When searching Google for something specific. The results that are on my forums don't show up in the search results.
Its like it when we search with the search function on our site.
Robot.exe is stopping or blocking the results?
google indexing is being restricted.
We have added tags etc in the settings we can access. But still our members are frustrated when they are looking for a certain topic and can't find it using the search bar or google search.
Im sure this is also stopping us getting new members because we aren't being found on google when they search for aomething that we have covered..
Our site is www.gtir-motorsport-club.com
Any help or advice would be greatly recieved.

Thank you.

Hi @pulsar_stu,

I performed some searches with the bar on your forum and it appears to be working when I type in specific keywords.


Are these specific keywords that are not working, or newly created topics ? Sometimes it may take a bit of time before new topics are indexed by google.

Its when we are looking for older posts. For example one member wanted to find out how to wire in a rear foglight lastnight. When he searched nothing came up.
Even though he knew we had covered the subject a few times over the years. He couldnt find it with the search function.
New posts dont come up also. But if you say it may take some time for google to pick it up we will wait and see.
Because we have some of our forums set to members viewing only. Would that stop our google searches finding older posts and threads?
Thankyou for having a look earlier.

Hello,

Yes that is possible, I believe Google can ONLY index topics in forums that guests can see and read. Any topics in sections set to anything else, Google would not be able to see any topics within.

-Brandon

Thankyou for your help :-)

Is this solved?

-Brandon

The best way to think about search engines is that they are considered guests by your forums.  Because of this, they can only index for guests can see.