Use Geo-Blocking on Your Wix Site with Cloudflare
TL;DR:
- Wix doesn't include geo-blocking features, but you can add them through Cloudflare
- Geo-blocking restricts site access based on visitor location
- Useful for licensing requirements, legal compliance, and performance optimisation
- Can improve site load times for your target audience
- Set up through Cloudflare's firewall rules once your domain is connected
Geo-blocking lets you control which countries can access your Wix site. While Wix doesn't offer this feature natively, you can add it using Cloudflare's firewall tools.
This approach works well if you need to comply with regional regulations, have licensing restrictions, or want to focus your site's performance on specific markets.
Setting Up Geo-Blocking with Cloudflare
Here's how to get geo-blocking working on your Wix site:
Connect Your Site to Cloudflare
First, you'll need a Cloudflare account. Sign up if you haven't already, then add your Wix domain to your Cloudflare dashboard.
Cloudflare will scan your DNS records and provide new nameservers. You'll need to update these in your domain registrar's settings (not in Wix itself, but wherever you bought your domain).
Configure Firewall Rules
Once your site is running through Cloudflare:
- Go to the Security section in your Cloudflare dashboard
- Click on WAF (Web Application Firewall)
- Create a new firewall rule
- Set the field to "Country"
- Choose your operator (equals, does not equal, is in, is not in)
- Select the countries you want to block or allow
- Set the action (block, challenge, or allow)
Choose Your Blocking Strategy
You can either:
- Block specific countries while allowing everyone else
- Allow only specific countries while blocking everyone else
Most people find it easier to allow their target countries and block everything else, especially if you're only serving a few markets.
Test Your Setup
Use a VPN or proxy service to test access from different locations. Make sure your rules work as expected before going live.
TL;DR:
- Wix doesn't include geo-blocking features, but you can add them through Cloudflare
- Geo-blocking restricts site access based on visitor location
- Useful for licensing requirements, legal compliance, and performance optimisation
- Can improve site load times for your target audience
- Set up through Cloudflare's firewall rules once your domain is connected
FAQs
Can I block specific pages instead of my whole site?
Yes. Cloudflare lets you create rules that target specific URLs or sections. You can set up path-based rules alongside country restrictions.
Will this hurt my SEO rankings?
Not if you're blocking countries you don't serve anyway. Search engines typically crawl from US locations, so your SEO won't be affected unless you're blocking major markets unnecessarily.
What happens when someone from a blocked country visits?
They'll see an error page saying access is restricted. You can customise this message in Cloudflare to explain why access is blocked.
Can I see which countries are being blocked?
Cloudflare's analytics show blocked requests by country. You can track how many visitors you're turning away and from where.
Jargon Buster
Geo-blocking: Restricting website access based on the visitor's geographic location, usually determined by their IP address.
Cloudflare: A content delivery network and security service that sits between your website and visitors, offering features like geo-blocking that Wix doesn't provide natively.
Nameservers: The servers that tell the internet where to find your website. You'll need to change these to use Cloudflare's services.
Wrap-up
Geo-blocking gives you control over your site's global accessibility, which can be crucial for legal compliance or business focus. While Wix doesn't offer this feature directly, Cloudflare makes it straightforward to implement.
The setup takes a bit of technical work upfront, but once it's running, you can adjust your blocked regions anytime through Cloudflare's dashboard. Keep reviewing your settings as your business grows and regulations change.
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