Canonical Links: Google's way of identifying original content

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1 Feb 2025

I was researching on how to place a canonical link in a republished blog on Bulb, so I can help Google understand which content came first. I couldn't find it. While I'm waiting for the @BULB Official team to help me out, this inspired me to write up a quick post.

Intro on canonical tags

Effectively managing website content is crucial for improving visibility and ranking in search engine results. One of the key tools for achieving this is the use of canonical tags. This blog post will delve into the significance of canonical tags, explaining how they help prevent duplicate content issues and enhance your SEO efforts.

What is a canonical link or tag?

A canonical tag, also known as a "rel=canonical" link, is a method of informing search engines which version of a web page is the main or "canonical" version. This practice is essential for addressing issues of duplicate content that often appear in multiple URLs. By employing a canonical tag, website owners can indicate to search engines which version of the content they consider most relevant.

Google's take on Canonical Tags

Placement of canonical tags

Canonical tags are placed in the HTML code of a webpage, specifically in the <head> section. The tag appears like this:

<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.example.com/original-page">

Some blogging platforms, for example Medium, give you the option to add the link in the blogs' settings section.

Settings section for canonical link in Medium

Aki Stepinska explains how this works on Medium

Key Points on the Importance of Canonical Tags

These are some of the main points why canonical tags are key for SEO:

Preventing Content Duplication: On large websites with numerous pages, the same content can appear at different URLs. This could be due to different versions of a page (like printer-friendly pages), product pages accessible through multiple navigation paths, or URLs with parameters. Canonical tags guide search engines to recognize which version of a page should be considered the official one.
Conserving SEO Value: By specifying a canonical URL, all SEO values, such as external links pointing to various versions of the same content, are consolidated towards the specified canonical URL. This enhances the page's search engine ranking.
Managing Syndicated Content: When content is replicated across different sites, a canonical link can point back to the original page, ensuring that the original source receives the recognition and ranking it deserves.
Flexibility and Control: Webmasters gain more control over their content and how it is indexed and presented in search results by clearly designating the preferred URL for certain content.

Why canonical tags are important for identifying and ranking original content

Canonical tags are not just a technical SEO element; they are a strategic tool that significantly impacts the online visibility and search ranking of your content. By understanding and implementing canonical tags correctly, webmasters can avoid the pitfalls of duplicate content and ensure that their website stands out in the competitive digital landscape. Embrace the power of canonical tags to keep your SEO game strong and your content authoritative.

Canonical Tags on Bulbapp.io

I have send the Bulb Team a question about how to use this option on Bulb. Awaiting an answer on Discord and also submitted a ticket. If you need this option too, please drop them a message also, so they can measure the need for multiple users.

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