Freemius

Pagup

Sajjad Ali

Better Robots.txt generates a virtual robots.txt for WordPress, enhancing your website’s SEO (indexation capabilities, Google ranking, etc.) and its loading performance. Our plugin is compatible with Yoast SEO, Rank Math, Google Merchant, WooCommerce, and directory-based network sites (MULTISITE) and features now (2023) exclusive Artificial Intelligence (OpenAI) optimization settings for greater performance.
With Better Robots.txt, you can specify which search engines are permitted to crawl your website and provide clear directives about their allowed activities. You can also set a crawl-delay to shield your hosting server from aggressive scrapers. Better Robots.txt empowers you with complete control over your WordPress robots.txt content through the custom setting box.
Minimize <a href="https://better-robots.com/how-to-save-the-planet-with-your-website/" rel="nofollow ugc">your site’s ecological footprint and the production of greenhouse gas</a> (CO2) associated with its online presence.
According to ChatGPT (OpenAI), the robots.txt produced by the PRO version of Better-Robots.txt is the most sophisticated and comprehensive available on the WEB for a WordPress site.
A quick overview:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="How to optimize Better robots.txt Plugin (WordPress)" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/306589027?dnt=1&app_id=122963" width="750" height="422" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write"></iframe>
SUPPORTED IN 7 LANGUAGES
Better Robots.txt plugins are available and translated into the following languages: Chinese –汉语/漢語, English, French – Français, Russian –Руссɤɢɣ, Portuguese – Português, Spanish – Español, German – Deutsch.
Did you know that…
<ul>
<li>The robots.txt file is a straightforward text file positioned on your web server that instructs web crawlers (like Googlebot) on whether they should access a file or not.</li>
<li>The robots.txt file governs how search engine spiders perceive and engage with your web pages;</li>
<li>This file and the bots it communicates with, are integral components of how search engines operate;</li>
<li>The initial thing a search engine crawler examines when it visits a page is the robots.txt file;</li>
</ul>
The robots.txt is a reservoir of SEO potential that’s ready to be tapped into. Give Better Robots.txt a try!
About the Pro version (additional features):
1. Enhance your content visibility on search engines with your sitemap!
Ensure your pages, articles, and products, even the most recent ones, are recognized by search engines!
The Better Robots.txt plugin is designed to integrate with the Yoast SEO plugin and Rank Math (arguably the best SEO Plugin for WordPress websites). It will automatically detect if you are using Yoast SEO / Rank Math and if the sitemap feature is enabled. If so, it will automatically add instructions to the Robots.txt file directing bots/crawlers to review your sitemap for recent changes on your website (allowing search engines to crawl any new content).
If you wish to add your own sitemap (or if you are using a different SEO plugin), you simply need to copy and paste your Sitemap URL, and Better Robots.txt will incorporate it into your WordPress Robots.txt.
2. Safeguard your data and content
Prevent harmful bots from scraping your website and exploiting your data.
The Better Robots.txt plugin assists in blocking most common malicious bots from crawling and scraping your data.
There are both beneficial and harmful bots that crawl your site. Beneficial bots, like Google bot, crawl your site to index it for search engines. However, others crawl your site for more malicious reasons such as repurposing your content (text, price, etc.) for republishing, downloading entire archives of your site, or extracting your images. Some bots have even been reported to crash entire websites due to excessive bandwidth usage.
The Better Robots.txt plugin shields your website against spiders/scrapers identified as harmful bots by Distil Networks.
3. Conceal & safeguard your backlinks
Prevent competitors from discovering your profitable backlinks.
Backlinks, also known as “inbound links” or “incoming links,” are created when one website links to another. The link to an external website is called a backlink. Backlinks are particularly valuable for SEO as they signify a “vote of confidence” from one site to another. Essentially, backlinks to your website signal to search engines that others endorse your content.
If numerous sites link to the same webpage or website, search engines can deduce that the content is link-worthy, and therefore worth displaying on a SERP. Thus, earning these backlinks can positively impact a site’s ranking position or search visibility. In the SEM industry, it’s common for specialists to identify the sources of these backlinks (competitors) to select the best ones and generate high-quality backlinks for their own clients.
Given that creating highly profitable backlinks for a company is time-consuming (time + energy + budget), allowing your competitors to identify and replicate them so easily is a significant loss of efficiency.
Better Robots.txt aids in blocking all SEO crawlers (aHref, Majestic, Semrush) to keep your backlinks hidden.
4. Prevent Spam Backlinks
Bots that populate your website’s comment forms with messages like ‘great article,’ ‘love the info,’ ‘hope you can elaborate more on the topic soon’ or even personalized comments, including the author’s name, are widespread. Spambots are becoming increasingly sophisticated over time, and unfortunately, comment spam links can seriously damage your backlink profile.
Better Robots.txt assists in preventing these comments from being indexed by search engines.
5. Artificial Intelligence at the service of Robots.txt
In 2023, we added a robots.txt optimization feature based on OpenAI’s (ChatGPT) recommendations for any WordPress site. These settings maximize the efficiency of robots.txt for search engines to streamline the crawling of a website. More improvements are on the way…
In 2023, ChatGPT 4, after auditing several million robots.txt files available on the WEB, assessed that the robots.txt deployed by the PRO version of the Better-Robots.txt plugin was the most advanced, comprehensive, and sophisticated configuration currently available for WordPress environments. A point of pride for our team!
6. SEO Tools
In the process of enhancing our plugin, we’ve incorporated shortcut links to two crucial tools for those concerned about their search engine rankings: Google Search Console & Bing Webmaster Tool. If you’re not already utilizing them, you can now manage your website’s indexing while optimizing your robots.txt! We’ve also provided direct access to a Mass Ping tool, enabling you to ping your links on over 70 search engines.
Additionally, we’ve created four shortcut links to some of the best Online SEO Tools, directly accessible through Better Robots.txt SEO PRO. This means you can now check your site’s loading performance, analyze your SEO score, identify your current SERP rankings with keywords & traffic, and even scan your entire website for dead links (404, 503 errors, etc.) directly from the plugin.
7. Stand Out
We thought we could add a unique touch to Better Robots.txt by introducing a feature that lets you “customize” your WordPress robots.txt with your own distinctive “signature.” Many major companies worldwide have personalized their robots.txt by adding proverbs (https://www.yelp.com/robots.txt), slogans (https://www.youtube.com/robots.txt), or even drawings (https://store.nike.com/robots.txt – at the bottom). Why not do the same? That’s why we’ve dedicated a specific area on the settings page where you can write or draw anything you want (really) without affecting your robots.txt efficiency.
8. Prevent Crawling of Redundant WooCommerce Links
We’ve introduced a unique feature that blocks specific links (“add-to-cart”, “orderby”, “filter”, cart, account, checkout, etc.) from being crawled by search engines. Most of these links demand a significant amount of CPU, memory & bandwidth usage (on the hosting server) as they are not cacheable and/or create “infinite” crawling loops (while they are unnecessary).
By optimizing your WordPress robots.txt for WooCommerce when running an online store, you can allocate more processing power to the pages that truly matter and enhance your loading performance.
9. Dodge Crawler Traps
“Crawler traps” are structural issues within a website that lead crawlers to discover a virtually infinite number of irrelevant URLs. In theory, crawlers could get stuck in one part of a website and never finish crawling these irrelevant URLs.
Better Robots.txt aids in preventing crawler traps, which can harm crawl budget and result in duplicate content.
10. Growth Hacking Tools
Today’s fastest-growing companies, including Amazon, Airbnb, and Facebook, have all achieved breakout growth by aligning their teams around a high-velocity testing/learning process. This is referred to as Growth Hacking. Growth hacking is a process of rapidly experimenting with and implementing marketing and promotional strategies that are solely focused on efficient and rapid business growth. Better Robots.txt provides a list of over 150+ tools available online to propel your growth.
11. Robots.txt Post Meta Box for Manual Exclusions
This Post Meta Box allows you to manually set if a page should be visible (or not) on search engines by injecting a dedicated “disallow” + “noindex” rule inside your WordPress robots.txt. Why is this beneficial for your ranking on search engines? Simply because some pages are not meant to be crawled/indexed.
Thank you pages, landing pages, pages containing exclusively forms are useful for visitors but not for crawlers, and you don’t need them to be visible on search engines. Also, some pages containing dynamic calendars (for online booking) should NEVER be accessible to crawlers because they tend to trap them into infinite crawling loops which directly impacts your crawl budget (and your ranking).
12. Ads.txt & App-ads.txt Crawlability
To ensure that ads.txt & app-ads.txt can be crawled by search engines, the Better Robots.txt plugin ensures they are by default allowed in the Robots.txt file regardless of your configuration. For your information, Authorized Digital Sellers for Web, or ads.txt, is an IAB initiative to improve transparency in programmatic advertising.
You can create your own ads.txt files to identify who is authorized to sell your inventory. The files are publicly available and crawlable by exchanges, Supply-Side Platforms (SSP), and other buyers and third-party vendors. Authorized Sellers for Apps, or app-ads.txt, is an extension to the Authorized Digital Sellers standard. It expands compatibility to support ads shown in mobile apps.
More enhancements are always on the way…

AI-Ready & LLM-Optimized WordPress Robots.txt (+ Sitemaps) – Boost SEO, Traffic & AI Rankings

All-in-One SEO plugin for Wordpress Robots.txt optimization with XML Sitemap detection (Yoast, Rank Math, ...), Woocommerce booster, Robots.

aleemiqbal

The Crawl Optimization Plugin is designed to help optimize your website’s crawl rate by removing unnecessary links and information from your HTTP headers. By removing elements such as shortlinks, REST API links, RSD/WLW links, oEmbed links, generator tags, and X-Pingback headers, this plugin streamlines the navigation of your website and reduces the amount of data transferred. Additionally, it also removes the “powered by” HTTP header which reveals the software and plugins used on your website, keeping your site more secure. With the Crawl Optimization Plugin SEO plugin, your website will load faster and be more easily navigated by search engines, improving your overall SEO.
<h3>Features</h3>
<ul>
<li>Helps optimize your website’s crawl rate by removing unnecessary links and information from your HTTP headers.</li>
<li>Deactivates elements such as shortlinks, REST API links, RSD/WLW links, oEmbed links, generator tags, and X-Pingback headers to streamline website navigation and reduce the amount of data transferred.</li>
<li>Removes the “powered by” HTTP header to keep your website more secure.</li>
<li>Improves website loading speed by reducing unnecessary data transfer and streamlining navigation.</li>
<li>Enhances website SEO by making it more easily navigable by search engines.</li>
</ul>
Remove Unnecessary Metadata: 
WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) used to create websites. One of the features of WordPress is that it adds several links and metadata to a website’s HTTP headers. While these links and metadata may be helpful in certain situations, they can also slow down a website’s performance by increasing the amount of data that needs to be transferred. To improve website performance, it may be necessary to remove unnecessary metadata from a WordPress site.
The “Remove Unnecessary Metadata” section in WordPress focuses on deactivating elements that are not required on a website, including the following sub-features:
Deactivate WordPress’ HTTP headers: This feature disables unnecessary hyperlinks and metadata that are added by WordPress. By deactivating these elements, you can reduce the amount of data that is transferred between the website and the user’s device, which can improve website performance.
Remove WordPress Generator Tag: WordPress adds a generator tag to a website’s HTML code, which references the CMS or plugins used on the website. This information can be useful for developers but is not necessary for website visitors. Removing the generator tag can improve website performance and also make it harder for attackers to identify vulnerabilities in the website’s software.
Remove Shortlinks Tag: WordPress adds hyperlinks to its internal ‘shortlink’ URLs for posts. While these links can be helpful for navigation within a website, they are not necessary for external visitors. Removing these links can streamline website navigation and improve website performance.
Remove REST API link Tag: WordPress adds hyperlinks to the location of a site’s REST API endpoints. This feature removes the REST API link tag, which is not necessary for most websites.
Remove RSD / WLW link Tags: WordPress adds references for external systems to publish content on the blog by adding associated hyperlinks. This feature removes the RSD / WLW link tags, which are not necessary for most websites.
Remove oEmbed link Tags: WordPress adds references for embedding content on external websites by adding associated hyperlinks. This feature removes oEmbed link tags, which are not necessary for most websites.
Remove Pingback HTTP header: WordPress allows external websites to ping a site when linked to by adding a pingback HTTP header. While this feature may be useful in some situations, it is not necessary for most websites. Removing the pingback HTTP header can improve website performance and also reduce the risk of security vulnerabilities.
Remove powered by HTTP header: WordPress adds a “powered by” HTTP header that displays information about plugins and software used on the website. While this information may be helpful for developers, it is not necessary for website visitors. Removing the “powered by” HTTP header can improve website performance and also make it harder for attackers to identify vulnerabilities in the website’s software.
Remove Unnecessary Feed Links: 
This section of optimization settings in WordPress focuses on removing unnecessary feed links from a website. WordPress disseminates website content in various formats and URLs, including RSS feeds for posts and categories. However, deactivating unused formats is considered best practice as it helps reduce the amount of data transferred, which can help to speed up a website.
Deactivate Global Feed: This feature removes URLs that provide an overview of recent posts. Global feeds are usually included in the website’s header or footer, and they offer users an easy way to view recent posts from anywhere on the site.
Deactivate Global Comment Feeds: This feature removes URLs that provide an overview of recent comments on the website. Comment feeds are used to syndicate comments from a particular post or page.
Deactivate Post Comments Feeds: This feature removes URLs that supply details about recent comments on each post. Post comment feeds are used to syndicate comments on a particular post.
Deactivate Post Authors Feeds: This feature removes URLs that furnish information about recent posts by certain authors. This feed is useful for readers who are interested in reading posts written by a particular author.
Deactivate Post Type Feeds: This feature removes URLs that supply details about recent posts for every post type. This feed is useful for readers who are interested in reading posts from a specific post type, such as a custom post type.
Deactivate Category Feeds: This feature removes URLs that furnish information about recent posts for each category. This feed is useful for readers who are interested in reading posts from a specific category.
Deactivate Tag Feeds: This feature removes URLs that provide information about recent posts for each tag. This feed is useful for readers who are interested in reading posts that have a particular tag.
Deactivate Custom Taxonomy Feeds: This feature removes URLs that supply details about recent posts for every custom taxonomy. Custom taxonomy feeds are used to syndicate posts that have been assigned to a custom taxonomy term.
Deactivate Search Results Feeds: This feature removes URLs that furnish information about search results. This feed is useful for readers who want to keep track of search results for a particular keyword or phrase.
Deactivate Atom/RDF Feeds: This feature removes URLs that offer alternate versions of the above-mentioned items in Atom or RDF formats.
Remove Unnecessary WordPress Resources 
The feature “Remove Unnecessary WordPress Resources” is designed to improve the performance of WordPress websites by removing unnecessary resources that are not required for the website to function properly.
Remove Emoji scripts: 
Remove Emoji scripts feature removes unnecessary JavaScript used to handle emojis in outdated browsers.
Optimize Internal Site Search 
This feature secures your internal site search to prevent confusion for search engines and potential attacks from SEO spammers, which is important for the overall performance and security of your website. Even if your website does not have a search feature, it is recommended to implement these measures for optimal performance.
Filter Spam Search terms: This feature enables advanced settings for protecting your internal site search URLs from SPAM attacks.
Limit the number of characters allowed in internal site searches: This feature implements a character limit for internal site search queries to improve security and organization of URLs. The suggested range is between 1 and 50.
Remove special characters and emojis from internal site search queries: This feature removes non-alphanumeric characters from internal site searches to prevent spam attacks.
Block internal site searches that contain patterns commonly used by spammers: This feature prevents spam attacks on internal site searches by filtering out common spam patterns.
Standardize Site Search URLs with ?s= Syntax Redirection: This feature standardizes WordPress site search URLs by redirecting all variations to the ?s= format.
Parameters Optimization 
This feature optimizes certain URL parameters to prevent them from being removed during website operation. This can be beneficial for tracking, filtering, and advanced functionality, but it also has a potential impact on website performance and search engine optimization. Websites that do not use URL parameters may see an improvement by utilizing these options.
Optimize Google Analytics by converting utm parameters: This feature converts utm tracking parameters to # fragment versions with a 301 redirect.
Remove all URL parameters through a 301 redirect: This feature removes unnecessary query parameters from URLs through a permanent redirect.
Additional URL parameters to allow: This feature prevents specific URL parameters from being removed. For example, adding example_parameter will prevent the URL from being redirected. Multiple parameters can be added and separated using a comma.
<h3>Need any Help?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Please email us at aleemiqbalbhatti@gmail.com</li>
<li>We provide live support</li>
</ul>
<h3>V 1.0.0</h3>
<ul>
<li>Initial release at 02/16/2023</li>
</ul>
<h3>V 1.1.0</h3>
<ul>
<li>Enabling Redirect removes references of feeds</li>
<li>Redirect all parameters option is now disabled for non supported themes and builders</li>
</ul>
<h3>V 1.1.1</h3>
<ul>
<li>Redirect all parameters will no longer work with woocommerce</li>
</ul>
<h3>V 1.1.2</h3>
<ul>
<li>Added Settings Link on plugins page</li>
</ul>
<h3>V 1.1.3</h3>
<ul>
<li>Jquery Conflict causing editors to crash fixed</li>
</ul>
<h3>V 1.1.4</h3>
<ul>
<li>Emoji Filter and spam filter now also remove from url</li>
</ul>
<h3>V 1.1.5</h3>
<ul>
<li>Feed Bugs Resolved and More Secure</li>
</ul>
<h3>V 1.1.6</h3>
<ul>
<li>Removed Feed due to instability and it could cause SEO Issues</li>
</ul>
<h3>V 1.2.0</h3>
<ul>
<li>Plugin Completely Revamped by including more Features</li>
<li>Shortlinks Redirect also removed</li>
<li>API Redirect Link Removed</li>
<li>Feeds completed revamped</li>
<li>Feeds are no longer created from scratch, Existing Feeds are removed</li>
<li>Filter Search Terms Option Added</li>
<li>Feeds now redirect after disabling</li>
<li>Remove all URL Parameters is now compatible with editors</li>
<li>Option to Additional URL Parameters to allow added</li>
<li>Jquery Removed</li>
</ul>
<h3>V 1.2.1</h3>
<ul>
<li>Security Update</li>
</ul>
<h3>V 1.2.2</h3>
<ul>
<li>Search Character Limit Bug Fixed</li>
</ul>
<h3>V 1.2.3</h3>
<ul>
<li>Function Fixed</li>
</ul>
<h3>V 1.2.4</h3>
<ul>
<li>Search Redirect Issue Resolved</li>
</ul>
<h3>V 1.2.5</h3>
<ul>
<li>Fatal Error Fixed</li>
</ul>

Crawl Optimization

The Crawl Optimization Plugin is designed to help optimize your website’s crawl rate by removing unnecessary links and information from your HTTP head …

AI-Ready & LLM-Optimized WordPress Robots.txt (+ Sitemaps) – Boost SEO, Traffic & AI Rankings vs Crawl Optimization