For URLs that require login, should our redirect be 301 or 302?

[alecfwilson]

We have a login required section of our website that is being crawled and reporting as potential issues in Webmaster Tools. I'm not sure what the best solution to this is - is it to make URLs requiring a login noindex/nocrawl? Right now, we have them 302 redirecting to the login page, since it's a temporary redirect, it seems like it isn't the right solution. Is a 301 better?

[kayintveen_MD]

Uhmn. Yes and no.

302 suggests it will be back. but actually it will be never back. 
So a 302 would keep the link juice where it is which is fine. because you do not want to have all that juice to the invaluable login page right.

but noindex following is the way to go.

[alecfwilson]

Thanks - so the 302 redirect suggests the page has moved temporarily, which it has not. It simply cannot be accessed until a login. Is that considered "moved temporarily?" Since it will be accessible with a login, is that considered a temporary move? I will absolutely make pages that require login noindex. Should I make them nocrawl as well?

[kayintveen_MD]

a 302 would suggest the page will be back anytime soon since its a "temporary redirect"
While a 301 suggest the page is moved. So personally i would use a 302 so that the page your landing on keeps the juice but the user will be redirected to a login screen for example.

I would suggest to noindex those pages if they are really hidden for search engines. (noindex,follow)

Interesting reads:

• Save your website with redirect on Moz.com
  and - SEO Advice discussing 302 redirect on mattcutts.com