When I make an index page for an image folder I make it a page with a link to the main index of the site. Something to the effect: "There are no visitor accessible pages in this folder. Please visit [ link to index page ]" It is a complete page. Head, body, everything. On 08/03/2015 04:46 AM, JFlorian via wrote: > I'm revisiting this topic mainly because I want to understand how Google > and other bots handle the use of /images/index.htm > > After a lot of reading, I think it isn't good to use "404" for these, as > content is there but just sort of off limits. > > > If you read this web entry, at least some website designers use indexes in > image folders. > http://www.os-templates.com/documentation/why-are-empty-index-files-in-folders > > The above website designer refer to these under the webpage code HTTP 403. > Wikipedia says: > "A web server <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_server> may return a *403 > Forbidden* HTTP status code > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_HTTP_status_codes> in response to a > request from a client for a web page or resource to indicate that the > server can be reached and understood the request, but refuses to take any > further action. Status code 403 responses are the result of the web server > being configured to deny access, for some reason, to the requested resource > by the client." > > They have different 403s that can be used, but I don't understand all the > nuances. > > > My site uses a ton of newspaper and original images. They are being > harvested and put onto icky webpages. For example, labeling a file as > girls frilly dress or two boys is likely to end up on a s*x site. > Submitters aren't happy about that. I'm tired of appealing to host > companies to remove my content. And if it is overseas, tough luck. > > Another reason is my belief that all jpgs don't all need separately indexed > as images for Search; using them on a page is visible enough. I use > descriptive text H2, descriptive text page titles, and fully worded text > links. So the topic and image can be found on the page where the image is > used. > > My confusion is if I have an /image/index.html and indicate in the Title > Meta tag "403" will Google still index the images for my site, OR is > indexing not needed since most of the images are linked to their pages? > Will it keep the jpgs from appearing in Google Images? What are the pros > and cons to this? > > I ran Xenu tonight and it could not "switch into" the image directories > where I used index.htm. Good because it shows they are working. But again > what about the regular indexing of images by bots when the image is on a > page? e.g. will those index as content, just not leave the images > directory door wide open? (see example of a directory without an index.htm > on > http://www.os-templates.com/documentation/why-are-empty-index-files-in-folders > ) > > > Ralph alluded to creating problems if I use these index "doors". What > kinds of problems? Can you be more specific? > > Does anyone know what SEO and SEO practices says about using the 403 > designation as image directory "(restricted) doors"? > > Judy > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > -- A cat is a puzzle with no solution. Cats are tiny little women in fur coats. When you get all full of yourself try giving orders to a cat. _ _... ..._ _ _._ ._ ..... ._.. ... .._

Yes, Billie, I'm talking about using a complete page: Meta Head, Body, Content with message directing visitors back to Main Index or Search. It is the same as my site design. To be a tiny bit unique, I wrote 4 short genealogy humor items and randomly assigned 1 of those 4 to these pages. The 4 humor items are in includes so I can change them if I want. On others of these, I used an image of our city with the message that they are in the right place, and directing them to Main Index or Search. But back to the questions, what are the pros and cons of using index.htm on image folders? Of using specifically an "HTTP 403" on image/index.htm ? What effects does it have on crawling? on indexing, specifically, will it keep images out of Google Images? If it keeps them out of Google Images, what effect (if any) does it have on pages that use those images? And is there any SEO effect, good or bad? Judy