A canonical issue in SEO arises when a website has multiple URLs that point to the same or very similar content. You’ve probably heard the term “canonical issues” if you own or manage a website.
Canonical issues are a common problem for many website owners, and they can have major consequences for your website’s search engine rankings. These are common search engine optimization (SEO) issues for websites. Similar material on many URLs tends to cause indexing issues, which is even worse because it can dilute your link value and hurt your website’s search rankings.
In this blog article, we will look at what canonical issues in SEO are, why they matter, and, most importantly, how to fix them.
What are Canonical Issues?
Canonical issues in SEO arise when numerous URLs on your website point to the same or similar content. Duplicate content is considered a concern by search engines, such as Google, as it can generate confusion and make it difficult to identify which page should be ranked for a specific search request.
Not using a canonical tag correctly (or at all) can lead to major canonical issues. This holds especially true when websites offer multiple versions of identical content through distinct URLs.
Canonicalization is the process of selecting the best URL from multiple possibilities and signaling that this URL is the preferred one that should be used.
Canonicalization in SEO
Canonical issues in SEO occur when a website has numerous URLs that display similar information. They can also emerge as a result of ineffective redirection. They are, however, frequently the result of syndicating and publishing articles on many URLs without adequate clean-up efforts to assure uniqueness across those appearances (i.e., search engine optimization).
Canonical issues often can lead to duplicate content issues. They confuse search engines and make it difficult for search bots to determine which version of the content to index and display in search results. This also means you should check canonical URLs regularly
Common Causes of Canonical Issues
- Multiple versions of a page: Due to differences in parameters or tracking codes, many versions of the same page may exist on distinct URLs. This can confuse search engines and result in lower ranks.
- Dynamic pages: Websites with dynamic pages, which generate unique URLs for each session or user, might cause canonical difficulties. This is because search engines may be unable to discern the page’s original URL.
- HTTPS vs HTTP: If a website has both HTTP and HTTPS versions of the same page, search engines may consider them as two separate pages, causing duplicate content issues. This can cause problems with both domains and search engine rankings, therefore use an SSL certificate to safeguard it.
- URL structure: A website’s URL structure can sometimes generate canonical issues. For instance, if the same page is available via both the www and non-www versions of a URL, search engines may treat them as different pages.
Canonical Tags
A canonical tag, commonly known as rel=canonical, is an HTML element that defines a webpage’s preferred or canonical URL. When there are numerous copies of the same material on distinct URLs, it is used to communicate to search engines which version of a page should be considered the authoritative or original version.
A canonical tag’s goal is to prevent duplicate content concerns and to ensure that search engines index and rank the preferred version of a page appropriately. It informs search engines that the given URL is the key version of the page and should be utilized for ranking purposes, even if the page is available at numerous URLs. It is a commonly used SEO trend to look out for.
If you’re having canonical tag troubles caused by HTTP/HTTPS or WWW/non-WWW, they are most likely the most basic of all website issues. Simply type each potential version into the Google search console and see what shows up to check if this is an issue on your site.
Effects of Canonical Issues on SEO
Canonical issues in SEO can have a detrimental impact on your website’s search engine optimization (SEO) efforts.
For starters, duplicate material can lead to your website being penalized by search engines, which means that your pages will no longer display in search results or will be placed down in the rankings. This can cause a significant drop in visitors to your website.
When a duplicate web page is identified, Google will select one version of the content and delete all other versions of the identical content from its search engine results. This can result in an unwanted link directed at your site if it is not what users are seeking, such as when they are browsing for something else.
Duplicate content could further erode the authority of your website. If you have numerous pages with the same content, search engines may be unsure which one to assign authority to. As a result, your website’s overall credibility may suffer, affecting the ranks of all your pages.
These issues of interlinking might make crawling and indexing your page much harder for search engines. When there are many versions of the same information, search engines may struggle to decide which version to crawl and index. As a result, some pages may be excluded from search results entirely.
It is recommended that all relevant blog articles and social media updates feature Permanent Links so that they are always available on-demand at anyone’s request, which entails adding hyperlinks within the article content itself. Rather than using deceptive techniques such as placing anchors throughout various text sections without suitable titles.
How to Identify Canonical Issues?
You can use a variety of techniques to identify canonical errors on your website. The simplest method is to conduct a Google search with the “site:” operator. This will display all of the pages on your website that Google has indexed. If you discover several URLs leading to the same content, this is a good indication that you have a canonical problem.
A tool like Screaming Frog SEO Spider can also be used to identify canonical issues in SEO. This program will crawl your website and detect any pages with duplicate content or multiple URLs. It will also show you which pages are duplicates and which are the canonical version.
Google Search Console can also be used to identify canonical issues. It generates a report displaying all of the URLs that Google has indexed for your website. You may then check these URLs to see if there are any duplications and make sure the proper page is set as the canonical version.
How to Check Your Canonical Tags
One of the easiest methods to review and manage canonical tags is through Google Search Console. You can inspect a specific URL in real-time using the URL Inspection Tool, or you can explore canonical-related reports that cover all impacted site pages (note that it may take some time for this data to populate).
To examine the canonical tag of a particular page, open the URL Inspection Tool, enter the page URL, and run the inspection.
Once the analysis is complete, scroll down to the Page Indexing section. There, you’ll find the field labeled Google-selected canonical, which shows the version of the page that Google considers the primary one.
If Google’s chosen canonical URL differs from the one you’ve declared, it means Google is prioritizing a different version of that page.
To uncover potential canonical tag issues across your site, go to:
Indexing > Pages > Page Indexing > Why pages aren’t indexed
Here, you’ll find canonicalization errors listed alongside other indexing issues, such as noindex tags, redirects, and crawl blocks.
How to Fix Canonical Issues?
When numerous versions of the same material exist on distinct URLs, search engines may penalize your website for duplicate content. Here are some methods for resolving canonical issues:
- Create canonical tags: A canonical tag is an HTML element that notifies search engines which version of a page is favored. Put this element in the HTML code’s head section.
- Use 301 redirects: Another method for resolving duplicate content issues is to redirect non-canonical copies of a page to the canonical version. Convert the non-canonical URL to the canonical URL via a 301 redirect.
- Use URL parameters: If different versions of the same page exist as a result of URL parameters, you can use the canonical tag to identify the original version. For instance, if you have numerous URLs for the same page as a result of tracking parameters such as utm_source or utm_campaign, you can use the canonical tag to point to the original version of the page.
You may boost your search engine rankings and avoid duplicate content issues by using these tactics.
Common mistakes when adding canonical tags
1. Pointing to a URL That Is Blocked from Crawling or Indexing
If the canonical URL is disallowed in the robots.txt file or marked with a noindex tag, search engines can’t access or index it. This defeats the purpose of using a canonical tag to guide indexing.
2. Creating Canonical Chains
A canonical tag should point directly to the final, preferred version of the page. When Page A canonicals to Page B, and Page B canonicals to Page C, it creates a chain that confuses search engines.
3. Pointing to a Non-200 Status Code URL
Your canonical tag should reference a live page that returns a 200 OK HTTP status. Canonicalizing to a broken link (e.g., 404, 301, 500) misguides search engines.
4. Using HTTP Instead of HTTPS
If your site runs on HTTPS and you canonicalize to the HTTP version, it signals an outdated or incorrect URL and can lead to indexing issues or traffic dilution.
5. Including Non-Canonical URLs in Your Sitemap
A sitemap should list only the preferred (canonical) versions of pages. Including alternate versions can send mixed signals to search engines.
Canonical Tags Best Practices
1. Always Use Self-Referencing Canonical Tags
Even if a page is the original, include a canonical tag pointing to itself. This makes your intent clear to search engines and helps in situations where URL parameters or alternate links might exist.
2. Use Absolute URLs
Canonical tags should always include the full absolute URL. This avoids confusion across different domains or protocols.
3. Canonicalize to Indexable, 200 OK Pages
Make sure the canonical URL points to a live, crawlable, and indexable page—not one that returns a redirect, error, or is blocked by robots.txt.
4. Avoid Canonical Chains
Don’t canonicalize to a page that itself has a canonical tag pointing elsewhere. Each page’s canonical should directly reference the final, preferred version.
Conclusively, it’s important to learn how to find canonical issues on your website and take steps to fix them.
Connect with the experts at North Rose Technologies to learn more.
