When launching a new site, it’s crucial to consider how search engines will perceive and interact with your pages. If your site initially contains thin content pages, a common dilemma is whether to noindex those pages or allow them to be crawled as you work on improving them. Here are some factors to consider:
Noindex Thin Pages: Applying the noindex tag to thin content pages can prevent search engines from indexing these less-than-optimal pages. This approach avoids the potential for your site to be perceived as having low-quality content, which can negatively impact your overall site ranking. Noindexing gives you the freedom to improve your content without worrying about initial perceptions based on underdeveloped pages.
Allow Crawling: If you let these pages be crawled, you run the risk of search engines indexing the pages in their less-improved state. However, if you are confident in the speed and scale at which you can enhance each page, this method might allow pages to gain some level of ranking presence more quickly once updated. Additionally, it allows search engines to begin understanding the overall structure and breadth of your site from the get-go.
Balance and Strategy: You might choose a hybrid strategy depending on the scope of your project and the nature of your content. Consider noindexing pages that are far from completion and allowing crawling for those closer to being full-fledged, valuable resources. Implementing a thoughtful internal linking strategy can also help channel crawler attention to the most important pages during early-stage visits.

Ultimately, the decision between noindexing or crawling thin content pages hinges on your confidence in a quick turnaround, your resource capabilities, and your overall strategy for content rollout. Starting cautiously with noindex and progressively allowing crawling as content is improved might help maintain your site’s reputation and performance in search engine results.