Canonical Issues: Defined & Resolved

The issue that keeps popping up… every now and again, we get questions from people who are experiencing ranking woes due to canonical issues. Here’s a quick video on canonicals and how to resolve the problem with use of 301 redirects. There are additional 301 redirect examples and other resources below.

How to create an .htaccess file:
– Open up Notepad
– Add in your desired 301 redirect code
– Click to save (a window pops up)
– Under save as type, select “All Files
– Under File Name, enter “.htaccess” and hit SAVE
– Upload and test

.htaccess redirect non-www to www version:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^example.com
RewriteRule (.*) http://www.example.com/$1 [R=301,L]

.htaccess redirect old page to new page:
redirect 301 /index.htm http://www.example.com/

Check server headers:
https://www.seoconsultants.com/tools/headers
https://www.webconfs.com/http-header-check.php
or just run a search on “check headers

Additional 301 redirect examples:
https://www.webconfs.com/154/301-redirects-how-to-redirect-your-website/

Matt Cutts explains the NEW canonical tags
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzA_VBHtuCk
Ex: <link rel=”canonical” href=”http://example.com/page.html”/>

About Sara Mannix

Sara Mannix founded Mannix in 1996 with a goal to get clients found on the web through organic search engine optimization (SEO). The company now serves over 1500 clients worldwide and employs a team of 30 specialists, operating under the tagline "Success Measured." The tagline reflects the company's focus on measurable results for every client. This multifaceted company is an industry leader, specializing in organic SEO, conversion rate optimization, SEO-friendly website design, paid advertising (PPC). Mannix Marketing has two divisions, one side is focused on lead generation for nationally competitive businesses. The other side is focused on local businesses. Mannix has one of the largest portfolios of tourism and city guides in Upstate New York. These guides, (Albany.com, Saratoga.com, LakeGeorge.com, and Adirondack.net etc), reach over 10 million visitors a year. Corresponding social media profiles for the region extend this reach to millions every month.