You hold more power than you think on search engine bots. Robots.txt allows you to tell search engines like Google which pages should be indexed and which should not.
It’s simple and yet hard to manage; one wrong link in robots.txt and the bot can have access to the private page, for example, cart, payment, notes, drives, and private gallery pages.
It’s essential for you to understand how robots.txt works and how you can take advantage of its features.
This article will highlight the best practices, common problems, and their solutions. So, let’s get started.
A. What is robots.txt?
The robots.txt file is normally located in your website’s root directory, and it is what provides instructions for the search engine crawlers, like GoogleBot.
Using “Allow” and “Disallow” directives, you can easily control which pages the crawlers can access and index.
Despite its extensive features, robots.txt frequently contains quite uncomplicated material, and a basic file can be created in seconds using a simple text editor such as Notepad.
Furthermore, you have the option to include additional messaging for users to encounter. While robots.txt is a standard strategy for achieving particular aims, there are other approaches that work similarly.
Individual pages, for example, can use the robots meta tag in their HTML code to control how search engines crawl them.
Furthermore, the X-Robots-Tag HTTP header provides another way to influence how information is shown (or if it appears at all) in search results.
B. Why is robots.txt SEO so Important for Your Website?
The business you run requires a variety of files and features to market your content, products, and services and attract your target audience to your website.
To reach your target audience, the first step is to rank on the top page of SERPs, and Google bots crawl your site to analyze index and ranking.
And, according to Google, search engine bots are like “good citizens” of the web, with the only responsibility of exploring web pages online without affecting the quality of experience for your intended users.
C. 8 Common robots.txt Mistakes
If your website acts oddly in search results, check your robots.txt file for errors, such as syntax mistakes and rules that are too broad.
Let’s examine each mistake in detail and learn how to ensure your robots.txt file is correct.
1. Robots.txt Not in Root Directory
The robots.txt file must be in your website’s main folder for search robots to find it.
Ensure that only a forward slash separates your website’s domain (example.com/robot.txt) and the ‘robots.txt’ filename in the URL.
If there’s a subfolder, the robots.txt file may not be visible to search robots, and your website might ignore it.
To fix this, move your robots.txt file to the main folder. Note that this requires root access to your server.
Some content management systems may default to uploading files to a “media” subdirectory, so you may need to override this to place your robots.txt file correctly.
2. Robots.txt: Noindex
This is more common on older web pages.
As of September 1, 2019, Google no longer enforces noindex rules in robots.txt files.
If your robots.txt file was generated before that date or contains noindex instructions, you will most likely see those pages indexed in Google search results.
This problem can be solved by implementing an alternate “noindex” method.
The robot meta tag is one way to prevent Google from crawling any webpage.
2. Inappropriate Use of Wildcards
Robots.txt allows two wildcard characters:
An asterisk (*) – denotes any instance of a legal character, such as a Joker in a deck of cards.
The dollar symbol ($) – represents the end of a URL, allowing you to apply rules solely to the last part of the URL, such as the filetype extension.
It’s best to use wildcards sparingly because they have the potential to restrict access to a much larger area of your website.
It’s also extremely simple to prohibit robot access to your entire site with a poorly placed asterisk.
To check that your wildcard rules work as expected, run them via a robots.txt test. When using wildcards, exercise caution to avoid mistakenly blocking or allowing too much.
2. No XML Sitemap URL
This is mostly concerned with search engine optimization.
You can include the URL to your XML sitemap in your robots.txt file.
Because this is the first location Googlebot checks while crawling your website, it gets a head start on understanding the structure and main pages.
While this is not strictly a mistake because omitting a sitemap should not have a detrimental impact on the basic functionality and presentation of your website in search results, it is still important to add your sitemap URL to robots.txt if you want to increase your SEO efforts.
2. The use of absolute URLs
While using absolute URLs in canonical and hreflang is generally recommended, the opposite is true for URLs in robots.txt.
The preferred method for specifying which parts of a site crawlers should not visit is to use relative paths in the robots.txt file.
This is explained in Google’s robots.txt file, which states:
When you utilize an absolute URL, you have no guarantee that crawlers will interpret it correctly or that the disallow/allow rule will be obeyed.
D. Best Practices for Robots.txt Files
Now that you understand the basics of robots.txt files let’s discuss some best practices to ensure your file functions effectively:
1. Use a New Line for Each Directive
It’s important to use a new line for each directive when adding rules to your robots.txt file. This clarity helps avoid confusion for search engine crawlers.
This applies to both the Allow and Disallow rules. For instance, to disallow web crawlers from accessing your blog and contact page, use separate lines for each rule:
Disallow: /blog/Disallow: /contact/2. Use Wildcards to Simplify Instructions
If you need to block many pages, using individual rules for each can be tedious. Instead, utilize wildcards to simplify instructions.
Wildcards, like the asterisk (*), represent one or more characters. For example, to block all files ending in .jpg, use:
Disallow: /*.jpg3. Use “$” to Specify the End of a URL
The dollar sign ($) is another wildcard that specifies the end of a URL. This is useful if you want to block a specific page without affecting those that come after it.
For instance, to block the contact page but not pages like contact-success, use:
Disallow: /contact$E. Summarizing robot.txt SEO Best Practices
Mastering the intricacies of robots.txt files is a cornerstone of effective SEO management. Adhering to best practices empowers website owners to dictate how search engines navigate and index their content, ensuring optimal visibility for pertinent pages while safeguarding sensitive or irrelevant material.
Implementing guidelines such as using new lines for each directive and leveraging wildcards for efficient rule-setting, webmasters can enhance their site’s search engine performance.
Nonetheless, vigilance against common pitfalls like misplacement or syntax errors is paramount.
Through informed and proactive robots.txt management, businesses can elevate their SEO strategies, bolster their online presence, and, ultimately, drive meaningful traffic and engagement.
Suggested read: Common SEO Pagination Issues And How To Easily Fix Them
F. Common FAQs on robot.txt SEO
Why is it critical to prevent common errors in robots.txt files?
Common faults, such as misplacement or syntax problems, might unintentionally reduce a website’s search engine exposure by preventing access to important pages or parts. Avoiding these issues ensures the best indexing and ranking performance.
Does every website need a robots.txt file?
While not required, having a robots.txt file is recommended for most websites since it gives control over how search engines interact with the site’s content, allowing for more effective SEO management.
How often should I examine and update the robots.txt file?
It is recommended that you examine and update your robots.txt file on a regular basis, especially after making significant changes to the structure or content of your website, to ensure that it is consistent with current SEO aims and recommendations.
What resources are available to help troubleshoot robots.txt issues?
Online tools and tutorials, as well as expert SEO services, can help you troubleshoot robots.txt issues. Furthermore, consulting search engine documentation and community forums might yield useful insights and answers.
