Canonical Links: Last week Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft announced support for a new link element to clean up duplicate urls on sites. The syntax is pretty simple: An ugly url such as http://www.example.com/page.html?sid=asdf314159265 can specify in the HEAD part of the document the following:
<link rel="canonical" href="http://example.com/page.html"/>
That tells search engines that the preferred location of this url (the “canonical” location, in search engine speak) is http://example.com/page.html instead of http://www.example.com/page.html?sid=asdf314159265 .
Duplicate Content Issues:
- Change your Content Management System (CMS) to generate only the urls you want. “Normalize” URLs;
- Pick one “canonical” URL and ensure you link consistently within your site;
- Make all the non-canonical URLs do a permanent (301) HTTP redirect to the canonical/preferred URL;
- Google’s Webmaster Tools: specify www vs. non-www;
- Break ties in Google by submitting your preferred URL in a sitemaps file.
New Option for Duplicate Content – canonical link element at page level
On http://www.example.com/page.html?sid=asdf314159265
<head>
…
<link rel=”canonical” href=”http://example.com/page.html”/>
…
</head>
(Don’t forget the final / at the end of the link tag.)
Anchor Tags: So, it’s important to consider link text when posting an internal link to another page within your site. For instance, if you’re posting a link to a deep page within your site, you need a detailed link description to that page so people (and bots) know exactly what they’re in for when they reach the destination page.
Additionally, when the person reaches that page, you should have similar text posted to keep them there. It takes a matter of seconds for a user to “glimpse” the page and determine if that page contains the information they’re looking for. If they have to search and scour the page, they’re going to leave and have lost a little trust in your site.
Example:
Blogging / WordPress
Make use of plugins like “All in One SEO” or “Platinum SEO” if you have a wordpress blog and configure them for best Search Engine Optimization. These are the 5 most Important SEO Customizations You Need To Do For Your WordPress Blog.
http://www.techcats.net/5-important-seo-customizations-you-need-to-do-for-your-wordpress-blog.html
http://www.techcats.net/top-8-must-have-plug-ins-after-you-setup-wordpress-blog.html
http://www.shoutmeloud.com/how-to-add-alt-tag-into-your-images-wordpress-plugin.html
Kevin D Burt 