What should be indexed?

Hi,

I've been reading about vBSeo and every aspect of optimization I've found here, and at this point I think I reach some optimal solution, but i have a doubt... should members/ be indexed?
What are the advantages?
If I let them (members) indexed, the information isn't rich, so does this affect SERP's?

I allow portal.php (vBa), showthread and forumdisplay (robots.txt and vBSEO).

Code:

# Allow Archiver
User-agent: ia_archiver
Allow: /

# All Agents
User-agent: *

Allow: /forum/portal.php
Allow: /forum/showthread.php
Allow: /forum/forumdisplay.php

Disallow: /forum/archive/
Disallow: /forum/clientscript/
Disallow: /forum/cpstyles/
Disallow: /forum/customavatars/
Disallow: /forum/customprofilepics/
Disallow: /forum/images/
Disallow: /forum/includes/
Disallow: /forum/info/
Disallow: /forum/install/
Disallow: /forum/members/
Disallow: /forum/signaturepics/
Disallow: /forum/*.php

# Sitemap
Sitemap: http://www.portaldasviagens.com/forum/sitemap_index.xml.gz

Extra traffic can be gained from the member profiles. Vanity searches are among the sources. Usernames that are keyword or site based also deliver traffic.

Some people would definitely advise taking advantage of this source. Even though it is relatively low value traffic, it's possible you might get a few interested visitors that will review other content on your site, etc.

I prefer to be more of a purest from a personal standpoint. That is, I prefer blocking the member profiles since I would rather maximize the content value that the search engines see, and boost link value even more by not sending an link value out to member profile pages, etc.

Did you block member profile pages?
Same idea as the above. Some may consider member profile pages low value. In that case, you can block them. Blocking them can have the same advantages as blocking low value forums.

However, here's some info on why you might consider keeping them for vanity search traffic.

I've been running my forum with members profile pages disabled for guests, since there's nothing useful there.
Now I opened to guests, but social groups and profile messages are disabled.

Should I re-enable then and get then indexed?

I leave member pages open to public, but i do NOT include them in my sitemap.

But Brian ... do you disallow them in robots.txt?

no. it's open and ABLE to index, but i don't include it in the sitemap. if they index it, cool, if they don't, no harm

Ok ...
I'll do the same.