In the world of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), canonical tags play a crucial role in ensuring that search engines understand the preferred version of a web page. For website owners using Wix, understanding and implementing canonical tags correctly can significantly impact their website's SEO performance. In this article, we will delve into the concept of canonical tags, discuss their importance in SEO, and provide a step-by-step guide on how to implement them in Wix.
What are Canonical Tags?
Canonical tags, also known as rel="canonical" tags, are HTML elements used to indicate the preferred version of a web page when multiple versions of the same content exist. They are employed to resolve issues related to duplicate content and help search engines understand which version of a page should be indexed and displayed in search results.
Duplicate content can occur for various reasons, such as when different URLs lead to the same content or when variations of a page are created for different devices (e.g., desktop and mobile). Canonical tags provide a signal to search engines, informing them which version of the page should be treated as the primary and authoritative source.
Importance of Canonical Tags in SEO
Implementing canonical tags correctly can have several positive impacts on SEO:
Avoiding duplicate content penalties: Search engines penalise websites with duplicate content as it can confuse their algorithms and diminish the user experience. By specifying the canonical version of a page, website owners can avoid penalties and consolidate the ranking potential of duplicate pages into a single authoritative page.
Consolidating link equity: When multiple versions of a page exist, each version can accumulate backlinks and authority independently. By implementing canonical tags, website owners can consolidate the link equity from different versions onto a single page, boosting its overall SEO value.
Improving crawl efficiency: Search engine crawlers need to discover, crawl, and index web pages efficiently. Canonical tags help streamline this process by guiding crawlers to the preferred version of a page, reducing unnecessary crawling of duplicate content variations.
Implementing Canonical Tags in Wix
Wix, a popular website builder, simplifies the process of implementing canonical tags through its user-friendly interface.
Follow the step-by-step guide below to add canonical tags to your Wix website:
1. Access the Wix Editor: Log in to your Wix account and navigate to the dashboard. Select the website you wish to edit and click on the "Edit Site" button to enter the Wix Editor.
2. Open the Page Settings: Within the Wix Editor, click on the "Edit Pages" top right of screen. Select the page for which you want to add the canonical tag.
3. Go to Advanced SEO Settings: In the SEO Panel, scroll down and click on the "Additional tags" option to expand the additional settings.
4. Add the Canonical Tag: In the Advanced SEO settings, you will find an option called "Canonical URL." Enter the URL of the preferred version of the page you are editing. Make sure to use the full URL, including the "https://" or "http://" prefix (As below image).
5. Save and Publish: After entering the canonical URL, click on the "Save" button to save your changes. Finally, click on the "Publish" button to make the updated canonical tag live on your website.
Examples of canonical tags
Basic Canonical Tag:
In this example, the canonical tag indicates that the preferred version of the page is "https://www.example.com/page".
Canonical Tag with Query Parameters:
If your website uses query parameters to filter or sort content, you can use a canonical tag to specify the preferred version of the page, including the specific query parameters.
Canonical Tag for Mobile and Desktop Versions:
In this example, the canonical tag specifies the preferred version of the page for desktop users, while the alternate tag specifies the URL for the mobile version of the page.
Canonical Tag for Paginated Content:
For paginated content, the canonical tag is used to indicate the preferred version of the main page, while the "next" and "prev" tags denote the URLs of the subsequent and previous pages, respectively.
By following these steps, you can effectively implement canonical tags in Wix and ensure that search engines understand the preferred versions of your web pages.
The Conclusion of Canonical Tags
Canonical tags play a vital role in SEO, especially when dealing with duplicate content on your website. Understanding their purpose and implementing them correctly can help you avoid duplicate content penalties, consolidate link equity, and improve the crawl.
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