when it comes to WordPress websites there’s a lot of talk about SEO and one of the things that often comes up is canonical tags.

These little guys can be really helpful but they can also be a bit tricky if you’re not careful.

I’ve been building WordPress websites for a while now and I’ve learned a thing or two about canonical tags along the way.

So let’s talk about some common mistakes people make when using canonical tags on their WordPress websites.

Yo, wanna boost your WordPress SEO game? 🤔 This post just dropped some serious knowledge bombs about canonical tags! 🤯 But if you really wanna level up your site’s performance, check out Pressable. It’s like the ultimate cheat code for WordPress hosting. 🚀

Table of Contents

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Canonical Tags

1. Using Multiple Canonical Tags on a Single Page

Remember canonical tags are all about telling search engines which page is the “original” or “preferred” version of a piece of content when you have multiple pages with the same content.

Think of it like choosing the best representative from a group.

You only need one representative right? So having more than one canonical tag on a single page is like trying to choose multiple representatives – it gets confusing!

2. Not Using the Same Canonical Tag on Multiple Pages with Duplicate Content

If you have several pages with the same content you need to use the same canonical tag on all of them except for the one you want to be considered the “preferred” page.

It’s like sending everyone to the same spot.

You wouldn’t tell different groups to meet at different places would you? It would be chaotic!

3. Combining Canonical Tags with Redirects

Imagine you’re trying to get to a concert and there are two paths.

One path has a big sign that says “This way to the concert!” while the other path has a detour that eventually leads to the same place.

You wouldn’t take both paths right? It’s the same with canonical tags and redirects.

Both can tell search engines where to go but using both together just adds unnecessary complexity and increases the risk of errors.

4. Using HTTP Instead of HTTPS for Canonical Tags

It’s 2024 and HTTPS is the standard for secure websites.

It’s like wearing a seatbelt – it’s just safer.

When using canonical tags make sure the preferred page URL is prefixed with HTTPS.

If you’re using HTTP search engines might prefer the HTTPS version and you could be sending them to the wrong place.

5. Placing Canonical Tags in the Wrong Section of the Page

Think of your website like a house.

The header section is the front door – it’s the first thing visitors see.

You wouldn’t put a welcome mat in the middle of the living room would you? Similarly canonical tags should always be placed in the <head> section of your page never in the <body> section.

That’s where they’ll be seen by search engines and understood.

6. Blocking Search Engines from Crawling Pages with Canonical Tags

It’s important to remember that even though you’re using a canonical tag to tell search engines to prioritize another page they still need to crawl the page with the canonical tag to understand its relationship to the preferred page.

Imagine you’re organizing a party and you’ve told everyone to meet at the main house.

But you’ve locked the front door of the house so nobody can get in! It’s the same with search engines.

If you block them from crawling a page they won’t be able to see the canonical tag and won’t be able to prioritize the preferred page.

7. Using Canonical Tags on Pages with Original Content

Canonical tags are for pages with duplicate content not for pages with original content.

Think of it like this: You wouldn’t use a map to tell people how to get to a place they already know how to get to would you? If a page has original content it should stand on its own and you don’t need a canonical tag.

Going Beyond Canonical Tags: WordPress Hosting and SEO

Now let’s talk about something else that’s important for your website’s SEO: WordPress hosting.

It’s not just about where your website lives it’s about how well it performs and how secure it is.

If your website is slow or unreliable it won’t rank well in search results no matter how good your canonical tags are.

That’s where managed WordPress hosting solutions like Pressable come in.

Pressable focuses on providing a robust and secure environment specifically designed for WordPress websites.

With Pressable you get better WordPress site performance 100% network uptime and industry-leading security powered by Jetpack Security.

Why Does This Matter for SEO?

Think about it – a fast and reliable website leads to a better user experience.

Visitors are more likely to stay on your site engage with your content and come back for more.

And all of this contributes to better SEO rankings.

So if you’re looking to take your WordPress website’s SEO to the next level it’s worth investing in a managed WordPress hosting solution like Pressable.

They’re specifically designed to help your website perform better and rank higher in search results.

Final Thoughts

Canonical tags are a powerful tool for optimizing your WordPress website for search engines.

But they’re not a magic bullet.

By avoiding these common mistakes and focusing on overall website performance you can improve your website’s SEO and drive more traffic to your site.

7 Mistakes to Avoid When Using Canonical Tags on Your WordPress Website ⚠️