Fixing Canonical Error (Duplicate URL’s) in WordPress Website

Aim: To identify and resolve duplicate URL content issues through proper implementation of canonical tags in a WordPress website, ensuring improved SEO and user experience.

Optimal Outcome: The main goal of the process is to eliminate duplication and fix duplicate URL’s content issues in Website to have an improved SEO, better user experience, increased sales, protection of brand reputation, and reduced risk of penalties.

What do you need to start: 

1. Access to your WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Knowledge of duplicate content issues on your site.

Why is this SOP Important: It is important to fix duplicate URL’s content issues in Website to have a higher search engine ranking, increased visibility, and more traffic to the website. It also is a must to improve the user experience and increase customer satisfaction.

When and where to execute: This procedure must be carried either whenever a new Page/Post is uploaded.

Who Should Be Doing This: This operation should be carried out by the SEO account representative, or the Website owner.

What is Canonical URL Issue?

Canonical URLs and addressing duplicate content issues are crucial for maintaining a high search engine ranking in a WordPress website. Let’s break down how canonical URLs and duplicate content issues can impact your website’s ranking

Canonical URLs:

A canonical URL is the preferred or authoritative version of a web page’s URL. It is used to specify the primary URL for a piece of content when there are multiple URLs that lead to the same or very similar content.

In WordPress, canonical URLs are often specified using canonical tags within the HTML code of web pages. These tags guide search engines to index and rank the preferred URL while acknowledging the existence of duplicate or similar content.

The use of canonical tags helps search engines understand which URL to prioritize when ranking content, reducing the risk of splitting SEO value across multiple URLs.

Execution

Step 1 : Identification of Duplicate URL Content:

• Use SEO tools, such as Google Search Console or a website crawler like Screaming Frog, to identify duplicate content issues on your website.
• Look for identical or very similar content, such as duplicate posts, pages, or category/tag archives.

Google Search Console :

Screaming Frog :

Step 2 : Analysis of Duplicate URL Content:

• Examine the identified duplicate URLs and content to understand the reasons for duplication, such as variations in URL parameters, tag/category archives, or non-www/www versions of URLs.

Step 3 : Configure Permalinks:

• Set up a user-friendly permalink structure in WordPress to minimize URL variations.
• Navigate to “Settings” -> “Permalinks” and select a structure that reduces URL variations.

Crete a Code Self or Canonical Tag Generator Website  ( Code Only For Static ( Coding ) Website Not For WordPress )

• Go to Google Search -🡪 Canonical Tag Generator -🡪 Go to Coderseo.com 🡪 Paste Your Canonical URL’s -🡪 Copy the Generated Tag

Install Yoast SEO ( Ignore if Already Install ):

• Explore the use of a WordPress SEO plugin such as Yoast SEO or All in One SEO Pack to assist with managing canonical tags and other SEO-related settings.
• Go to Plugin -🡪 Search Yoast SEO 🡪 Install & Activate.

Utilize & Find You Canonical Page/ Post to Paste Tag:

• Edit the Post Or Pages Section to Implement the 

Identify and Choose Your Page and Click on Edit :

Implement Canonical URL : 

• Step 1:  Scroll Down the Page
• Step 2: Paste the Preferred URL ( Using Code Only For Static ( Coding Website ).
• Step : 3 Update Your Changes.

Regular Monitoring for New Issues:

• Conduct regular checks for new instances of duplicate URL content issues, particularly after making significant changes to your website’s structure or content.
• Testing:

• Test the changes made to ensure that canonical tags are properly implemented and that duplicate content issues are resolved.

Go to View Source Page -🡪 Search Canonical 🡪 Check is it Implemented Successfully? 

Documentation:

• Maintain a record of the actions taken to address canonical issues, including the specific URLs/content involved and the dates of resolution.

Completion

By following this SOP, you have successfully identified and resolved duplicate URL content issues, especially canonical issues, in your WordPress website. This practice enhances SEO, improves user experience, and guides search engines to index the preferred versions of your content, thereby minimizing duplicate content penalties