The Function of Canonical URLs in SEO

SEO services in Malaysia

Canonical URLs play a crucial role in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) as they help search engines understand which version of a webpage should be indexed and displayed in search results.

A canonical URL is an HTML link element with a “rel” attribute set to “canonical” that is placed within the head section of a webpage. It indicates to search engines the preferred version of a webpage, even if there are multiple versions available. This is important because search engines may consider identical or similar content on multiple pages to be duplicate content, which can negatively impact a website’s SEO.

For example, if a website has both “example.com” and “www.example.com” versions of its homepage, a search engine may not know which version to index and display in search results. By implementing a canonical URL on the “www.example.com” version that points to the “example.com” version, the website is telling search engines that the “example.com” version is the preferred version and should be indexed and displayed.

Canonical URLs can also be used to address other types of duplicate content issues, such as when a webpage is accessible via multiple URL parameters or when a webpage has both mobile and desktop versions. By implementing canonical URLs, a website can ensure that search engines only index and display the preferred version of a webpage, which helps to avoid any potential penalties for duplicate content.

In addition to addressing duplicate content issues, canonical URLs can also be used to consolidate link equity. Link equity refers to the value that a website receives from links pointing to its pages. By consolidating link equity, a website can improve its overall SEO by ensuring that the most valuable pages receive the most link equity. For example, if a website has several versions of a product page, it can use canonical URLs to consolidate link equity to the preferred version of the page.

It is important to note that the canonical tag is a hint to search engines and it is not a directive. Therefore, search engines may choose to ignore the canonical tag if they find it to be in conflict with other signals on the page or the website.

Another important aspect to consider is that canonical URLs should not be used as a way to hide or bury content. If the content of the non-canonical pages is significantly different from the content of the canonical page, search engines may still index and display the non-canonical pages. Additionally, it is also important to make sure that the canonical URL is accessible and returns a 200 status code, as search engines may ignore canonical tags that point to non-existent or error pages.

In conclusion, canonical URLs play a crucial role in SEO by helping search engines understand which version of a webpage should be indexed and displayed in search results. By addressing duplicate content issues and consolidating link equity, canonical URLs can help improve a website’s overall SEO. However, it is important to use them correctly and not to use them as a way to hide or bury content.

Improve your online visibility and drive more traffic to your website with our professional SEO services in Malaysia. Don’t let your competitors outrank you, Contact us today to see how we can help you achieve your business goals!

Get a FREE 1-to-1 SEO Service Consultation

Fill up below and we will get back to you a FREE 1-to-1 SEO Service consultation on how to grow your business in Google!

Latest News

What’s New in SEO & SEM ?

Online marketing

7 Reasons To Build Brand Identity With SEO

Why is SEO a reason to build a business identity? The following are some of the reasons. Doing Keyword Research …

seo malaysia

4 Ways to Build Good and Right Backlinks

Is there a good and proper way to build backlinks? The term backlink is often heard side by side with …

SEO services in Kuala Lumpur

How do you go about building an SEO strategy?

Building an SEO strategy is an important step in ensuring the success of your website and online presence. SEO, or …

SEO performance in Malaysia

The Importance of User Experience in Seo

User experience (UX) and search engine optimization (SEO) may seem like separate entities, but they are closely related and impact …

seo agency malaysia

5 Ways to See Competitor Backlinks

One of the factors that affect the appearance of our website on the first page of search engines is a …

SEO agency in Malaysia

Internal Linking’s Importance in SEO

There are several links on the internet. Internal links, external links, and links that move you from one website to …

CHIANGMAI, THAILAND -FEBRUARY 7, 2017:Google Maps for Mobile 2.0 was released. Its location service can work with or without a GPS receiver.

Google Local SEO: Optimizing for Local Search Results

Google Local SEO is the practice of enhancing a company’s online presence in order to rank higher in Google’s local …

SEO company in Kuala Lumpur

What are the most important variables to consider in order to increase your ranking?

There are many variables to consider when trying to increase your ranking in search engines. Some of the most important …

SME Malaysia Website

Why all SMEs in Malaysia need a website

If you’re a small business owner in Malaysia, you need to have a website! A good website can help you …

SEO company in Malaysia

Expert SEO Consulting: Achieving Your Business Goals

Expert SEO consulting can help businesses achieve their goals by improving their online visibility and search engine rankings. Through a …

SEO services in Malaysia

SEO Services for Blogs and Online Publishers

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a critical component of maintaining a blog or online publishing platform. It ensures that potential …

SEO Boost your sales

5 local SEO hacks to boost your sales

If you’re looking to boost your sales, local SEO is a strategy you need to consider. According to recent studies, …