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        4. Yoast SEO Plugin: To Index or Not to index Categories?

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        Yoast SEO Plugin: To Index or Not to index Categories?

        Intermediate & Advanced SEO
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        • webestate
          webestate last edited by

          Taking a poll out there......In most cases would you want to index or NOT index your category pages using the Yoast SEO plugin?

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • webestate
            webestate @DaveMri last edited by

            Thanks Dave!

            Here are my settings:

            Categories - noindex, follow

            Tags - noindex, follow

            Format - noindex, follow

            Author Archives - noindex, follow and disable author archives

            Date Archives - noindex, follow and disable the date-based archives

            Media - noindex, follow

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • webestate
              webestate @irvingw last edited by

              HI Irving,

              The Yoast default doesn't have anything checked making everything indexable and their tutorials don't do a very good job at helping people set it up correctly.

              It's interesting to know all the differing opinions on what you should have indexed or not indexed.

              Here are the settings I have:

              Categories - noindex, follow

              Tags - noindex, follow

              Format - noindex, follow

              Author Archives - noindex, follow and disable author archives

              Date Archives - noindex, follow and disable the date-based archives

              Media - noindex, follow

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • DaveMri
                DaveMri last edited by

                Noindex is the way to go for category pages. I also don't let G index tags and archives.

                webestate 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • irvingw
                  irvingw last edited by

                  yes noindex,follow category and tag pages. It's the Yoast default setting i believe. 😉

                  webestate 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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