The unavailable_after meta tag is used to inform search engines like Google that a specific page should be removed from the search engine results after a certain date. This can be particularly useful for content with a limited lifespan, such as event pages or advertisements.
How unavailable_after Works
When you set the unavailable_after meta tag, you’re essentially telling search engines that the content on the page will no longer be relevant after the specified date. Here’s an example of how the tag is typically set in the HTML of a page:
Once the specified date (20 August 2024 in your example) has passed, Google will generally stop showing that page in its search results. Here are some key points to consider:
Removal from SERP: After the unavailable_after date, Google will no longer show the page in its search results. The removal is usually not instantaneous but happens shortly after the specified date as Google re-crawls and processes the page.
Continued Availability: The page will still be accessible via direct link unless you take additional steps to remove or redirect it on your site. The unavailable_after tag only affects its visibility in search results.
Effect on SEO: If you have many pages with this tag, it could lead to a reduction in the number of pages indexed by Google over time, which might affect your overall search visibility. Ensure that only genuinely time-sensitive content uses this tag.
Additional Considerations
Crawling and Indexing: The unavailable_after tag relies on Google re-crawling the page to detect the tag and process the removal. If a page is not frequently crawled, there might be a delay in its removal from the search results.
Alternative Methods: If you want to ensure that pages are no longer accessible or discoverable after a certain date, you might also consider implementing redirects or returning a 404 Not Found or 410 Gone status code after the advert’s expiry date.
Using the unavailable_after meta tag is an effective way to manage time-sensitive content on your site. After the specified date, Google will generally stop showing the page in its search results. Make sure to regularly review and manage these tags to ensure that only the appropriate content is affected and consider complementary strategies like redirects for a more comprehensive content lifecycle management.
The unavailable_after meta tag is used to inform search engines like Google that a specific page should be removed from the search engine results after a certain date. This can be particularly useful for content with a limited lifespan, such as event pages or advertisements.
How unavailable_after Works
When you set the unavailable_after meta tag, you’re essentially telling search engines that the content on the page will no longer be relevant after the specified date. Here’s an example of how the tag is typically set in the HTML of a page:
<meta name=”robots” content=”unavailable_after: 20-Aug-2024 00:00:00 GMT”>
Impact on Google Search Results
Once the specified date (20 August 2024 in your example) has passed, Google will generally stop showing that page in its search results. Here are some key points to consider:
Additional Considerations
Implementation Example
HTML Meta Tag:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang=”en”>
<head>
<meta charset=”UTF-8″>
<meta name=”viewport” content=”width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0″>
<meta name=”robots” content=”unavailable_after: 20-Aug-2024 00:00:00 GMT”>
<title>Advert Title</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Advert Title</h1>
<p>Advert details…</p>
</body>
</html>
Conclusion
Using the unavailable_after meta tag is an effective way to manage time-sensitive content on your site. After the specified date, Google will generally stop showing the page in its search results. Make sure to regularly review and manage these tags to ensure that only the appropriate content is affected and consider complementary strategies like redirects for a more comprehensive content lifecycle management.
Archives
Categories
Tags