Canonical links are the powerful tool that helps you deal with duplicate content and position your website optimally in Google's search results. But be careful! Incorrect use of these magic links can cause considerable damage to your website. In this article, we will not only show you the most common mistakes when using canonical links, but also how to use them successfully to exploit the full potential of your SEO strategy.

Improve the findability of your website with canonical links. How to avoid backfiring!

The magic of canonical links

First, let's understand the power of canonical links. They allow you to assign content that is accessible under different URLs to one main URL - the so-called canonical URL. This helps you avoid duplicate content, which can confuse your website in search results and make it appear inferior. A simple example: A certain page can be accessed at both `www.meine-webseite.com/beispiel.html` and `www.meine-webseite.com/de/beispiel.html`. In order to index Google properly, insert the following instruction in the HTML source code on both pages:

<linkrel="canonical"href="http://www.meine-webseite.com/beispiel.html" />

Fatal mistakes and their consequences

Now that you know the importance of canonical links, let's take a look at the most common mistakes you should avoid at all costs to avoid getting into SEO trouble:

1. using relative rather than absolute URLs

A big mistake is to use relative URLs in the canonical tag. This leads to undesirable effects, as Google may interpret the URLs incorrectly. Make sure you always use absolute URLs that contain the protocol, e.g. `https://www.meine-webseite.com/beispiel.html`.

2. canonical link for paginated content that links to the first page

A canonical link to the first page is not permitted for paginated content. Instead, you should use `rel="prev"` and `rel="next"` to clarify the relationship between the pages.

3. setting multiple canonical links

The use of content management systems can lead to canonical links being set automatically. Make sure that no additional links are set manually to avoid conflicts.

4. canonical points to a 404 page

Careful selection of the canonical link is crucial. Make sure that it does not point to a non-existent page, as Google can then remove it from the index.

5. canonical points to a blocked page

If the canonical link points to a URL that is blocked by the `robots.txt` or `noindex` directive, the page may not be indexed or displayed without a description in the search results.

6. canonicals with different content pointing to one page

A common mistake is that website operators believe they can use canonical links to bundle the "power" of several pages and concentrate it on one page in order to position it particularly well in the ranking. Merging different content via canonical links often leads to all pages disappearing from the index except for the one to which the canonical link refers. Only use canonical links for pages with identical content.

7. canonical link in the body

Make sure that the canonical link is always placed in the `` area of the HTML code so that Google takes it into account. In the `` area of the HTML code, the canonical link is ignored by Google and Bing.

8. no canonical when using URL parameters

On pages with URL parameters, use a canonical link that points to the URL without parameters to avoid duplicate content.

##The bottom line:

Canonical links are a powerful tool to successfully optimize your website and avoid duplicate content. By avoiding these common mistakes and using canonical links correctly, you can realize the full potential of your SEO strategy. If you need help setting up and using canonical links, we're here to help. Avoid the pitfalls and use the full power of canonical links for your SEO success!