Require Cookies?

[cmcruz]

Hello,

In order for my shopping cart to work - I use a javascript to require users to turn on cookies to view our site. Am I inadvertantly causing spiders to turn away from the site? While our site definately need optimizing, my site statistics is showing that googlebot is visiting us daily, but we sill aren't really getting any results. Any ideas?

Edit: Also, when I type in site:mysite.com in google and then I look at the "Cashed" link, it takes me directly to my "Please enable Cookies Page". So, am I answering my own question?

Thanks so much!
Christine

[rogerd]

Depending on how you are "requiring" cookies, you may be causing yourself a bot problem. Turn off cookies in your browser, and see if you can surf around your content. If all you get is a warning page, then you've got a problem.

Another way to check for spiderability is to use a fairly dumb spider like Xenu Link Sleuth - if Xenu can navigate your pages, it's likely that search engine bots can, too. (Of course, if you are dynamically substituting warning content for the real content navigability alone won't be enough.)

Lots of stores require cookies but don't warn the user until the user clicks the "add to cart" link. That makes the content/product pages usable for everyone, including bots and human visitors with cookies off.

[cmcruz]

Yes, it seems like I do have a problem! ;)

Thanks for the quick response. This is definately something I will have to fix pronto!

Christine