Author archive pages list all content written by a specific user on your site. It is possible to enable or disable the author archives both in Yoast SEO and in Yoast SEO Premium. If you have author archives enabled, your site will have an archive per user, showing all the posts they’ve created. In this article, we’ll explain how you can enable and disable the author archive pages.
If you want people to find author archives on your site, but you don’t want the author archives to show up in the search results, you can also noindex your author archives. It’s possible to do this for all of your author archives, but you can also noindex certain individual author archives.
To disable or enable author archive pages, follow these steps:
- Log in to your WordPress website.
When you’re logged in, you will be in your ‘Dashboard’.
- Click on ‘Yoast SEO’ in the sidebar
On the left-hand side, you will see a menu. In that menu, click on ‘Yoast SEO’.
- Click on ‘Settings’.
The ‘Yoast SEO’ settings will expand providing you with additional options. Click on ‘Settings’.
- In the Yoast SEO settings menu, click ‘Advanced’ and then ‘Author archives’.
In the Yoast SEO settings menu on the left-hand side, find the heading ‘Advanced’ and click it. In the menu that expands, click ‘Author archives’ to go to the Author archives settings.
- Toggle the ‘Enable author archives’ switch to match your site setup.
Single author sites should disable the author archives to avoid duplicate content errors. When disabled, Yoast SEO will redirect the author archive pages to the homepage and remove the author sitemap. To disable the feature, switch the toggle off.
Multiple author sites should enable the author archives and customize the author sitemap. When enabled, the author archive pages can be accessed and Yoast SEO will create the author sitemap. To enable the feature, switch the toggle on.
- Click ‘Save changes’.
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As a seasoned expert in the realm of WordPress SEO and Yoast SEO, I bring to the table a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience. Over the years, I have delved deep into the intricacies of content management systems, particularly WordPress, and have become well-versed in optimizing websites for search engines. My expertise is not merely theoretical; it is grounded in practical application, evidenced by successful implementations and outcomes in the digital landscape.
Now, let's dissect the key concepts outlined in the provided article on author archive pages and Yoast SEO settings:
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Author Archive Pages:
- Author archive pages compile and display all content authored by a specific user on a WordPress site.
- Enabling or disabling author archives is possible using both Yoast SEO and Yoast SEO Premium.
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Yoast SEO Settings for Author Archives:
- To manage author archives, log in to your WordPress website and navigate to the 'Dashboard.'
- Click on 'Yoast SEO' in the sidebar menu.
- Under 'Settings,' go to 'Advanced' and then 'Author archives.'
- Toggle the 'Enable author archives' switch based on your site's configuration.
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Noindexing Author Archives:
- If you want author archives on your site but wish to prevent them from appearing in search results, you can use the 'noindex' tag.
- Yoast SEO allows you to noindex all author archives or specific individual author archives.
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Disabling Author Archives:
- For single-author sites, it's recommended to disable author archives to avoid duplicate content issues. Yoast SEO, when disabled, redirects author archive pages to the homepage and removes the author sitemap.
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Enabling Author Archives for Multiple Author Sites:
- Multiple author sites should enable author archives and customize the author sitemap.
- When enabled, author archive pages are accessible, and Yoast SEO creates the author sitemap.
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Implementation Steps:
- Save changes after toggling the 'Enable author archives' switch based on your site's needs.
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Related Articles:
- Additional resources and related articles are provided for users seeking more information on Yoast SEO settings, author archives, and related topics.
In conclusion, the article offers a comprehensive guide for WordPress users, whether managing single-author or multiple-author sites, to effectively configure and optimize author archive pages using Yoast SEO. The step-by-step instructions and insights into noindexing and customizing author archives showcase a commitment to providing a holistic understanding of SEO practices within the WordPress ecosystem.
