Disavow Subdomain In Robots: A Step-by-Step Guide
Table of Contents :
Disavowing a subdomain in robots.txt is an essential step for website owners who want to control how search engines interact with their site. Properly managing your robots.txt file can help ensure that specific subdomains are either crawled or ignored by search engine bots. In this guide, we will explore the step-by-step process of disavowing a subdomain and discuss its importance in SEO management. 🚀
Understanding Robots.txt
What is Robots.txt? 🤔
The robots.txt file is a simple text file that tells search engine crawlers which pages or sections of your site they can or cannot crawl. This file is a part of the robots exclusion protocol and acts as a directive for search engines like Google, Bing, and others.
Why Use Robots.txt? 🛠️
There are several reasons why website owners choose to use robots.txt:
- Control Crawling: You can manage what search engines index on your site.
- Prevent Duplicate Content: Disallowing certain sections helps mitigate duplicate content issues.
- Save Crawl Budget: By blocking low-value pages, you help search engines focus on important content.
Importance of Disavowing a Subdomain
Disavowing a subdomain means instructing search engines not to crawl it. This can be crucial for various reasons:
- Content Quality: If the subdomain contains low-quality or irrelevant content, disavowing it can protect your site's overall SEO health.
- Niche Specificity: For businesses with multiple subdomains, focusing search engine attention on the most relevant ones can enhance visibility.
- User Experience: Directing users and search engines to more pertinent content can improve overall site engagement.
Step-by-Step Guide to Disavow a Subdomain in Robots.txt
Step 1: Identify the Subdomain to Disavow
Before making any changes, it’s important to decide which subdomain you want to disavow. A subdomain is a unique section of your website that can have its own content, which is usually formatted as subdomain.yourwebsite.com.
Step 2: Access Your Robots.txt File
To edit the robots.txt file:
- Use FTP/SFTP: Connect to your website using an FTP client and navigate to the root directory (usually
public_html). - Web Hosting Control Panel: Log into your hosting account and use the file manager to locate your robots.txt file.
- CMS (Content Management System): If you are using a CMS like WordPress, you might need a specific plugin to edit the robots.txt file directly.
Step 3: Edit the Robots.txt File
Open the robots.txt file with a text editor and add the following lines to disallow the subdomain. For instance, to disallow subdomain.yourwebsite.com, you would write:
User-agent: *
Disallow: / # Disallow everything from the subdomain
If you want to disallow only specific paths or files on the subdomain, your entry might look like this:
User-agent: *
Disallow: /path/ # Disallow a specific path
Step 4: Save Changes
Once you’ve made the necessary edits, save the file. Ensure that it is saved in plain text format and uploaded back to the root directory of your site.
Step 5: Verify Your Robots.txt File
After saving the file, it’s crucial to verify that your robots.txt file is working correctly:
- Use Google Search Console: You can check your robots.txt file directly in the Google Search Console to confirm that the disallow directives are correctly interpreted by Google.
- Access Directly: You can also view your robots.txt file directly by visiting
https://yourwebsite.com/robots.txtin your web browser.
Step 6: Monitor Your Site’s Performance 📊
After disavowing the subdomain, monitor your website's performance. Check for changes in:
- Crawl Errors: Look at Google Search Console for any crawl errors or issues related to the disallowed subdomain.
- Traffic Changes: Analyze site traffic to determine if disavowing the subdomain has had a positive impact on your overall SEO.
Important Notes
Remember that changes in the robots.txt file may take some time to reflect in search engine indexing. Be patient and monitor your changes over weeks.
Potential Pitfalls to Avoid
While disavowing a subdomain can be beneficial, there are potential pitfalls you should consider:
- Blocking Important Content: Ensure that you're not accidentally disallowing high-value content that should be indexed.
- Crawling Issues: If your main domain heavily relies on the subdomain for content, you may face crawling issues.
Best Practices for Managing Robots.txt
- Keep it Simple: Only include directives you truly need.
- Regular Updates: Review your robots.txt file regularly to ensure it reflects your current strategy.
- Test Before Implementing: Use tools to test the directives before finalizing your changes.
Conclusion
Disavowing a subdomain in your robots.txt file is an essential technique for managing your website's SEO effectively. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can control which parts of your site are indexed by search engines and improve the overall quality of your site. Remember to monitor your site's performance after making changes to ensure that your SEO efforts are successful. Happy optimizing! 🌟