Will blocking guests from viewing threads also block search engines?

[DTL2012]

... and if so, is there a way to still allow search engines to index content?

 

Thanks!

[Randy Calvert]

Yes it would. Bots are not logged in members, therefore are guests. 

It would require some sort of third party customization to identify the search engine and treat them as a different group than a normal guest. 

[Sonya*]

1 hour ago, LiamH said:

... and if so, is there a way to still allow search engines to index content?

It sounds like a doorway technique, called cloaking. You will be penalized by search engines if you try it.

[DTL2012]

Thanks everyone!