How will canonicalizing an https page affect the SERP-ranked http version of that page?

[JGRLLC]

Hey guys,

Until recently, my site has been serving traffic over both http and https depending on the user request. Because I only want to serve traffic over https, I've begun redirecting http traffic to https.

Reviewing my SEO performance in Moz, I see that for some search terms, an http page shows up on the SERP, and for other search terms, an https page shows. (There aren't really any duplicate pages, just the same pages being served on either http or https.)

My question is about canonical tags in this context. Suppose I canonicalize the https version of a page which is already ranked on the SERP as http. Will the link juice from the SERP-ranked http version of that page immediately flow to the now-canonical https version? Will the https version of the page immediately replace the http version on the SERP, with the same ranking?

Thank you for your time!

[BlueprintMarketing]

"I have the option of choosing either www.example.com or example.com, but no option for https://www.example.com or https://example.com."

Go in to the https & pick the same format use what ever your site retain the www. if you had it drop it if you did not.

"I have Search Console verified for both HTTP and https pages"

1. On the Search Console Home page, click the site you want.
2. Click the gear icon, and then click Site Settings.
3. In the Preferred domain section, select the option you want.

Nice! So you have 4 URLs? pick the same format as you had but from # 3 or 4 below.

1. HTTP://
2. HTTP://www.
3. HTTPS://  if you did NOT have www use this
4. HTTPS://www.   if you had www use this

• ** The to do list. https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/6332964**
• https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XB26X_wFoBBlQEqecj7HB79hQ7DTLIPo97SS5irwsK8/edit?usp=sharing

**Next, **

Make certain that you force https:// on your hosting environment or WAF/CDN

**Check it using a **Redirect mapper

• https://varvy.com/tools/redirects/
• If you get lost and need to fix something
• https://online.marketing/guide/https/
• https://www.deepcrawl.com/blog/news/2017-seo-tips-move-to-https/

Add HSTS once everything is definitely working.

Make sure everything is working correctly before Google crawls it use

• https://www.deepcrawl.com
• or
• https://www.screamingfrog.co.uk/seo-spider/

all the best,

Tom

[JGRLLC]

Thanks, Thomas. This is a comprehensive and clear answer. Your help is much appreciated.

I have a question about Search Console. In the Moz question you linked to, the instructions given are to go to Search Console > Site Settings and to choose the preferred domain.

In Search Console I can find Site Settings, and I see that you can set a preferred domain. However, in the Site Settings for both the http and https sites, I have the option of choosing either www.example.com or example.com, but no option for https://www.example.com or https://example.com. I have Search Console verified for both http and https pages.

Do you have insight on this issue?

The htaccess file has been updated. My plan is to add self-referencing canonical tags to https, http > https canonical tags, and 301 redirects, in addition to Search Console changes. Have I missed anything?

Thank you again!

[BlueprintMarketing]

"My question is about canonical tags in this context. Suppose I canonicalize the https version of a page which is already ranked on the SERP as http_. Will the link juice from the SERP-ranked_ http version of that page immediately flow to the now-canonical https version? Will the https version of the page immediately replace the http version on the SERP, with the same ranking?"

Yes, it will as long as you set it in Google Webmaster tools and create the proper 301 redirects please look at this reply.

1. https://moz.com/community/q/how-to-evaluate-original-domain-authority-vs-recent-https-duplicate-for-potential-domain-migration

Okay you have been creating duplicate content for Google I would decide to use HTTPS and point your self-referencing canonical as well as your 301 redirect to HTTPS

you need to correct everything in Webmaster tools/Google search console these things are essential in order to maintain your traffic. Please look at my post here and make sure your canonical is self referencing to HTTPS://

1. http://www.aleydasolis.com/htaccess-redirects-generator/https-vs-http/
2. http://www.aleydasolis.com/en/search-engine-optimization/http-https-migration-checklist-google-docs/

<ifmodule mod_rewrite.c="">RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{SERVER_PORT} !^443$
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]</ifmodule>

here is an updated article on using HTTPS the browsers alone are forcing people to do it.

https://www.semrush.com/blog/https-just-a-google-ranking-signal/

I hope I have been of help let me know if I can clear anything up.

All the best,

Tom