do you have an archive ?

**Brandon Sheley** · 08-06-2007, 08:37 PM

I have all our archive threads set to redirect to the real thread.
I'm thinking about closing the archive down all together to get the bots to focus on the actual threads and forums. What do you think ?
I don't see any results in google for our keywords that are pulling from the archive

08-06-2007, 08:56 PM

I don't have a archive, and don't plan on using one when I get vBSEO either. It just seems like it could be looked at as duplicate content and hurt you maybe? I'm sure its debatable, but I just don't use it in case.

**Yogesh Sarkar** · 08-09-2007, 11:31 AM

I have archives enabled in my forums, but links to thread are redirected to the actual threads. So it should help search engine bots find threads, especially older ones since they are listed first in the archives.

**OS Master** · 08-09-2007, 02:06 PM

Yeah, I also have archive links redirected to the thread. It should help search engine ratings while not having duplicate content.

**Big Dan** · 08-10-2007, 02:07 AM

My DJ board had the archives enabled. My newest board, the coffee lounge, I've turned it off on.

Once my new board catches up with my DJ forum in members and activity, I'm going to compare the indexing of the two across all search engines.

I think the archive dilutes your natural index (showthread.php)

**MaestroX** · 08-10-2007, 03:11 AM

I always turn my archives off. I never did see the point in them. They don't enchance the user experience and they don't help search engines.

**OS Master** · 08-10-2007, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaestroX

I always turn my archives off. I never did see the point in them. They don't enchance the user experience and they don't help search engines.

Well vBulletin certainly think it does help. I see the archive as being SEO-friendly, as all the extra stuff is removed. But to avoid the problem of duplicate content I made links redirect to the regular pages.

08-10-2007, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaestroX

I always turn my archives off. I never did see the point in them. They don't enchance the user experience and they don't help search engines.

I agree with the user experience. Some users will see the archived links when they click from a search engine and its just black and white with a tonnnn of text and could get thrown off and leave much easier than if they visit your actual designed site.

**Caddyman** · 08-10-2007, 06:31 AM

1. would turning it off help me get out of supplemental

2. how do i turn it off (i have zoints seo running)

**MaestroX** · 08-10-2007, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Well vBulletin certainly think it does help. I see the archive as being SEO-friendly, as all the extra stuff is removed. But to avoid the problem of duplicate content I made links redirect to the regular pages.

If you've got a sitemap, then there is no need to help search engines find your content.