Accessible URLs

Password Protected Content

One final consideration for allowing search engines to access a site is to understand that content that is password protected will not be indexed.  This applies to whether individual content items are protected (e.g., articles) or whether the entire site is only accessible via password.  If the door is closed to the public it is most likely closed to search engines. 

Sites whose business model restricts access to some or all content but still want search engines to locate information, should consider offering non-restricted access to summaries or abstracts of password-protected materials.  For instance, the site can make available to the general public the title of restricted content along with some additional details, such as the first paragraph of written material.  In this way search engines are exposed to a portion of the content which is better than not having access at all.