Canonical URL Tag

Why the Canonical URL Tag Matters

Duplicate content can confuse search engines, leading to lower rankings or split link equity. The canonical URL tag tells search engines which page is the original or most important version, consolidating ranking signals and improving SEO performance.

How to Use the Canonical URL Tag

You add a canonical tag in the section of your HTML code. It looks like this: <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.example.com/preferred-page" />. This tag points to the URL you want search engines to treat as the main version.

Examples of Canonical URL Tag Usage

If you have a product page accessible via multiple URLs due to tracking parameters or sorting options, use the canonical tag to point all variations to the main product page URL. This avoids duplicate content penalties and keeps your SEO efforts focused.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What happens if I don’t use a canonical URL tag? Search engines might index multiple versions of the same content, which can dilute your page’s ranking.
• Can the canonical URL tag point to a different domain? Yes, but it’s best used within the same domain to avoid confusion.
• Is the canonical tag a ranking factor? It doesn’t directly boost rankings but helps consolidate ranking signals for duplicate content.
• How does the canonical tag differ from 301 redirects? Redirects send users and search engines to a different URL, while canonical tags only suggest the preferred URL to search engines without redirecting users.