Complete Guide to Using
Canonical Tags in Blogger and WordPress
Search engines aim to provide the best results for their users, and ensuring
your content is free from duplicate URLs helps improve your site's search
engine optimization (SEO).
What is a Canonical Tag?
A canonical tag (“rel=canonical”) is an HTML attribute used to indicate the
preferred version of a webpage when multiple URLs contain the same or similar
content. It tells search engines which URL to prioritize in search results,
consolidating ranking signals and avoiding potential penalties for duplicate
content.
Example:
```html
<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.example.com/preferredpage/"
/>
```
In this example, the canonical tag informs search engines that `https://www.example.com/preferredpage/`
is the authoritative version of the page.
Why Canonical Tags Are Important
1. Avoid Duplicate Content Issues: Duplicate content can confuse search
engines, splitting ranking potential across multiple URLs.
2. Consolidate Ranking Signals: Canonical tags ensure all ranking signals like
backlinks and traffic benefit the primary URL.
3. Improve Crawl Efficiency: Search engines spend less time crawling duplicate
pages, focusing instead on your most important content.
How to Add Canonical Tags in Blogger
1. Adding a Canonical Tag to a Single
Blog Post
Step 1: Go to your Blogger Dashboard.
Step 2: Edit the specific blog post
where you want to add a canonical tag.
Step 3: Switch to the HTML editor mode.
Step 4: Add the following code within
the `<head>` section of your post’s HTML:
```html
<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.example.com/yourpreferredurl/"
/>
```
Step 5: Save the changes and publish
your post.
2. Adding Canonical Tags Globally in the
Template
Step 1: Go to your Blogger Dashboard and
select Theme.
Step 2: Click on Edit HTML.
Step 3: Locate the `<head>`
section of your template.
Step 4: Insert this code before the
closing `</head>` tag:
```html
<link rel="canonical" href="data:blog.canonicalUrl"
/>
```
This code dynamically generates canonical URLs for all posts, based on
Blogger’s native canonical data.
3. Handle NonCanonical Pages
For archive pages or duplicate URLs, you can modify the HTML template to
include selfreferencing canonical tags to indicate the preferred version.
How to Add Canonical Tags in
WordPress
WordPress offers multiple ways to implement canonical tags, ranging from manual
edits to automated solutions using plugins.
1. Using SEO Plugins
The easiest method to add canonical tags in WordPress is by using an SEO plugin
like Yoast SEO, Rank Math, or All in One SEO Pack.
Steps to Add Canonical Tags with Yoast
SEO:
Step 1: Install and activate the Yoast
SEO plugin.
Step 2: Edit the post or page where you
want to set the canonical URL.
Step 3: Scroll down to the Yoast SEO
Meta Box.
Step 4: Click on the Advanced tab.
Step 5: Enter the preferred canonical
URL in the “Canonical URL” field.
Step 6: Save or update the post.
Yoast SEO will automatically add the canonical tag to the `<head>`
section of your page.
2. Adding Canonical Tags Manually
If you prefer manual control, you can add canonical tags directly into your
WordPress theme’s template files.
Step 1: Go to Appearance > Theme
Editor in the WordPress dashboard.
Step 2: Edit the `header.php` file (or
equivalent template file).
Step 3: Add the following code inside
the `<head>` section:
```php
<link rel="canonical" href="<?php echo get_permalink();
?>" />
```
This dynamically generates a canonical tag for each page or post.
3. Using Functions.php for Dynamic
Canonicals
You can also include canonical tags programmatically in the `functions.php`
file of your theme.
```php
function add_canonical_tag() {
if (is_singular()) {
echo '<link
rel="canonical" href="' . get_permalink() . '" />';
}
}
add_action('wp_head', 'add_canonical_tag');
```
This code ensures canonical tags are automatically added to all singular pages
and posts.
4. Handle Pagination Canonicals
For paginated content, ensure your canonical tags are set correctly using the
following pluginbased or manual methods. For example:
```php
<link rel="canonical" href="<?php echo get_pagenum_link();
?>" />
```
Best Practices for Canonical Tags
1. Use Absolute URLs: Always use the full URL, including `https://` or
`http://`, to avoid confusion.
2. Avoid SelfReferencing Canonicals When Possible: While not harmful, they’re
often unnecessary unless managing duplicate URL parameters.
3. Canonicalize Pagination Thoughtfully: For paginated content, it’s essential
to avoid consolidating all pages into one URL.
4. Test Canonical Tags: Use browser developer tools or SEO audit tools to
verify correct implementation.
5. Handle CrossDomain Canonicals: If your content appears on multiple domains,
always point the canonical tag to the original source.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Pointing Multiple Pages to a Single URL:
Canonical tags should not create confusion by pointing unrelated pages to the
same canonical URL.
Incorrect URL Formatting: Ensure there
are no typos or missing elements in your canonical URLs.
Conflicting Canonical Tags: Avoid
scenarios where multiple canonical tags are present on a single page.
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