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POHow to limit content for returning visitor without risking angry bots?
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  1. POHow to limit content for returning visitor without risking angry bots?
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    copied!<p>I'm trying to show some content (introduction) to new visitors on some pages on website.com. I wish to "not bother" the user with it again if they've already seen it.</p> <p>Let's say user comes in to website.com/cool-article I then show the user an introduction at the top and when the user then clicks website.com/useful-article-43 that page should now not contain the introduction. Or should I keep the introduction and just scroll down the user on the second page? Also I don't want to show the introduction if the user is a returning visitor. Website is built with PHP.</p> <p>My <strong>concern</strong> is - which of these solutions would you chose to make sure SE bots don't go mad that the content varies? From what I've understood bots never bring along any referrer info.</p> <p><strong>Options:</strong> </p> <p>1) Lookup $_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER'] ($httpReferer = isset($_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER']) ? $_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER'] : null;)<br> If it's set to mywebsite.com or NULL<br> DO A or B</p> <p>2) Store and check for a cookie that is set when the user visits the page. session_start(); if !$_SESSION['intro']<br> DO A or B<br> $_SESSION['intro']='introSeen';</p> <p>3) Via JS/localStorage?<br> (Unnecessary loading of content?)</p> <p>How would you do it?</p> <p>(A&amp;B)</p> <p><strong>A) don't load introduction to the page at all</strong></p> <ul> <li>+Less loading time when users that click a saved link arrive on the page and also for users.</li> <li>-Risk of confusion </li> <li>-The page doesn't look the same. </li> </ul> <p><strong>B) Scroll user down to the article, keep introduction on top.</strong></p> <ul> <li>+If user scrolls up the page looks the same as previous.</li> <li>+Website always has the same content for all users as well as bots.</li> <li>-Unnecessary loading of content</li> </ul>
 

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