Google recently updated its guidelines regarding the use of canonical tags for syndicated content, advising publishers against using them and instead recommending that they block the syndicated content from being indexed to prevent duplication. This change in recommendation has left many publishers confused about how to handle their syndicated content and has raised questions about the effectiveness of canonical tags in general.
The canonical tag is a tool that publishers can use to indicate to search engines that the content on a particular page is a duplicate of content that already exists elsewhere on the web. By using the tag, publishers can ensure that search engines give credit to the original source of the content and avoid having duplicate content penalized in search rankings.
This piece of new information was added by Google to the help document available at this location. Read More
Previously, Google recommended the use of canonical tags for syndicated content, advising publishers to require their syndication partners to use the tag to indicate that the content was being copied from their site. This approach was meant to ensure that the original source of the content was credited by search engines and to prevent the syndicated content from outranking the original content in search results.
However, this approach has proven to be problematic in practice. Many syndication partners did not use the canonical tag correctly or at all, and the tag did not always prevent syndicated content from outranking the original source in search results. This led to frustration for publishers who were not receiving proper credit for their content and were losing traffic to syndication partners.
Google’s new guidance on canonical tags for syndicated content suggests that blocking the indexing of the syndicated content is a more effective way to prevent duplication and ensure that the original source of the content is credited in search results. By blocking indexing, publishers can prevent search engines from crawling and indexing the syndicated content, which can reduce the risk of duplication penalties and ensure that the original source of the content is properly credited.
To block the indexing of syndicated content, publishers can use a variety of methods, including robots.txt files, noindex tags, or HTTP headers. The method chosen will depend on the specific platform and content management system used by the publisher.
It is worth noting that the use of canonical tags is still recommended in some cases, such as when a page has multiple URLs that all have the same content or when a site has duplicate content across multiple domains. In these cases, the canonical tag can still be an effective tool for ensuring that the correct page is indexed by search engines.
Overall, the change in Google’s guidance regarding canonical tags for syndicated content is an acknowledgment of the challenges that publishers have faced in using this approach effectively. By recommending the blocking of syndicated content instead, Google is providing publishers with a more reliable and effective way to ensure that their content is properly credited and to avoid duplication penalties.
While some publishers may be concerned about the impact of blocking indexing on their traffic and visibility, it is important to remember that syndicated content can still be shared and promoted through other channels, such as social media or email marketing. Additionally, by ensuring that the original source of the content is properly credited, publishers can establish themselves as authoritative sources of high-quality content, which can ultimately lead to increased traffic and engagement.
In conclusion, Google’s updated guidance on canonical tags for syndicated content is a significant change that will require publishers to adapt their strategies for managing syndicated content. By emphasizing the blocking of indexing as a more effective approach, Google is providing publishers with a more reliable way to ensure that their content is properly credited and to avoid duplication penalties. While this change may require some adjustment for publishers, it ultimately reinforces the importance of creating high-quality, original content and establishing oneself as a trusted source of information in the online ecosystem.