Webmaster Discussions

In SEO, the term canonicalization refers to the process wherein URLs are standardized. What this simply means is that it is how you establish, or tell search engines, which URL you want them to display in search results as containing a certain document.

Canonicalization can be a big problem in SEO as search engines see different URL versions of the same page (i.e. http://www.phoenixrealm.com/ and http://phoenixrealm.com/) can lead to the following issues:

• having the URL versions flagged for containing duplicate content;
• having a non-preferred URL rank higher than the URL you prefer your users to land on; and
• splitting the link juice between the URLs.

To fix this issue, what you need to do is just let the search engines know that these URLs really just have one content and that there is one URL which you prefer them to show in their SERPs. To do this all you need to do is use the canonical tag.

The canonical tag is recognized by all the major search engines and is very easy to use. You just need to add the rel=”canonical” attribute as a link element to all the head pages of the non-preferred URLs. For the example above, if the preferred URL is the first one, then add

link rel=”canonical” href=”http://www.phoenixrealm.com/“

to the head section of the second URL so that the search engines will route all the link juice to the first URL and also only show that in their result pages.

Popularity: 25% ?

Related posts:

1. Current Canonical Tag Support from Google, Yahoo, and Bing
2. Matt Cutts Explains Canonical Tags on Video
3. Addressing the Duplicate Content Issue
4. ALT Tags – Every picture should tell a story
5. Do Meta Tags Help SEO?

Time and again Google and the other search engines have explained the fact that they do understand that not all duplicate content is malicious. In fact, Google even expressly gives examples of non-malicious duplicate content (i.e. pages that are stripped-down for mobile devices but still essentially contain the same content and printer-only versions of web pages) in the Webmaster Tools Help page on the topic. Furthermore, they also say that snippets and quotes are not considered to be duplicate content, so that you do not even have to worry about being penalized SEO-wise for this.

Despite this fact, duplicate content is still a big issue in SEO, not for fear of being penalized but because Google might rank a URL of a web page with duplicate content higher than the preferred URL. The ramifications of Google showing the non-preferred link in its search result range from usability issues (i.e. users will go to the page with the stripped-down version) to monetization issues (i.e. all the Ads will probably on the preferred URL).

Several years ago, it was recommended that crawler access to duplicate content simply be blocked, usually using the robots.txt file. However, this is now actually discouraged. Google suggests that the best way to go is to when it comes to ensuring that they show the preferred URL in their SERPs is to simply tell them which your preferred URL this. This method is called canonicalization, and can be actually be done several ways. The preferred way nowadays, since all major search engines use this method, is to simply use the canonical tag by adding a link element with the attribute rel=”canonical” to the head section of non-canonical pages.

Another way to address duplicate content issue is to use a 301 redirect. Note though that with this method the user, and not just the bot, is redirected to the preferred URL. This won’t work if some users really need to get to the non-preferred URL.

Popularity: 26% ?

Related posts:

1. Scrapers and the Duplicate Issue
2. How To Tackle The Duplicate Content Problem
3. Current Canonical Tag Support from Google, Yahoo, and Bing
4. Webmaster Tools Content Analysis Feature
5. Canonicalization Using Canonical Tags

published by Gary in Link Strategies with

There is an ugly rumour on the Internet; it’s permeating the chat rooms; it’s tainting many-a-tweet; it’s clogging blogs wherever you look – it’s… it’s saying that link building is not all that it’s stacked up to be. The tweets are tweeting that fresh copy, sweetened with keywords, is a much more effective Search Engine Optimisation tool than uncontrolled, uncensored, low-quality, unfettered link building!

Of course, it’s a hoax but there is a germ of truth. Every organisation is looking to the Internet to raise its market profile and to increase sales. Search engine optimisation is not simply about choosing the right key words it also includes judicious link building. A well-thought-out strategy of link building is not a case of “I’ll put your link on mine if you put my link on yours”. Effective online marketing requires discerning link building, connecting your website with websites that genuinely complement your product or service.

Some companies whilst formulating their SEO strategy pay fees to online directories to help build up their inbound links, but search engines do not consider links that are paid for in the same light as those that are sited on a quality website that offers a reciprocal link.

In truth, most organisations when looking at their SEO strategy, and factoring in link building, are very keen to establish inbound links but less keen to feature outbound links. After all, once a potential customer lands on your website, do you really want the person to be lured away by an outbound link before buying your goods? The answer is to build up a network of inbound and outbound links that do not compete with your service or products. For example, a good link with regard to search engine optimisation would be for a motorcycle accessories company to have inbound and outbound links with a company that sells motorcycles.

Careful, quality link building has to be part of a good SEO strategy.

Popularity: 25% ?

This entry was posted
on Tuesday, October 5th, 2010 at 10:02 am and is filed under Link Strategies.
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Today is March 7, 2011

Is your SEO strategy up to date?

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published by Gary in SEO Basics with

Many mistakes can be avoided when designing your website but it takes more than a good eye to know what they are and how you can ensure that your Search Engine Optimisation is fully effective.

The most important page on your website is the Home Page or the landing page. If you want all the SEO and effort in getting visitors to your website to pay off, it is important that your landing page encourages visitors to linger and to take a good look around your website. For that to happen, the design needs to be clean, clear and welcoming and for your web-page titles to properly reflect the content of the web page. Although the web page title does not feature on your web page, it is prominent in the browser bar and is one of the search engine optimisation elements that will help to attract your customers.

It may seem obvious, but good website copy that is well-written is also a key feature to consider seriously. There should be enough copy to inform the reader and enough copy to enable you to lace appropriate key words for effective search engine optimisation.

Links are another key feature of most web pages and it is amazing how many times links are incorrect and a customer is taken to the wrong item or web page. Check your links regularly, as there is nothing more annoying for a visitor than a link not working.

Creating a website that looks good is the secret to SEO success but there is still much to do to ensure that the search engine spiders like your website. For example, photos and images should be described correctly in the image tags, bearing in mind that the search engines can only read pictures and not see them. It’s a good idea to use the image descriptions as another opportunity for working in your key words for SEO. Some browsers also pick up ALT tag-descriptions, when the pointer hovers over the image, which offers a further opportunity for some good image SEO.

Popularity: 22% ?

This entry was posted
on Wednesday, October 13th, 2010 at 10:20 am and is filed under SEO Basics.
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Today is March 6, 2011

Is your SEO strategy up to date?

The only current SEO book on the planet.

Buy the industry standard #1 ranked SEO Book. But don’t take my word for it…

#1 Ranked. Everywhere.

Google Search: SEO Book (#1)

Yahoo Search: SEO Book (#1)

This is the #1 ranking SEO book on all major search engines.

The search engines love it. Thousands of webmasters have build their business using SEO Book. Learn why today.

published by Gary in SEO with

As search engine algorithms improve, and as competition increases, the pressure on SEOs to think of newer and better strategies to generate traffic to a site increases. While “more traditional” search optimisation methods such as link building through article submissions are still very useful, it is important to find more ways to generate traffic and utilise the new methods and strategies more effectively.

One of the things that SEOs tend to overlook are user generated content or UGCs. User generated content can actually be used to help you optimise your pages, especially if you have an affiliate site or a product site. User generated content is also very good for any content thin site.

Most of the time the comment or review section of a website is left as is. Comment moderation might be done, but usually for the purpose of weeding out spam. What many SEOs are missing if the comments and reviews are left as is, is the chance to use unique and fresh content that is relevant to some of the other pages in the site. What you can do is pick several of the most substantial comments and reviews about a product or service, collate them, and add them to a content thin page that has a topic connected to the review or comment. Choose reviews and comments that use specific keywords and phrases you are targeting. This helps you not only generate content for pages where you need it the most, but also gives an opportunity to link those pages to the product pages where the original review or comment was posted.

Popularity: 20% ?

This entry was posted
on Thursday, October 21st, 2010 at 2:00 pm and is filed under SEO.
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Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Today is March 6, 2011

Is your SEO strategy up to date?

The only current SEO book on the planet.

Buy the industry standard #1 ranked SEO Book. But don’t take my word for it…

#1 Ranked. Everywhere.

Google Search: SEO Book (#1)

Yahoo Search: SEO Book (#1)

This is the #1 ranking SEO book on all major search engines.

The search engines love it. Thousands of webmasters have build their business using SEO Book. Learn why today.