Canonical URLs can be confusing to the layman, but knowing what it is and how it affects search engine results for your business can save you headaches later. — Getty Images/Os Tartarouchos
If you’re trying to improve your site’s search engine visibility, using canonical URLs is a good strategy to use. Canonical URLs affect how your website content is displayed in search results. Let’s look at how canonical URLs work and some common mistakes to avoid as you get started.
[Read more: How to Ensure Your Business Website Is SEO-Optimized]
What is a canonical URL?
A canonical URL is the version of a web page automatically chosen by search engines to prevent repetitive content from appearing in search results. When multiple URLs point to the same content, Google selects a canonical URL as the master version.
Therefore, specifying a canonical URL is important for search engine optimization (SEO), as Google only indexes canonical URLs. Additionally, it can be more difficult for website owners to track page metrics for content that has multiple URLs attached.
If you specify a canonical URL for duplicate web pages, Google Search usually recognizes your preferences. But if you haven’t chosen a canonical URL, Google will choose one, and it might not be the URL you want.
For example, the following URLs have the same content, but most website owners prefer the first URL:
example.com/products
example.com/products/widget?ref=homepage
[Read more: 6 Things You Should Always Include on Your Business’s Website]
Therefore, specifying a canonical URL is important for search engine optimization (SEO), as Google only indexes canonical URLs.
Ways to set a canonical URL
Many people specify canonical URLs using canonical tags, which is an element you’ll add to your website’s HTML. But according to GoogleThere are several different ways to specify a canonical URL for duplicate content, including the following:
Implement redirects: Redirects instruct web browsers and search engine crawlers to forward one URL to another, ensuring that users are directed to the correct URL.Use canonical tags: The rel=”canonical” link annotation is an HTML element used to specify a canonical version of a web page. You will add this tag to
section of the page.Integrate sitemap embedding: Sitemap embedding is the process of adding URLs to a sitemap file, which is submitted to search engine indexing web pages.Each of the above methods is effective on its own, but stacking them together helps you achieve the best results. If you don’t want to add canonical tags directly to your site’s HTML, you can also use a plugin like Yoast SEO. Yoast automatically adds a self-referencing canonical URL.
[Read more: 4 Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Practices Every Small Businesses Must Know]
Common mistakes to avoid
If you’re not a website developer, canonical URLs can be confusing. Using canonical URLs incorrectly can be worse than deciding not to use them at all. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using canonical URLs:
Using incorrect tags: Setting a canonical tag to a non-existent URL makes it difficult for search engines to know which page to index. Always check that the URL chosen is correct and that it is the preferred version of the content. Choosing a non-indexed URL: If the desired URL is not indexed due to noindex tags, search engines will not be able to follow the redirect. Make sure all canonical URLs are crawlable and indexable.Forgot to update canonical tags: If you redesign your website and move pages, you must also update the canonical tags. Outdated tags can lead to broken links or incorrect page indexing, which hurts your site’s SEO.Excessive use of tags: Canonical tags are primarily designed to address issues with duplicate content and are not needed on most unique content pages.Not self-canonizing: Each page should have a self-referencing canonical tag that points to itself. Doing so reinforces to search engines the preferred URL for each page.
[Read more: How to Ensure Your Business Website Is SEO-Optimized]
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Posted on May 6, 2024
