Canonical tag issues on AMP pages
The link element rel=”canonical” – also known as a canonical URL – is incredibly significant yet commonly misunderstood. Even seasoned SEOs who have been working in the business for some time erroneously employ canonical URLs or don’t understand how best to use them. One of the biggest issues is linking between canonical URL and AMP pages.
The Canonical URL and AMP Pages Issue
To improve the mobile user experience AMP (Accelerated Mobile Page) was created. AMP pages allow more visitors to view your site on a larger variety of mobile devices and with less effort compared to using regular HTML.
The AMP framework frequently experiences canonical difficulties. Issues like these arise when the canonical tags aren’t present, and the site’s default URL isn’t being used. The good news is that these mistakes are simple to identify and correct.
What causes canonical URL problems on AMP pages?
It’s possible that the canonical tag, which is supposed to tell the search engine that a specific URL is the primary copy of the page, is missing from the page altogether. But that’s just the simplest cause.
The problem typically arises due to AMP not referring to the canonical URL. It should refer to itself if it is a standalone piece.
Duplicating issues occur when a website has many URLs for the same content, each representing the page in question. Even though the pages are exactly the same, the search engine treats each address as though it were a new one. The duplicate pages are typically attributed to a single page that has been subjected to multiple iterations, such as those designed specifically for mobile and desktop platforms. Failures in the settings can occasionally result in errors of this kind.
How to determine if issues exist
Use the AMP Status Report tool that Google’s Help Center offers to determine whether or not you are experiencing any AMP-related problems, such as an incorrect or absent canonical tag. Any issues that arise with your AMP can be correct, and in certain cases, they can even be avoided in the future.
If you’ve run into a canonical problem with your AMP pages it’s got to get fixed. Most issues can be resolved by doing the following:
- Make sure the canonical page was added to the AMP page.
- Provide a direct connection between AMP and non-AMP pages.
- Ensure that the non-AMP page redirects to itself at the appropriate times.
If your AMP page is a standalone page, check to see that it contains its own references as well.