What are Canonicalized or canonicalization issues with a website?

Canonicalization issues refer to situations where multiple URLs on a website lead to the same or similar content, causing potential duplicate content problems. It can occur due to various factors such as URL variations, URL parameters, or inconsistent internal linking. Canonicalization is the process of selecting a preferred URL version and signaling it to search engines.

When canonicalization issues occur, search engines may have difficulty determining the primary or original version of the content, leading to potential negative effects on SEO and user experience. Common canonicalization issues include:

Duplicate content: When identical or similar content is accessible through multiple URLs, search engines may view it as duplicate content. This can dilute the ranking potential of the content and confuse search engines about which version to display in search results.

URL variations: URLs with different parameters or tracking codes that lead to the same content can cause canonicalization issues. For example, "www.example.com/page" and "www.example.com/page?source=123" may serve the same content but appear as separate URLs to search engines.

HTTP and HTTPS versions: Having both HTTP and HTTPS versions of a website can create canonicalization problems. Search engines may view the HTTP and HTTPS versions as separate entities, leading to duplicate content issues.

www and non-www versions: If a website is accessible through both "www" and "non-www" versions (e.g., "www.example.com" and "example.com"), it can lead to canonicalization issues. Search engines may consider them as separate URLs with duplicate content.

To address canonicalization issues, website owners can implement the following best practices:

Implement 301 redirects: Set up permanent redirects (301 redirects) from non-preferred URLs to the preferred version to consolidate link equity and signal the preferred URL to search engines.

Use canonical tags: Add canonical tags to the head section of web pages, specifying the preferred URL version. This helps search engines understand the preferred version and consolidate ranking signals.

Set preferred domain in Google Search Console: Specify the preferred domain (www or non-www) in Google Search Console to help search engines recognize the preferred version.

Use consistent internal linking: Ensure consistent internal linking by using the same URLs throughout your website. This helps search engines understand the canonical version of the content.

By addressing canonicalization issues, website owners can improve search engine visibility, avoid duplicate content penalties, and ensure a better user experience. Regular monitoring and maintenance are essential to identify and resolve any canonicalization issues that may arise.

How to fix canonicalization issues in Google Search Console?

Identify the canonicalization issues: In Google Search Console, go to the "Coverage" or "Index" section and look for any reported canonicalization issues. These issues may include duplicate content, incorrect canonical URLs, or URLs not being indexed properly.

Determine the desired canonical URL: Review your website and determine the correct canonical URL for each page. The canonical URL should represent the preferred version of the page that you want to be indexed by search engines.

Implement canonical tags: On the pages with canonicalization issues, add the canonical tag to the HTML header. The canonical tag should point to the preferred canonical URL for that page. For example, if you have duplicate content on multiple pages, specify the canonical URL of the original page as the canonical tag for the duplicates.

Verify correct implementation: After adding the canonical tags, verify the correct implementation by checking the HTML source code of the affected pages. Look for the presence of the rel="canonical" tag with the correct canonical URL.

Update sitemaps and internal links: Ensure that your XML sitemap includes the correct canonical URLs for each page. Also, update any internal links within your website to point to the canonical URLs to reinforce the correct indexing signals.

Fetch and re-index affected pages: In Google Search Console, use the URL Inspection tool to fetch and re-index the affected pages. This will prompt Google to revisit the pages, recognize the canonical tags, and update the indexing accordingly.

Monitor and review: After implementing the fixes, regularly monitor the Google Search Console for any new canonicalization issues. Address them promptly to maintain proper canonicalization and avoid duplicate content problems.

How to fix canonicalization issues in Wix?

To fix canonicalization issues in Wix, you can follow these steps:

Access your Wix website editor: Log in to your Wix account and navigate to the website editor for the site where you want to fix the canonicalization issues.

Check your page settings: Select the page that you want to work on and click on "Page Settings" or the gear icon to access the page settings.

Edit the SEO settings: In the page settings, look for the "SEO (Google)" section or a similar option. Click on it to expand the SEO settings.

Set the canonical URL: Locate the field labeled "Canonical URL" or "Canonical Tag" and enter the preferred canonical URL for the page. The canonical URL should be the one that you want search engines to index and consider as the primary version of the page.

Save the changes: Once you have entered the canonical URL, save the changes to update the page settings.

Repeat for other pages: If you have multiple pages with canonicalization issues, repeat the same process for each page, setting the appropriate canonical URL.

Submit sitemap to search engines: To ensure search engines recognize the canonical URLs, submit your website's sitemap to search engines like Google and Bing. You can usually find a sitemap.xml file in your Wix website's root directory.

Monitor and review: Keep an eye on your website's performance and regularly check for any new canonicalization issues. If you notice any further issues, review the page settings and ensure the correct canonical URLs are set.