Restrict Indexation in Multistore Website

[ahmed_chouihi]

I have multistore website .When I have done translation for one store , I have found that it is done on the other stores also. I want to make restring on indexing in the other stores . Tha canonical tag indicate the correct Google version but some content like images are shown in results . The question is how can I restrict indexing on one store Thanks in advance

[jamessmith4e6f]

To restrict indexing on one store of your multistore website, you can use various methods depending on your website platform and configuration. Here are a few general approaches you can consider:

1. Robots.txt file: You can use the robots.txt file to control search engine indexing. In the root directory of your website, create or modify the robots.txt file and specify directives to disallow indexing of specific URLs or directories for the store you want to restrict. For example:

User-agent: *
Disallow: /store1/

This will instruct search engines not to crawl and index the content under the /store1/ directory.

1. Meta tags: Another approach is to use meta tags in the HTML of your web pages. You can add the following meta tag to the pages of the store you want to restrict:

<meta name="robots" content="noindex">

This tells search engines not to index the page where this tag is placed.

1. HTTP header: You can also use HTTP headers to control indexing. Set the X-Robots-Tag header to noindex for the pages of the store you want to restrict. This can be done through server-side configuration or using plugins/extensions specific to your website platform.

2. Canonical tags: You mentioned that you are already using canonical tags to indicate the correct Google version. However, it's important to note that canonical tags primarily help with duplicate content issues rather than indexing restrictions. While they can guide search engines towards the preferred version, it doesn't guarantee that other versions won't be indexed. Using canonical tags alone may not fully prevent indexing of the restricted store.

It's recommended to implement a combination of these methods to ensure better control over indexing for the specific store you want to restrict. Additionally, regularly monitor your website's indexing status using tools like Google Search Console to identify and address any potential indexing issues.

[atlerbajniae35]

• Use Robots.txt: Block the unwanted store view directories in your robots.txt file so search engines don’t index them, similar to how you’d prevent mold from spreading by cutting off its growth source.

• Apply Meta Robots Tags: Add noindex, follow meta tags to the pages of the store you don’t want indexed.

• Set Proper Canonical Tags: Continue using canonical tags to point to the main store version, ensuring Google understands the preferred content.

• Leverage Hreflang Tags: Use hreflang tags for multilingual stores to signal the correct language and regional version.

• Block Parameters in Google Search Console: If duplicate URLs are generated, configure parameter handling in Google Search Console.

• Disallow Media Directories (Optional): If images are being indexed like mold from the restricted store, disallow image folders in robots.txt.

• Create Separate Sitemaps: Generate individual XML sitemaps per store and only submit the one you want indexed.

• Use Store-Specific Indexing Rules: Apply store-based rules (Magento, WooCommerce, etc.) to manage which storefronts are indexable.

• Consider Password Protecting Stores: If certain stores are for testing or internal use, apply HTTP authentication to block crawling.

• Check for Internal Linking: Avoid linking to the restricted store from the main store, as internal links signal Google to crawl it.

• Use Google Removals Tool: For already indexed URLs, use the “Remove URLs” tool in Search Console.

• Monitor with Site: Search: Regularly check with site:yourstore.com queries to confirm restricted stores and media (like images) are not appearing, much like you’d inspect a damp area for mold re-appearance.