Same subcategory in different main categories

[Mat_C]

Hi all,

A fairly common problem in webshops is having the same subcategory in multiple main categories. Let's take the following example:

• example.com/legal/economic-law/company-law
• example.com/tax/companies/company-law

I came across this interesting article on this topic:  https://moz.com/community/q/e-commerce-site-one-product-multiple-categories-best-practice

Although I understand that the answer on the above question is the most thorough method, I don't see a problem with just using canonicals either. On the webshop we are restructuring, there are only a few of these subcategories that return in multiple main categories, so generating a path via user activity and storing it in a cookie doens't seem really necessary to me.

Is it ok to just use canonicals or can this cause issues?

Thanks.

[willcritchlow]

I would have no issue with using rel canonical links in this kind of situation where you cannot control the underlying CMS to the extent that you would need to entirely avoid the duplicate URLs. The only real risk in my opinion is in the canonicalisation not being respected, but if these are essentially exact duplicate pages, I think the risk of that is low (and even if that were the case, the impact would be relatively low too).

Good luck!

[Kenn_Gold]

You are correct - if you are ending up with duplicate content because you are generating URLs (and probably breadcrumbs) based on the navigational path someone is following, canonicals are  your best answer.

[Mat_C]

Both pages have exactly the same content: the same subcategory text about company law and the same products. Only the path that a visitor has to follow to reach these pages is different.

[jasongmcmahon]

Personally, I don't see what you need to use canonical tags with the example URLs you supplied

• example.com/legal/economic-law/company-law
• example.com/tax/companies/company-law

The need only be used if the page/ produce at the end of the URL(s) is the same