Pistonheads and search engines
Discussion
Pistonheads' Gassing Station is very search-engine friendly and is extensively indexed by Google and the other search engines.
However, this is a bit of a two-edged sword. It has enabled us to fall back to Google when PH's own search engine has been up the creek (ie. invariably until recently) but it has caused us no end of grief, eg. the BRAKE fiasco and, more personally, somebody Googling for their website / product name and finding a thread I started in PH entitled "Worst website in the world?" as the top of the rankings. Ooops.
The reason that spiders can index the whole Gassing Station is that you don't have to log on as a member in order to view a thread. This holds true for lurkers as well, of course.
So, given the above, would it be desirable to exclude the whole Gassing Station from search engines via robots.txt and also make it that you have to log on to read threads like a great many other fora already do?
As I said, it's a two-edged sword and there are arguments for and against on both sides - I'm just interesting in seeing what other people think.
However, this is a bit of a two-edged sword. It has enabled us to fall back to Google when PH's own search engine has been up the creek (ie. invariably until recently) but it has caused us no end of grief, eg. the BRAKE fiasco and, more personally, somebody Googling for their website / product name and finding a thread I started in PH entitled "Worst website in the world?" as the top of the rankings. Ooops.
The reason that spiders can index the whole Gassing Station is that you don't have to log on as a member in order to view a thread. This holds true for lurkers as well, of course.
So, given the above, would it be desirable to exclude the whole Gassing Station from search engines via robots.txt and also make it that you have to log on to read threads like a great many other fora already do?
As I said, it's a two-edged sword and there are arguments for and against on both sides - I'm just interesting in seeing what other people think.
I'd say a super duper extra bout of "no".
Many people find PistonHeads by searching for something; be it a TVR part number, an insurance quote, whatever it may be. To exclude that source of new users for, ultimately, no gain I would say is not worthwhile.
Interesting discussion, though, and this is merely my point of view (does not reflect the management's etc. etc
)
Many people find PistonHeads by searching for something; be it a TVR part number, an insurance quote, whatever it may be. To exclude that source of new users for, ultimately, no gain I would say is not worthwhile.
Interesting discussion, though, and this is merely my point of view (does not reflect the management's etc. etc
)Justayellowbadge said:
Out of interest, and as you mentioned it, what was the BRAKE fiasco?
See http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=8004Edited by JonRB on Tuesday 21st August 11:06
Justayellowbadge said:
Out of interest, and as you mentioned it, what was the BRAKE fiasco?
Wasn't that a nice simple discussion on SP&L that descended into general abuse about that Margaret woman in charge of BRAKE, which they picked up on and publicised in the national press?I found PH after doing a search on scamera & NIP law, after being done by a hidden Gatso. Been here four years now, had lots of fun, and never did get points...
Jon, I saw your report, and whilst I understand your point, it's not really down to yourself to make the call. I moved the thread simply because its a Website Feedback topic.
Tony hit the nail on the head in his reply, it's in PH's interest to be public, and members will need to audit their own actions accordingly because of this.
You comments have been noted however and we appreciate them.
Tony hit the nail on the head in his reply, it's in PH's interest to be public, and members will need to audit their own actions accordingly because of this.
You comments have been noted however and we appreciate them.
neil_bolton said:
it's not really down to yourself to make the call. I moved the thread simply because its a Website Feedback topic.
I wasn't making a call, Neil, I was making a request. 
neil_bolton said:
Tony hit the nail on the head in his reply, it's in PH's interest to be public, and members will need to audit their own actions accordingly because of this.
A fair point, and I was going to comment on Tony's post originally and say that but didn't want to dominate the thread before it started. Having said that, I'm not sure it is in PH's interest for the bollocks talked in the P&P to be public and googled
- perhaps that should be hidden? 
Edited by JonRB on Tuesday 21st August 12:03
JonRB said:
neil_bolton said:
it's not really down to yourself to make the call. I moved the thread simply because its a Website Feedback topic.
I wasn't making a call, Neil, I was making a request. neil_bolton said:
Tony hit the nail on the head in his reply, it's in PH's interest to be public, and members will need to audit their own actions accordingly because of this.
A fair point, and I was going to comment on Tony's post originally and say that but didn't want to dominate the thread before it started. Having said that, I'm not sure it is in PH's interest for the bollocks talked in the P&P to be public and googled
- perhaps that should be hidden? Edited by JonRB on Tuesday 21st August 12:03
I'm not in a position to comment on these sorts of matters, but I'd hazard, however grating it is to us and the PH management, any increase in traffic due to increased prescense on the web can only be a good thing really.
Whether it attracts the good kind or the bad kind is another matter, but I'd hazard that PH Towers have to keep the top brass happy with some impressive slideshows, and increased traffic is always a good one to show
tigger1 said:
And what's happened to the worlds worst website thread? Can't find it on google!
Yeah where has that gotten to?Was the the one with the 5mb picture on the first page? Which after about 20 views exceeded the bandwidth for the month.
And as for BRAKE. I didn't see the thread, but the website seems like they are arseholes.
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