Custom Robots Header Tags Guide for Blog SEO
A comprehensive bilingual guide to custom robots header tags in Blogger, including all, noindex, nofollow, none, noarchive, nosnippet, noodp, notranslate, noimageindex, and unavailable_after, with best-practice SEO setups and implementation examples.
how to enable custom robots header tags in Blogger, best robots meta tags settings for Blog, difference between noindex and nofollow on Blog, when to use noarchive tag in Blog, set unavailable_after meta tag for limited-time content
Custom Robots Header Tags
Custom robots header tags give you page‑level control over how search engines crawl, index, and display your content.
In Blog, enabling “custom robots header tags” lets you apply precise directives such as all, noindex, nofollow, none, noarchive, nosnippet, noodp, notranslate, noimageindex, and unavailable_after.
If you want to master how to enable custom robots header tags in Blog and choose the best robots meta tags settings for Blog without risking traffic, this guide explains best practices and advanced use‑cases in a clear, practical way.
What Are Custom Robots Header Tags in Blogger
Robots tags are instructions to crawlers about indexing and following links, and they differ from robots.txt because they work at the page level.
In Blogger, these controls can be set from the dashboard or added as meta tags in the HTML. For example, you can index important content while excluding thin or private pages.
Understanding the difference between noindex and nofollow on Blogger is essential to avoid accidentally hiding high‑value pages.
Use page‑specific directives to align crawl behavior with your SEO strategy.
When to Use all, noindex, nofollow, and none
The directive all allows indexing and link following and is the default for most public content.
Use noindex for pages that should not appear in search, such as internal thank‑you pages or duplicate archives, while still allowing links on the page to pass equity if you do not add nofollow.
Apply nofollow when you do not want crawlers to follow outbound links, such as untrusted user‑generated content.
The combined none equals noindex,nofollow and is suitable for pages you want hidden and non‑influential in link graphs.
<!-- Allow indexing and link following (typical for public posts) -->
<meta name="robots" content="all">
<!-- Do not index, but still allow link equity to flow (omit nofollow) -->
<meta name="robots" content="noindex">
<!-- Do not index and do not follow links -->
<meta name="robots" content="none">Control Snippets, Caches, and Images with meta robots
Display control matters as much as indexing.
Use noarchive to prevent cached copies of sensitive or frequently changing pages from appearing in search results.
Apply nosnippet to hide text snippets or rich results, useful for paywalled or compliance‑bound content.
Deploy noimageindex on pages where you need to block image indexing, especially for licensed or proprietary visuals.
These settings help protect brand, pricing, and compliance while preserving essential visibility for the page itself when indexing is allowed.
<!-- Block cache and snippet, but still index the page -->
<meta name="robots" content="noarchive,nosnippet">
<!-- Allow page indexing, but block image indexing -->
<meta name="googlebot" content="noimageindex">Language and Translation: notranslate and localization
The notranslate directive asks search engines not to auto‑offer translation, which can be helpful for legally sensitive wording, branding, or languages already served via your own localized versions.
Combine notranslate with proper hreflang and content negotiation to provide the right version to the right audience.
If you rely on search‑provided translation for discovery, avoid notranslate; otherwise, use it to keep messaging consistent and ensure users reach official localized pages rather than machine‑translated approximations.
<meta name="googlebot" content="notranslate">Set temporary expiry with unavailable_after correctly
For time‑sensitive content, unavailable_after lets you remove a page from search after a date, perfect for limited‑time offers, event pages, or legal notices that must disappear.
Implement it via an HTTP header or meta robots where supported.
This is ideal when you want indexing initially, then a scheduled removal without manual intervention, aligning with set unavailable_after meta tag for limited-time content best practices and reducing the risk of outdated information lingering in results.
# HTTP response header example (server level)
X-Robots-Tag: unavailable_after: 25 Jun 2026 15:00:00 PST
# Or target a specific crawler (e.g., Googlebot)
X-Robots-Tag: googlebot: unavailable_after: 25 Jun 2026 15:00:00 PSTConfigure Blogger custom robots header tags step by step
In Blogger, go to Settings → Crawlers and indexing → Enable custom robots header tags. Configure three areas: Homepage, Archive and search pages, and Post and pages.
A common setup is: Homepage all, optionally noarchive; Archive/search noindex,follow to avoid duplicate listings while passing link equity; Posts/pages all by default.
Then selectively apply nosnippet, noimageindex, or notranslate where policy demands. This aligns crawl behavior with clean architecture and avoids dilution.
<!-- Example meta for archive/search templates -->
<meta name="robots" content="noindex,follow">
<!-- Example meta for homepage if you do not want cached versions -->
<meta name="robots" content="all,noarchive">Test, audit, and avoid common indexing mistakes
Always test changes using a tag assistant or inspection tool before publishing.
The most frequent errors include applying noindex globally to templates, combining nosnippet with structured data you expect to show, and using nofollow on internal navigation which can hinder discovery.
Keep a changelog of robots directives and regularly audit templates.
If traffic drops unexpectedly, search for inadvertently introduced noindex or none directives in headers and meta tags across critical pages.
Advanced: X-Robots-Tag headers for files and images
Use X-Robots-Tag in HTTP headers when you need to control indexing for non‑HTML assets like PDFs, images, or feeds. For example, apply noindex to a PDF while allowing the HTML summary page to rank.
You can also target specific crawlers, such as googlebot or bingbot, and combine with unavailable_after for timed de‑indexing.
This approach complements meta tags and gives you precise control beyond the page template layer in Blogger.
# Block indexing for a downloadable PDF (server header)
X-Robots-Tag: noindex
# Allow following links inside the document preview, but noindex it
X-Robots-Tag: noindex, followEthical SEO and user-first implementation guidance
Robots controls are powerful; use them to improve clarity, compliance, and user trust—not to cloak or manipulate. Avoid hiding essential content from users while showing different versions to crawlers.
Document why each directive exists, especially nosnippet, noarchive, and notranslate, which affect how users perceive your snippets and accessibility.
Consistency, transparent intent, and periodic reviews will keep your best robots meta tags settings for Blogger aligned with both search engine guidelines and audience needs.
Search‑intent long‑tail keywords integrated in context:
how to enable custom robots header tags in Blog, best robots meta tags settings for Blog, difference between noindex and nofollow on Blog, when to use noarchive tag in Blog, set unavailable_after meta tag for limited-time content.
