Robots content noindex

[assemblytube]

I have been trying to work out how to improve the SEO on my forum.
When I view Page Source in Chrome I see in the page headers

<meta name="robots" content="noindex" />

My understanding is that this would prevent the page being indexed.
Why is this appearing?

There is this code

Code Select Expand

// Please don't index these Mr Robot.
if (!empty($context['robot_no_index']))
echo '
<meta name="robots" content="noindex" />';
This code is in the default theme index.template.php file which I guess is where the code is inserted from into each forum page.

Will robots be prevented from indexing my pages? Should I try to remove this <meta name="robots" content="noindex" /> in some way?

I am using Optimus Brave mod and Pretty Urls. I use SimplePortal on SMF 2.0.13.

I am not sure if this <meta name="robots" content="noindex" /> has always been there because I have never looked before. Does every SMF forum page have this added?

Can anyone advise me please on whether or how I can remove this code, or if I need to?
Thank you.

[Arantor]

You should not attempt to change this.

Some pages should not be indexed.

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

As you see, the code has an if statement, that will only appear on pages that are better not indexed. As Arantor said, better not change it.

[njtweb]

I have been trying to work out how to improve the SEO on my forum.
When I view Page Source in Chrome I see in the page headers

<meta name="robots" content="noindex" />

My understanding is that this would prevent the page being indexed.
Why is this appearing?

There is this code

Code Select Expand

// Please don't index these Mr Robot.
if (!empty($context['robot_no_index']))
echo '
<meta name="robots" content="noindex" />';
This code is in the default theme index.template.php file which I guess is where the code is inserted from into each forum page.

Will robots be prevented from indexing my pages? Should I try to remove this <meta name="robots" content="noindex" /> in some way?

I am using Optimus Brave mod and Pretty Urls. I use SimplePortal on SMF 2.0.13.

I am not sure if this <meta name="robots" content="noindex" /> has always been there because I have never looked before. Does every SMF forum page have this added?

Can anyone advise me please on whether or how I can remove this code, or if I need to?
Thank you.

Don't change anything if you don't know what you're doing. It takes about 2-3 months to get a new site indexed and your placement in Google results is contingent on popularity and unique content. In short, don't expect to find your site in top ranking results any time soon, if ever.


-edit - fixed bad quote/answer format

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

Also, as has been often mentioned, there really is not much more you can do in terms of SEO for SMF really, other than get popularity and quality content