Google officers confirmed on X (previously Twitter) that there’s no strategy to block content material from showing in Google Uncover, regardless of the flexibility to take action for Google Information.
The dialog was initiated by Lily Ray, who raised considerations a few frequent problem the place sure content material will not be appropriate for Google Information or Uncover however performs nicely in natural search outcomes.
Ray states:
“We have now skilled many conditions with writer purchasers the place it will be useful to stop some content material from being crawled/listed particularly for Google Information & Uncover.
Nevertheless, this content material typically performs extremely nicely in natural search, so it’s not a good suggestion to noindex it throughout the board.
This content material typically falls within the gray space of what’s forbidden in Google’s Information & Uncover tips, however nonetheless drives huge web optimization site visitors. We have now seen that having an excessive amount of of this content material seems to be detrimental to Uncover efficiency over time.
Outdoors of your tips for SafeSearch – has Google thought-about a mechanism to stop particular person pages from being thought-about for Information/Uncover?”
Google’s Response
In response to Ray’s query, Google’s Search Liaison pointed to existing methods for blocking content material from Google Information.
Nevertheless, upon checking with John Mueller of Google’s Search Relations workforce, the Liaison confirmed these strategies don’t lengthen to Google Uncover.
The Search Liaison acknowledged:
“John [Mueller] and I pinged, and we’re fairly certain there’s not an possibility to simply block content material from Uncover.”
Recognizing the potential worth of such a characteristic, he added:
“That would appear helpful, so we’ll cross it on.”
John and I pinged, and we’re fairly certain there’s not an possibility to simply block content material from Uncover. That would appear helpful, so we’ll cross it on.
— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) July 15, 2024
What Does This Imply?
This admission from Google highlights a niche in publishers’ skill to regulate how Google crawls their content material.
Whereas instruments exist to handle content material crawling for Google Information and natural search outcomes, the dearth of comparable controls for Uncover presents a problem.
Google’s Search Liaison suggests there’s potential for extra granular controls, although there aren’t any instant plans to introduce content material blocking options for Uncover.
Featured Picture: Informa Plus/Shutterstock
