No index tag: an unknown natural referencing tool
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In the universe of natural referencing, some tools can make all the difference. Among them, The no index tag (Noindex) is often unknown, even poorly used. However, it plays a crucial role in refining the SEO strategy of your site and ensuring better control over your content.
Whether you are a business manager or in charge of marketing, Understand the subtleties of this beacon will transform your approach online. So, ready to lift the veil on this mysterious no index?
What is the no index tag (Noindex)?
The no index tag is a small HTML code which gives a clear instruction to the search engines: Do not index a specific page. This means that this page will not be displayed in the results of engines like Google, Bing or others.
In other words, it remains accessible to users with the link, but invisible to the general public sailing via search engines.
This tag is used for strategic reasons:
- protect sensitive pages,
- avoid diluting the SEO potential of a site,
- Or manage obsolete pages.
Thanks to this feature, we keep an increased control over what we want to make public or confidential on the web.
Concrete example
Imagine that you have a test page or an old expired promotion. Rather than letting it pollute your results, you can apply an index. Clever, right?
To go further, know that the No index tag is often combined with other attributes such as “no follow” for even more precision in pages management.
Why use no index in SEO?
Avoid duplicated content
Duplicated content is a scourge for SEO strategies.
Google does not appreciate that the same information is present on several pages, because it complicates its classification work.
Using no index on pages that use the same content or nearby versions (such as pages produced with variants), you protect your site from potential SEO sanctions.
Offer better referencing of strategic pages
Each page indexed by Google consumes a share of your Crawl budget.
By limiting indexing to strategic pages – those that generate traffic or conversions – you focus the efforts of search engines on what really matters.
This boosts the visibility and overall efficiency of your site.
Protect sensitive information
Some pages simply should not appear in the search results.
Think of a connection page, a customer area or a payment form. With no index, these pages remain accessible to your users but invisible for search engines, thus avoiding safety problems or navigation errors.
Manage the pages temporarily unnecessary
When you set up seasonal campaigns or pages of temporary events, you can use no index to remove them from SERP (results pages) once they are no longer relevant, while preserving their content for future use.
When not to use the no index tag?
Ah, big question! Do not abuse this tag as we abuse chocolatines (or chocolate breads, depending on your camp).
On strategic pages
Pages that generate organic traffic, conversions or leads must be indexed. A NO index error here could literally sabotage your SEO strategy.
If the page receives a lot of backlinks
A page with many incoming links loses its SEO potential if it is in no index. These backlinks will not benefit your site and the “SEO juice” will be wasted.
Without controlling your redirects
Before removing the indexing of a page, make sure it is not the main entry point for your users. Also check that it redirects properly if it is required to disappear.
After understanding the essential importance of the no index tag in your SEO strategy, let’s move on to the practical aspect: How to integrate it into one of your web pages ?
Via the file robots.txt
Add the following line to your Robots.TXT file to prevent search engines from indexing a page:
User-agent: *
Disallow: /votre-page-a-ne-pas-indexer/This allows you to overall control which pages should not be crawled or indexed.
Directly in the HTML code
Place this tag in the header of your page:
This method is ideal for fine management of the pages not to be indexed.
From your CMS (WordPress, for example)
With plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math, you can easily activate No index in one click on the parameters of the page concerned. Practical for non-technicians.
Use Google Search Console
You can ask Google to quickly unheed a page via the URL deletion tool. This solution is particularly useful for sensitive or obsolete pages.
Can we de-referencing an already indexed page?
Yes ! Once the no index tag applied, you have to wait until Google robots will pass.
To speed up the process, use the Google Search Console URL deletion tool.
No index delete a page?
No, the page remains accessible via its URL, but it does not appear in the search results.
To delete it: it must be deleted!
What is the difference between no index and no follow?
No index prevents search engines from indexing the page, while no follow prohibits them from following the links on this page.
These two tags can be combined for optimal control.
Can no index impact global referencing?
Yes, if you apply no index on strategic pages or poorly manage your redirects, you may dilute the impact of your site in the search results.
Addition: Integrate indexnow to optimize the cover
If the beacon No‑Index allows you to control the indexing of your pages, the protocol Indexnow Complete this arsenal by instantly informing the search engines of modifications (creation, update, deletion) of your URLs.
Concretely:
- When to use it? After a significant modification (new article, significant content change, deleted file), send an indexnow request to accelerate its taking into account.
- What frequency? Limit notifications to relevant updates so as not to overload your site or search engines.
- How to activate it? The protocol automatically integrates with certain CMS (such as Wix or Duda) or via dedicated WordPress plugins. A simple click allows you to activate the sending of new products to Indexnow.
This approach ensures better SEO reactivity: while the No -Index tag prevents indexing, Indexnow guarantees that the URL concerned is immediately taken into account (or removed) by the engines, without waiting for the natural passage of robots.
To conclude on the no index tag (Noindex)
The No index tag is a powerful tool to refine your SEO strategy.
It allows:
- to protect your sensitive pages,
- to optimize your Crawl budget,
- and avoid duplicated content.
However, it must be used with discernment. Bad application can have negative consequences on your global referencing.
At Dashmalav, we help you better understand and use SEO tools to maximize the visibility of your site. Need a helping hand to optimize your strategy? Contact us and move on together!
