Canonical tags are an essential part of search engine optimization (SEO) strategy. They help webmasters deal with duplicate content issues and improve the overall visibility of their websites on search engine results pages (SERPs).
In simple terms, a canonical tag is a line of code added to the header section of a webpage’s HTML code. It tells search engines which version of a webpage to consider as the authoritative source when there are multiple versions available. When a search engine encounters a canonical tag, it understands that the associated URL should be treated as the primary URL for indexing and ranking purposes.
There are several scenarios where implementing canonical tags becomes necessary. One common scenario is when a website has multiple versions of the same webpage accessible through different URLs. This can happen when a webpage is accessible with both “www” and non-“www” variants, or when a website has both HTTP and HTTPS versions. In such cases, canonical tags help in consolidating the ranking power of those duplicate pages into a single URL.
Another important use case of canonical tags is when a website has content that appears identical or very similar on different URLs. This can happen due to pagination, parameter variations, or session IDs. In such cases, canonical tags ensure that search engines understand which URL is the original source of the content.
Implementing canonical tags is relatively simple. Webmasters need to add the following line of code within the “ section of the HTML code for the desired webpage:
“`
“`
The `href` attribute should point to the canonical URL of the webpage. Webmasters need to replace “https://www.example.com/original-page/” with the URL they want search engines to consider as the primary URL.
It is important to note that the canonical tag alone does not guarantee that search engines will always follow it. Search engines consider canonical tags as hints and may not always honor them. However, in most cases, search engines respect the hints provided by canonical tags and consolidate the ranking signals.
In order to ensure the effectiveness of canonical tags, webmasters should also focus on other SEO best practices. These include creating unique and valuable content, improving website performance, optimizing metadata, and using proper URL structures.
Overall, implementing canonical tags is a crucial step towards managing duplicate content issues and improving the visibility of a website on search engine results. By indicating the primary URL to search engines, webmasters can consolidate the ranking power and avoid diluting their SEO efforts.
