website. If you click on a member name, then it takes you to the membership options page so the person cannot see the protected content. They can only see a list of members and groups (and I want these to be protected so only logged in members can see this information).

Thanks!

[Cristián Lávaque]

Have you tried using URI restriction to protect the members list page? WP Admin -> s2Member -> Restriction Options -> URI

[ClaireM]

Yes. Please see my first post which explains how I have that set up. Have I done it correctly?

"I have the following in "URIS requiring level 1 or higher:

/activity/
/groups/
/forums/
/members/
/profile/
/messages/"

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[Cristián Lávaque]

Sorry for missing that, sometimes I forget the beginning of a thread after reading so many.

Please follow this other thread, since it's about this same problem: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=15284

I emailed Jason about that thread, so he may reply there soon with a solution that helps you as well.