Canonical Tag: What is it and why it matters

Last Updated April 22, 2024

Today, we are going to talk about a term that is crucial for your blog’s SEO – the Canonical Tag.

What is a Canonical Tag?

A canonical tag, also known as rel=canonical, is a piece of HTML code that helps search engines identify the main version of a page when there are multiple pages with identical or very similar content.

In simpler terms, it’s a way to tell search engines, “Hey, this is the main version of this page that I want you to index and show in the search results.”

For example, the canonical tag for your main blog page might look like this:

<link rel="canonical" href="https://yourblog.com/main-page/" />

Why Are Canonical Tags Important?

Avoid Duplicate Content: Search engines, like Google, don’t like duplicate content. It confuses them, and they might end up indexing and ranking the wrong version of your page. Canonical tags help you specify which version of the page you want to be considered as the main one.
Consolidate Link Equity: If there are multiple versions of a page, the backlinks to those pages will be divided among them. By using a canonical tag, you consolidate the link equity to the main page, which can help improve its ranking.
Improve Crawling Efficiency: Search engines have a crawl budget, which is the number of pages they will crawl on your site in a given time. By using canonical tags, you can help search engines to not waste their crawl budget on duplicate pages.

Best Practices for Using Canonical Tags

Use Absolute URLs: Always use the absolute URL in the canonical tag, not the relative URL. For example, use https://yourblog.com/main-page/ instead of /main-page/.
Self-Canonicalize: Even if a page doesn’t have any duplicates, it’s still a good practice to include a self-referencing canonical tag. This helps to avoid any confusion for search engines.
Be Consistent: Make sure that the URL used in the canonical tag is consistent across the site. For example, if your site uses https, make sure that the canonical tag also uses https.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Canonical Chains: A canonical chain occurs when Page A references Page B as the canonical, and Page B references Page C as the canonical. Always point the canonical tag directly to the main version of the page.
Multiple Canonical Tags: There should only be one canonical tag on a page. If there are multiple canonical tags, search engines might ignore them.
Non-Similar Content: Don’t use the canonical tag on pages with completely different content. It should only be used on pages with identical or very similar content.

Conclusion

Canonical tags are an essential tool for bloggers to manage duplicate content, consolidate link equity, and improve crawling efficiency. By using them correctly, you can help search engines understand your content better and improve your blog’s SEO.

Do I need a canonical tag on every blog post?

Yes, it is a smart default. A self-referencing canonical tag tells Google, “This exact URL is the main version.” That removes doubt if your post can be reached in more than one way.

This helps when the same page shows up with tracking links, different categories, or other URL versions. Without a canonical, Google may pick the wrong version to show in search.

It also makes your SEO setup more consistent. If you later change your site structure, the canonical tag can help keep search signals pointed at the right page.

When should I use a canonical tag instead of a noindex tag?

Use a canonical tag when the pages are very similar and you want one main page to rank. The canonical keeps the main page in search while telling Google which version to treat as primary.

Use noindex when you do not want a page to appear in search results at all. This is common for thin pages, private pages, or pages that are not helpful for search visitors.

If you are unsure, start by deciding your goal: “Which page should show on Google?” For more help on the noindex option, see the Noindex tag guide and when to use it.

What counts as “duplicate content” that needs a canonical tag?

Duplicate content is content that is identical or almost the same across multiple URLs. That can happen with printer-friendly pages, URL parameters, or the same post being accessible from different paths.

Even small changes can still be “too similar” in Google’s eyes. If the purpose of the pages is the same, a canonical tag is often the cleanest fix.

If the pages serve different goals or have meaningfully different content, do not canonicalize them together. In that case, consider rewriting, combining pages, or improving internal links so Google understands the best page.

What are the most common canonical tag mistakes to avoid?

The big ones are canonical chains, multiple canonicals, and pointing to the wrong page. A chain is when Page A points to Page B, and Page B points to Page C, which can confuse crawlers.

Keep it simple: only one canonical tag per page, and point it directly to the final main URL. Also use an absolute URL and stay consistent with https and the exact trailing slash style your site uses.

After you set canonicals, spot-check a few pages and confirm they match your preferred URL. This quick review can prevent indexing issues that are hard to notice until rankings drop.

How can RightBlogger help me improve SEO around canonicals and duplicate content?

RightBlogger helps you keep SEO details consistent, which reduces mistakes that lead to duplicate content problems. When your workflow is clean, it is easier to keep one clear “main” version of each topic.

Use SEO Reports for content and site improvements to catch common issues that can hurt indexing and rankings. Then update your content and page setup so search engines understand which pages matter most.

When you create new posts, tools like the RightBlogger AI Article Writer can help you write clearer, more focused content. That lowers the chance you publish multiple pages that cover the exact same thing without a plan.