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What is rel=canonical in SEO? If you don’t know, you’re not alone. Despite being around for years, the canonical tag still confuses many people. In this post, we’ll explain what it is, how to use it, and the benefits of doing so. So what exactly is rel=canonical? Simply put, it’s a way to tell search engines which version of a URL you want them to index. For example, if you have two versions of a page – one with www and one without – you can use rel=canonical to tell Google which one you prefer. This helps keep your website organized and prevents duplicate content from appearing in search results.
What is rel=canonical in SEO?
The canonical tag is an HTML element that helps webmasters prevent duplicate content issues with their websites. It does this by telling search engines which version of a URL they should index. For example, if you have two versions of a page – one with www and one without – you can use rel=canonical to tell Google which one you prefer. This helps keep your website organized and prevents duplicate content from appearing in search results.
What are the benefits of using rel=canonical?
There are several benefits of using the canonical tag, including:
-It helps keep your website organized and prevents duplicate content from appearing in search results.
-It can be used to tell search engines which version of a URL you prefer, which can help prevent issues with duplicate content.
-It can help reduce the amount of time and effort needed to manage your website’s URLs.
How do I use rel=canonical for my website?
If you want to use rel=canonical for your website, there are a few things you need to do:
-First, you need to identify which URLs on your website are duplicates. You can do this by using a tool like Screaming Frog or by manually checking your website’s source code.
-Once you’ve identified the duplicate URLs, you’ll need to add the rel=canonical tag to each one. The tag should point to the URL you want search engines to index.
-Finally, you’ll need to submit a sitemap to Google that includes the rel=canonical tag. This will help Google find and index your canonical URLs.
Conclusion
The canonical tag is a useful HTML element that can help webmasters prevent duplicate content issues with their websites. It works by telling search engines which version of a URL they should index, and can be used to point to the preferred URL for your website. By using the canonical tag, you can help keep your website organized and reduce the amount of time and effort needed to manage its URLs.
Jamie Fallon is an SEO expert who lives life to the maximum, redlining every day on a rollercoaster straight to the grave.
In an SEO career of almost ten years, he’s seen it all, he’s done it all, and he’s not impressed: from white text on a white background to today, when you can have robots paint or write for you like some kind of sick science fiction come true.
No matter what life throws at him, Jamie always manages to come out on top. He’s an expert at seeing the silver lining in every cloud and making the best of every situation. His positive attitude and unshakable faith in himself have seen him through tough times. For some people, success goes to their heads; but Jamie never forgets what got him to wherever he thinks he is.
When he’s not busy gaming the system, you can find him writing angry thinkpieces on how Google is ruining everything good about the internet, or hanging out with his wife (pictured).
