So, you’ve started a blog on Blogger or WordPress, but you’re not quite ready to share it with the world just yet.
Maybe you’re still working on the design, or you simply want to keep it private for a select group of people.
Whatever the reason, I’m here to help you hide your blog from public view. Let’s dive in!
1. Adjusting Privacy Settings
The first step is to adjust the privacy settings of your blog platform. In both Blogger and WordPress, you have the option to make your blog private, so only authorized individuals can access it.
In Blogger, go to the “Settings” tab, then click on “Basic.” Look for the “Permissions” section and select “Only blog authors” under “Blog Readers.” This will ensure that only you and other blog authors can view the content.
In WordPress, navigate to the “Settings” menu and click on “Reading.” Look for the “Site Visibility” section and check the box next to “Discourage search engines from indexing this site.” This will prevent search engines from indexing your blog, effectively keeping it hidden from the public.
2. Password Protection
If you want an extra layer of security, you can password protect your blog.
This means that even if someone stumbles upon your blog, they won’t be able to access the content without the password.
In Blogger, go to the “Settings” tab, then click on “Basic.” Look for the “Permissions” section and select “Only blog authors” under “Blog Readers.” Then, enable the “Blog Readers” option and set a password for your blog.
In WordPress, you can use a plugin like “Password Protected” to add password protection to your entire blog or specific posts and pages.
Simply install and activate the plugin, then go to the “Edit” screen of the post or page you want to protect.
You’ll find a “Visibility” option where you can set a password.
3. Restricted Access
If you want to give access to a specific group of people, you can use the restricted access feature.
This allows you to grant access to individuals by email address, ensuring that only those with permission can view your blog.
In Blogger, go to the “Settings” tab, then click on “Basic.” Look for the “Permissions” section and select “Only blog authors” under “Blog Readers.” Then, enable the “Blog Readers” option and add the email addresses of the people you want to grant access to.
In WordPress, you can use a plugin like “Members” to restrict access to your blog.
Install and activate the plugin, then go to the “Members” menu.
Create a new user role with limited access, and assign the desired users to that role. You can then set the visibility of posts and pages based on user roles.
4. Draft Mode
If you’re still working on your blog and don’t want anyone to see it until it’s ready, you can use the draft mode feature.
This allows you to work on your blog privately without publishing any content.
In both Blogger and WordPress, you can save your posts as drafts instead of publishing them.
This way, only you and other blog authors can see the content while it’s still in progress.
Once you’re ready to make your blog public, simply publish the posts.
5. Test with Incognito Mode
After implementing the above steps, it’s always a good idea to test if your blog is truly hidden from public view.
Open a private or incognito window in your web browser and try accessing your blog.
If everything is set up correctly, you should see a login page or a message indicating that the blog is private.
And there you have it! With these steps, you can keep your Blogger or WordPress blog hidden from the public until you’re ready to share it.
Take your time, perfect your content, and when the moment is right, unveil your masterpiece to the world!
