How to add canonical tag
-
Hi,
I read through many of the forum questions dealing with the overly dynamic URLS and I think I understand. Please let me know if I know what I am talking about:
If SEO moz is saying I have 20 pages (mostly search and home/index pages) with overly dynamic urls, I would go to the that particular page and add the following code between the head tag:
This code would cause Google to go to this page instead of the following duplicate index pages:
1. http://www.about-sports-collectibles.com/index.php?pcsid=0a83aa7119cf3d80a1d018634ec4ec94&p
2. http://www.about-sports-collectibles.com/index.php?pcsid=18b220fc62628b013a51c6f26209df50&p
There are a total of about 8 of these index pages.
The problem is that I can't figure out where I would access each of these duplicate pages to add the canonical tag. There is only one home page with coding.
As far as the search pages are concerned, I would not want Google to follow those pages would I? If that is the case, what would be the best code to add between the tags?
For instance here are a couple of the overly-dynamic URL pages for the search pages:
1. http://www.about-sports-collectibles.com/index.php?p=catalog&mode=search&search_in=all&search_str=
I hope I am not overwhelming anyone with my questions. I really am trying to get a handle on how Ll this stuff works.
Thanks so much the help.
Don
-
Thanks Chris.
I Appreciate your help.
Don
-
Yes, you would add the canonical link element:
to the 20 pages that are the same as your home page. But I think they are all the same page, so you don't have to look far. The pcsid looks like a session id, so if you can add the canonical link element to index.php, it will appear in all displays of the home page. It is OK if the canonical link element on a page points to itself.
Notice that index.php is used for search results and shopping cart pages also. So adding it to index.php may add it to all your search pages and cart pages. But do you want those pages indexed? If not, then the element is OK on these pages.
WARNING
Your product pages do not display index.php, but I am assuming they are dynamically generated. If they are, you may end up with the canonical link element on every page of your site. If your software can't handle that differently, you will be better off without the canonical link element.
Use an XML Sitemap
NOTE: Use an XML sitemap, and submit it on Google Webmaster Tools (and similar at other engines). If the URL is on the sitemap, it should get preference over a URL not on the sitemap.
Currently on Google
You sites listings don't show any pcsid numbers, so the duplicate content issue may not be a big problem. You do, however, want credit when someone links to your page and add a pcsid in their linking url.
If your shopping cart provider does not have a way for you to fix this, urge them to add it.
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Use of trademarks in tags and text
Does Google spider read registered trademarks (the 'R' or 'TM') or do these marks impede anything if they are featured in meta tags or text?
On-Page Optimization | | KnutDSvendsen0 -
Is it OK to include name of your town to the title tag or H1 tag on a blog to enhance local search results
I recently attended a webinar by ETNA Interactive on local search SEO. The presenter recommended including the name of your town in the title of the blog to increase local search SEO. Is this OK? Ive always been concerned that it is such an obvious attempt to rank locally that Google would consider it "spammy" ? black hat, "sketchy" or otherwise manipulative. Have the rules changed? Is it OK to do? Brooke
On-Page Optimization | | wianno1680 -
Appropriate Use of Rel Canonical
Hello, in on page report card , for a kyeword: armadi portafucili blindati URL: http://www.bighunter.net/shop/searchresult.seam?codiceSettoreSel=CACCIA&codiceCategoriaSel=Armadi Blindati&codiceSottoCategoriaSel=Linea Legno DeLuxe&codiceMarcaSel=SILMEC i have a Critical Factor that don't undestand. It 's not ok "appropiate Use of Rel Canoncal, but in my page i have <link href="http://www.bighunter.net/shop/searchresult.seam?codiceSettoreSel=CACCIA&codiceCategoriaSel=Armadi Blindati&codiceSottoCategoriaSel=Linea Legno DeLuxe&codiceMarcaSel=SILMEC" rel="canonical"> and the link is the same of the url . I don't undestand where is the problem . Who can help me? Best Regards Luca
On-Page Optimization | | lbecarelli0 -
Implementing rel=canonical in a CMS
Hi Guys, We have an issue with duplicate content caused by dynamic URLs, so want to implement rel=canonical. However this isn't easy due to the way out CMS works. These were pulled from SEOMoz scan: http://www.transair.co.uk/pp+Aerobatics-Training+463
On-Page Optimization | | brightonseorob
http://www.transair.co.uk/pp+Aerobatics-Training+463?page=1&perpage=10&sales_group=NULL&filter_colour=&filter_size=&sortby=RELEV&inStock=NO&resfilter=
and are obviously the same page. As far as I can see I have two options. 1. To implement the canonical meta tag only on page 1. 2. To implement the canonical tag so that I add ?page=X so
http://www.transair.co.uk/pp+Aerobatics-Training+463
would be
http://www.transair.co.uk/pp+Aerobatics-Training+463?page=1 Will this work? Thanks Rob0 -
Tags in wordpress -Important?
Hello, I use the Wordpress plataform in my blog. What I want to ask is, how important is the tag field in the posts area. Since I have the title tag and meta description how important is that field? Its really a question that was in my mind since I start doing SEO 😛 Tks in advance guys 🙂
On-Page Optimization | | PedroM0 -
Canonical to the page itself?
Hello, I'd like to know what happens when you use canonical to the same page itself, like: Page "example.com" rel canonical="example.com" Does that impact in something? Bad or good? See ya!
On-Page Optimization | | seomasterbrasil1 -
Title, other html tags not showing on onpage reports
Either something is seriously wrong with my website or seomoz is not analyzing my site correctly. When I view the source code for my site (www.myfavoritetoys.com) I clearly see elements such as page title, h1 tags etc. However, on the onpage reports seomoz says these elements are missing. I am not seeing any meaningful data in the reports because it isn't analyzing correctly. Please help!
On-Page Optimization | | mortickles0 -
Crawling - Blue Notice - Canonical
Hi, I have 270x blue notices within crawl diagnostics in SEOMoz Pro labelled rel=canonical. My site has the rel=canonical tag set-up as I was advised to do so. See www.comparecurrency.co.uk Are these notices suggesting I have to remove the tag? Can somebody please explain this notice to me .. Thanks Olly
On-Page Optimization | | ojkingston0