Using Canonical URLs to Avoid Duplicate Content
Have you ever published a piece of brilliant content, only to find it appear on multiple pages or websites, seemingly of its own accord? This can happen when different URLs lead to the same content, which can hurt your website's search engine ranking.
This is where canonical URLs come in as your knight in shining armor. In this guide, we'll explain what canonical URLs are, how to find duplicate URLs, and when to use them effectively.
What is a Canonical URL?
Think of a canonical URL as the original, master copy of a webpage. When you use a canonical URL, you're telling search engines like Google which version of the page they should consider the most important for ranking. This helps avoid duplicate content issues and ensures that your website receives the recognition it deserves.
How to find duplicate URLs
Before diving into the specific method, it's important to understand the nature of duplicate content. Duplicate content occurs when the same content appears on many different URLs, leading to several potential problems:
- Confusing search engines: Search engines like Google may have difficulty determining which version of content is "authentic", affecting your site's search rankings.
- Reduced user experience: Users may need help accessing the same content through different paths, leading to frustration and affecting the site's reputation.
- Causes penalties from Google: In severe cases, Google may penalize your website for violating duplicate content guidelines, negatively affecting SEO.
Therefore, identifying and handling duplicate content is extremely important. Below are instructions on how to find duplicate URLs using “SEO Audit” module:
- From SEO Audit top menu, select SEO URLs > Check duplicate URLs.
- SEO Audit module can automatically detect and display the duplicate URLs on your website.
- Click on the “View” button to view the duplicated content.
When to use Canonical URLs
Multiple versions of the same page
Example: You have a blog post available in both English and Spanish.
- URL of the English version: https://www.example.com/blog/english-post
- URL of the Spanish version: https://www.example.com/blog/spanish-post
In this case, you would add the following code to the <head> section of the English page:
<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.example.com/blog/english-post"/>
This tells search engines that the English version is the original and should be prioritized.
Product pages with different variations
Example: You have an e-commerce website with product pages for different sizes of a particular t-shirt.
- URL of the main product page: https://www.example.com/product/t-shirt
- URL of the small size page: https://www.example.com/product/t-shirt/small-size
- URL of the medium size page: https://www.example.com/product/t-shirt/medium-size
For this scenario, you would add the following code to the <head> section of all the product pages except the main one:
<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.example.com/product/t-shirt"/>
This ensures that search engines understand that the main product page is the definitive version.
Content syndicated across multiple websites
Example: You've published a guest post on another website and want to ensure your website receives credit for the original content.
- URL of your website with the original content: https://www.example.com/original-content
- URL of the guest post on another website: https://www.another-site.com/guest-blog-content
In this case, you would add the following code to the <head> section of the original content on your website:
<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.example.com/original-content"/>
In your author bio on the other site, link back to your website's homepage. This helps search engines understand the connection between you and the original content and notifies search engines that your website is the source of the content.
Configuring Canonical URLs using the "SEO Audit" module for PrestaShop
Example: Setting Canonical URLs for a multilingual product page (English as the main language).
Open the product edit page:
- Go to “Catalog > Products”.
- Search for the product and open the edit page.
Access the "SEO Settings" tab:
- Switch to the “SEO Settings” tab on the product edit page.
Locate the "Canonical URL" section:
- Scroll down to the bottom of the "SEO Settings" tab.
- Look for the "Canonical URL" section.
Enter the Canonical URL for all languages:
- In the "Canonical URL" field, enter the English product URL: https://www.example.com/en/summer-t-shirt.
- Repeat this step for all other language versions of the product.
- Click the "Save" button to save the changes.
Make sure the Canonical URL you enter is accurate and matches the corresponding product page URL.
By implementing canonical URLs correctly, you can effectively combat duplicate content issues, boost your website's search rankings, and drive more organic traffic. Remember, clear communication with search engines is key to SEO success.