Secret Setting in Blogger That Google Doesn't Want You to Miss!

How to Enable Custom robots Header tags

If you are using Blogger to host your blog or website, you're already taking advantage of Google's free and simple platform.

But did you know that there is a mighty secret setting in Blogger that can make your SEO rankings soar and make search engines better understand your site?

We're discussing the "Custom Robots Header Tags" and Meta Tags settings — hidden SEO weapons that most newcomers ignore.

Here in this article, you will learn:

• What are these settings

• Why are they important

• Step-by-step guide to how to enable and set them correctly

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Pro tips and visual aids

 

What Are Custom Robots Header Tags?

The Custom Robots Header Tags enable you to dictate how search engine spiders such as Googlebot crawl and present your content. Configured correctly, they instruct search engines:

1. Whether to index a page.

2. Whether to follow links on a page.

3. Whether to display snippets, cache the page, or use image previews.

This degree of control can avoid duplicate content, enhance applicable indexing, and maintain your SEO clean and efficient.

Why Are They Important?

Enabling and appropriately setting up these tags can:

Enhance your search engine visibility

Prevent duplicate content penalties

Manage which pages are shown in search results

Enhance crawl efficiency by blocking low-value pages

How to Enable Custom Robots Header Tags in Blogger: Step-by-Step: 

Step 1: Log In to Blogger

https://www.blogger.com

Sign in using your Google account.

Image Idea: Screenshot of the Blogger dashboard homepage

Step 2: Open Settings

From your Blogger Dashboard, choose the blog that you are going to set up.

In the left-hand menu, click "Settings."

Bring out the "Settings" menu in the Blogger dashboard

Step 3: Turn on Search Preferences

Scroll down to "Crawlers and indexing."

Click "Enable custom robots.txt?" → Toggle "ON"

Click "Enable custom robots." → Toggle "ON"

Illustrate toggles being turned ON under Crawlers and Indexing

Step 4: Set Robots.txt File (Optional but Highly Recommended)

This file instructs search engines how to spider your site.

Example robots.txt:

User-agent: *

Disallow: /search

Allow: /

Sitemap: https://yourblogname.blogspot.com/sitemap.xml

Put in your actual blog URL instead of yourblogname

This configuration excludes label pages from being indexed (which are normally duplicate content)

Step 5: Set Custom Robots Header Tags

Click "Custom Robots Header Tags" to bring up a new popup. Now set the tags as below:

For Homepage:

✅ All

---

✅ noodp (optional)

---

For Archive and Search Pages:

✅ noindex

---

✅ noarchive

---

✅ noodp

---

For Posts and Pages:

✅ all

---

✅ noodp

---

What the Tags Mean:

all: Permits everything (indexing + following links)

---

noindex: Disallows page from being indexed

---

noarchive: Disallows Google from displaying a cached version

---

Noodp: Prohibits using Open Directory data, which is no longer widely used.

---

nofollow: Disallows search engines from following links on the page

How to Write Meta Tags in Blogger

Meta tags assist in describing your content to search engines and motivating users to click through.

Step-by-Step:

Navigate to Settings > Meta tags

Toggle ON "Enable search description"

Add a brief, keyword-filled description (150–160 characters)

✅ Example:

 "Learn how to improve your Blogger SEO by discovering hidden settings such as custom robots tags, meta descriptions, and more."

Bonus: Search Description Optimize Posts

While composing a blog post, glance at the right sidebar

Click on "Search Description"

Enter a fresh, keyword-filled snippet for the post

Blogger SEO Best Practices

• Utilize custom robots.txt and header tags.

• Write meta descriptions for every post in advance.

• Utilize SEO-friendly URLs and titles.

• Compress images and include ALT tags.

• Do not post low-quality or duplicate content.

• Internally link to related posts.

FAQs Regarding Blogger SEO Settings

❓ Q1: What if I screw up my robots header tags?

A: Google may unintentionally block your website. Double-check settings at all times, and never apply noindex to your homepage or key posts.

❓ Q2: Do I have to be a coder to implement these settings?

A: Not at all! Blogger has an easy-to-use interface, so you can apply everything through checkboxes and input fields.

❓ Q3: Are these settings permanent?

A: No. The Settings menu allows you to modify or reverse them whenever you want.

❓ Q4: Will this improve my SEO immediately?

A: These settings set the foundation for SEO. Combine them with quality content, backlinks, and correct keyword usage for long-term gain.

Final Thoughts

Blogger is a very powerful platform, but too many miss out on its complete SEO benefits simply because they don't notice these "secret" settings. By allowing Custom Robots Header Tags, correctly applying Meta Tags, and organizing your content with SEO, you're giving your blog a massive boost.

Don't let these secret settings remain hidden from you! Uncover them today and start noticing real improvements in your search engine placement.