/ SEO
What is a canonical tag?
A tag telling Google which version of a page is the master copy, so duplicates don't compete with each other.
/ 01
The short version
Mostly a concern for ecommerce and any site with filters, parameters or printer-friendly variants.
/ 02
What actually matters
- • Every page should have a self-referencing canonical.
- • Filtered and sorted URLs should canonical to the main category.
- • Don't canonical everything to the homepage — a classic and costly mistake.
- • Canonicals are a hint, not a directive.
- • Combine with consistent internal linking to the canonical URL.
/ 03
The bit most people get wrong
A canonical pointing at the wrong URL can de-index a whole section without any obvious error message anywhere.
/ 04
What to do next
Check the canonical tag on three key pages. Each should point at itself.
/ 05
Where RIOT fits in
We're a small Colchester studio helping UK SMBs get canonical tags right without agency waste or freelancer flake. If you've read this far and you want a second opinion on your specific setup, book a 20-minute call and we'll tell you honestly whether it's worth doing anything at all.
We work with clients across Essex, Suffolk, London and the wider UK — and remotely with brands abroad. No lock-in, no monthly retainer minimums, no pretending your problem is bigger than it is.
/ FAQs
Common questions
Canonical or redirect?
Redirect if the duplicate shouldn't exist; canonical if it must.
Does it fix duplicate content penalties?
There's no such penalty — but it does fix the dilution.
Still not sure?
Book a free 20-minute call — we'll answer your specific version of this question with no sales pitch.
Book a call →