Fix Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag Issue in Blogspot
How to Fix the "Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag" Issue in Blogspot
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If you’re running a Blogspot website, you may have encountered a frustrating warning in Google Search Console about “Alternate page with proper canonical tag.” This issue can impact your blog's search engine optimization (SEO), as it signals to Google that duplicate or alternative versions of your pages exist without clear direction on which version to prioritize. So, why does this happen, and how can you fix it in your Blogspot site? Let’s dive in.
1. Understanding Canonical Tags
Before jumping into fixes, let's clarify what a canonical tag is and why it’s essential for your blog.
A canonical tag is a piece of HTML code that tells search engines which version of a webpage is the primary one. It helps prevent duplicate content issues by informing search engines to treat different URLs as one single page. For instance, your page could appear in multiple formats:
- https://yoursite.blogspot.com/your-post
- https://yoursite.blogspot.com/your-post?m=1
- https://yoursite.blogspot.com/your-post?view=flipcard
Without a canonical tag, search engines might treat each as separate pages, which could dilute your SEO value.
2. Why the 'Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag' Issue Occurs
In Blogger, canonical issues can arise because:
- Blogger auto-generates mobile URLs with ?m=1 for mobile versions, creating two versions of the same page.
- There are alternative view modes (?view=sidebar, ?view=flipcard, etc.), which also create separate URLs for the same content.
If these URLs don’t have proper canonical tags, Google may struggle to determine which version should be indexed, resulting in the “Alternate page with proper canonical tag” error.
3. How This Issue Affects SEO on Blogger
The error itself isn’t harmful on its own, but if left unchecked, it can lead to SEO problems:
- Diluted Page Authority: Search engines may split link equity between URLs, weakening the SEO potential of each version.
- Duplicate Content Issues: Google might interpret alternate pages as duplicates, which could impact ranking.
- Indexing Problems: Google may fail to prioritize the correct URL, making it harder for your main pages to rank.
4. How to Check for Canonical Issues on Your Blogspot Site
To check which URLs have canonical issues, follow these steps:
- Open Google Search Console: Go to Google Search Console and select your Blogspot site.
- Go to Coverage Report: Navigate to the “Coverage” report in the “Index” section.
- Identify Pages with Alternate Canonical Issues: Look for the “Alternate page with proper canonical tag” issue under the “Excluded” tab.
Once you’ve identified affected pages, you’ll need to address these with a proper solution.
5. Fixing the 'Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag' Issue in Blogspot
Here’s a step-by-step guide to resolve this issue on your Blogspot site.
Step 1: Add Canonical Tags to Your Blogspot Theme
Go to Blogger > Theme.
Click on Edit HTML to open the theme editor.
Locate the <head> section of your HTML code. Inside this section, you’ll add a canonical tag.
<link rel="canonical" href="https://yourblog.blogspot.com/your-post-url"/>Replace https://yourblog.blogspot.com/your-post-url with the main URL for each post. This line of code tells search engines which URL is the primary one, preventing duplicate content issues.
Step 2: Implement Dynamic Canonical Tags for All Posts
Manually adding canonical tags for every post can be time-consuming. Thankfully, you can automate this in Blogspot:
<b:if cond='data:blog.pageType == "item">
<link rel='canonical' href='data:blog.canonicalUrl'/>
</b:if>This code dynamically sets a canonical tag for each blog post, ensuring that only the primary URL is indexed.
Step 3: Set a Canonical Tag for the Homepage
To set a canonical tag for your homepage:
<link rel="canonical" href="https://yourblog.blogspot.com/">Step 4: Add Canonical Tags for Mobile Pages
Mobile versions of Blogspot pages (?m=1) can often create duplicate content issues. To handle these:
<b:if cond='data:blog.pageType == "item" and data:blog.isMobileRequest == "true">
<link rel='canonical' href='data:blog.canonicalUrl'/>
</b:if>6. Update Sitemap and Request Indexing in Google Search Console
After implementing these fixes, you’ll want Google to re-index your pages with the new canonical tags.
Update Your Sitemap: Blogger automatically updates your sitemap. However, you can still submit it manually in Google Search Console. Go to the “Sitemaps” section and add sitemap.xml to ensure all pages are crawled.
Request URL Inspection: In Google Search Console, use the URL Inspection Tool. Paste a page’s URL and request indexing. This will prompt Google to recognize the updated canonical tags more quickly.
7. Verify Fixes in Google Search Console
After implementing these changes, it may take a few weeks for Google to re-crawl your site. Check back in Google Search Console to see if the “Alternate page with proper canonical tag” issue has resolved.
If the error persists, consider:
- Re-checking your HTML code for accuracy.
- Ensuring no plugins or widgets interfere with canonical tags.
8. Tips for Maintaining Proper Canonicalization in Blogspot
Once you’ve fixed the canonical tag issue, it’s important to maintain this structure going forward. Here are some tips:
- Avoid Excessive Page Views: Blogger provides several viewing options, such as “Flipcard” or “Magazine.” Limiting these views on your blog will reduce the chance of duplicate content.
- Double-check New Posts: Each time you publish a post, inspect it in Google Search Console to ensure the canonical tag is correct.
- Monitor Google Search Console Regularly: Google often updates its algorithm, which may impact how canonical tags are recognized.
Conclusion
Fixing the “Alternate page with proper canonical tag” issue in Blogspot isn’t difficult, but it’s crucial for your SEO success. With proper canonical tags, you’ll prevent duplicate content, improve search engine rankings, and provide a clearer structure for Google to understand.
By following these steps, you can effectively address this issue and build a stronger foundation for SEO on your Blogspot website. Good luck, and remember to keep an eye on your Search Console to catch any potential problems early on!
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