Contact

How To Fix Alternate Page With Proper Canonical Tag

How to Fix Alternate Pages With Proper Canonical Tags (Without Losing Your Mind)

Hey there, fellow web wranglers! Let’s talk about one of those SEO headaches that’s almost as fun as untangling Christmas lights: duplicate content and canonical tags. You know, that moment when Google’s crawling your site, sees two identical pages, and starts scratching its algorithmic head like, “Which one do I even rank?!” Spoiler: If you don’t fix this, neither page might rank well. But don’t panic—we’ve got your back.

At Sitelinx Organic SEO Agency here in sunny Los Angeles, we’ve fixed enough canonical tag disasters to fill the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Whether you’re a WordPress warrior or a small business owner drowning in technical SEO jargon, let’s break this down like a friendly chat over coffee.

What’s a Canonical Tag, Anyway? (And Why Should You Care?)

Imagine you’re a librarian (stick with us here). You’ve got five copies of The Great Gatsby, but you only want people to check out the original 1925 edition. A canonical tag is like slapping a “THIS IS THE REAL DEAL” sticker on that vintage copy. It tells search engines, “Hey, index this version—the others are just backups or duplicates.”

But here’s the kicker: mess up the canonical tag, and you’re basically telling Google to ignore your best content. Yikes.

Why Alternate Pages Need Canonical Love

Let’s get real. Duplicate content happens. Maybe you’ve got:

  • Product pages with multiple URLs (e.g., sorting by price vs. color).
  • Printer-friendly versions of blog posts.
  • Session IDs or tracking parameters creating URL variations.

Without a canonical tag, Google might:

  1. Waste crawl budget on irrelevant pages.
  2. Split your ranking power between duplicates.
  3. Penalize you for “thin content” (even if it’s accidental).

Ever wondered why your competitor’s mediocre page outranks your masterpiece? A missing canonical tag could be the culprit.

How to Spot Duplicate Content Like an SEO Specialist

Before fixing anything, you need to find the duplicates. Here’s how we do it at Sitelinx:

  1. Crawl Your Site
    Tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs will show you every URL on your site. Look for:

    • Parameter-heavy URLs (?color=blue&size=large).
    • HTTP vs. HTTPS duplicates.
    • Mobile vs. desktop versions.

  2. Check Google Search Console
    Under “Coverage,” look for “Duplicate without user-selected canonical” errors.

  3. Use SEMrush or Site: Operators
    Search site:yourdomain.com “part of your content” to find identical text across pages.

Fixing Canonical Tags: A Step-by-Step Guide

Alright, let’s roll up our sleeves. Here’s how to add or fix canonical tags without accidentally breaking your site (we’ve all been there).

Option 1: Use a Plugin (For WordPress Users)

If you’re on WordPress, plugins like Yoast SEO or RankMath make this stupidly easy:

  • Go to the page editor.
  • Find the “Advanced” tab in your SEO plugin.
  • Add the canonical URL in the designated field.

Pro Tip: Always set canonicals to the most authoritative version of the page (usually the one with the most backlinks or traffic).

Option 2: Edit the HTML

For the DIY crowd, add this line to your page’s <head> section: 

<link rel="canonical" href="https://yourdomain.com/correct-page/" />

Option 3: Let Your SEO Agency Handle It

Shameless plug: If coding makes you sweat, our team at Sitelinx offers WordPress SEO services that include canonical audits. We’ll fix everything while you binge Netflix.

Common Canonical Tag Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

We’ve seen it all. Here’s what not to do:

  • Self-Referencing Canonicals
    Every page should point to itself unless it’s a duplicate. Otherwise, you’re just confusing Google.

  • Pointing to a 404 Page
    Double-check that your canonical URL actually exists.

  • Forgetting Mobile vs. Desktop
    If you have separate mobile URLs, canonicalize them to the desktop version.

  • Ignoring Pagination
    For blog archives or product categories, use rel="next" and rel="prev" tags alongside canonicals.

When to Call in the Pros: Technical SEO Services

Look, we get it. Fixing canonicals isn’t exactly a party. If you’re a small business owner juggling website management, marketing campaigns, and Google Business reviews, this might fall into the “I’ll deal with it later” pile.

That’s where a best SEO company for small business like Sitelinx comes in. Our SEO specialists handle:

  • Technical SEO audits (including canonicals).
  • WordPress optimization (speed, security, plugins).
  • Local SEO to dominate your city’s search results.

Why stress over meta tags when you could be, you know, running your business?

Canonical Tags vs. Redirects: What’s the Difference?

Great question! Here’s the cheat sheet:

Canonical Tags 301 Redirects
Tells Google which page to index Sends users & bots to a new URL
Keeps both pages live Retires the old URL
Ideal for duplicates you need to keep (e.g., product filters) Best for outdated or merged content

Rule of Thumb: Use redirects when the duplicate has no purpose. Use canonicals when you need both pages to exist.

Need Help? Let’s Talk Canonicals Over Coffee

At Sitelinx Organic SEO Agency, we’re not just another SEO company—we’re your nerdy neighbors in LA who geek out over site speed and schema markup. Whether you’re struggling with canonicals, Local SEO, or just want a second opinion, drop us a line.

PSA: Google updates its algorithm more often than we change our socks. Stay ahead with a marketing consultant who actually explains things in plain English.

FAQs: Canonical Tags Demystified

Q: Will canonical tags hurt my SEO if I use them wrong?
A: Only if you point them to the wrong page or forget them entirely. Double-check your work (or let us do it).

Q: Do canonical tags pass link equity?
A: Yep! They consolidate ranking power to your preferred page.

Q: Can I use canonicals across different domains?
A: Technically yes, but it’s risky. Google might ignore cross-domain canonicals if they seem spammy.

Wrapping Up: Keep Calm and Canonical On

Duplicate content isn’t the end of the world—it’s just a hiccup. With the right canonical tags (and maybe a little help from the best SEO companies), your site can climb the ranks without Google throwing shade.

So, next time you spot a duplicate page, channel your inner librarian and stick that canonical sticker where it belongs. And if you’re stuck? You know where to find us. Sitelinx Organic SEO Agency is here to turn your SEO nightmares into success stories.

Now go forth and conquer those alternate pages! 🚀

Table of Contents

Who Are We?

Sitelinx Organic SEO Agency has been around for over a decade! Our expert SEO team knows it’s way around Google’s algorithm and stays up-to-date with the everchanging trends – SEO strategies the worked yesterday might not work today. Contact us today for a free audit and price quote.

Our Main Services

All Rights Reserved © Sitelinx Organic SEO Agency. 2025