What are Canonical URLs?

What are Canonical URLs?

  • The preferred version of a webpage chosen by search engines for duplicate content.
  • Helps avoid showing repetitive content in search results.

Why are Canonical URLs important?

  • Helps search engines understand site structure.
  • Consolidates link equity (ranking power) to the correct page.
  • Improves SEO by preventing duplicate content issues.

How to Implement Canonical URLs

  • Use canonical tags in the <head> section of a webpage.
  • Point from alternate pages to the preferred version.
  • Consider self-referencing canonicals for clarity.

Best Practices for Canonical URLs

  • Specify one canonical URL per page.
  • Use absolute URLs for accuracy.
  • Update canonical tags when necessary.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Not using canonical tags for duplicate content.
  • Using relative instead of absolute URLs.
  • Overlooking dynamic parameters in URLs.

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