Google PSA: Don't Add Noindex Directives In Your Body Content

Jun 18, 2015 - 8:28 am 2 by

do not enterGary Illyes from Google posted a PSA (public service announcement) on Google+ warning webmasters not to have noindex directives in their body content because many search engines will see read them and not index the content on that page.

Gary said on Google+:

Please be mindful with noindex directives and remember that most search engines will honour it, even if it's in the BODY element.

Check your includes, make sure you're not injecting in the DOM a noindex directive! I found the easiest way to do this is with the Chrome Dev tools: open it up on the page you want to check, hit Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F for those who like fruity flavours), and then type noindex. Nothing found? Great! If you find something like this: <META NAME="ROBOTS" CONTENT="NOINDEX, NOFOLLOW">

So please don't do this.

Hopefully this blog post will get indexed by Google. ;-)

Forum discussion at Google+.

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Search Video Recaps

 
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Search Video Recaps

Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Volatility Check, AI Mode Expands Big Time, ChatGPT Sends Less Traffic & SPN Ad Reporting

Aug 22, 2025 - 8:01 am
Google

Google Retailer Panel Deals & Loyalty Benefits & Shopping Ads Discount Codes

Aug 22, 2025 - 7:51 am
Google

Google Discover Publisher Entity Pages With Follow, Social & Latest Posts

Aug 22, 2025 - 7:41 am
Google Ads

Google Ads Continues Testing X Visits In Past Month Label

Aug 22, 2025 - 7:31 am
Google

Google Tests Moving Follow Button Within Knowledge Panel Menu

Aug 22, 2025 - 7:21 am
Other Search Engines

Google On Good Web Crawler Attributes

Aug 22, 2025 - 7:11 am
Previous Story: Google Core Algorithm Change: Not Panda, Not Penguin & Not HTTPS