Alternative page with proper canonical tag fix

Are you worried about an “Alternative page with proper canonical tag“? Or, you are getting a “Duplicate without user-selected canonical” issue in the search console? Or you are getting an issue with the combined term namely “Alternate page with proper canonical tag? Then, you are at the right place.

Basically, Writing a blog does not require technical knowledge. On the other hand, websites keep facing many technical difficulties. Sometimes these issues can be solved only by the Developer. Sometimes It can be solved easily with the help of the blogging community.

Today we will solve this type of issue without technical knowledge. It is how to fix the “alternative page with proper canonical tag” or “Duplicate without user-selected canonical”. Not only we fix this issue but also will learn about it in detail. In the end, this knowledge helps you to grow confidently.

Without delay, let’s start.

What is a canonical tag?

A canonical tag is a way by which a search engine can define a particular page as a master copy.

For instance, a search engine crawls a page. Then, it confirms which is the master page.

After that, another page with the same content is identified. But now the search engine knows it is just the copy version of your master page.

In other words, these are not duplicated from another website. Instead, these all are content of your website with pointing to the master page.

Basically, A website can have multiple URLs like HTTP or HTTPS, with www or without www. If you do not have a canonical tag then all these URLs will be considered unique.

Therefore, your content can be considered duplicate content. why? Because www and non-www are now different websites in the eyes of Google with the same content.

Let’s understand it through a practical example. Now I am the owner of

1) https://www.bloggerguidepro.com

2) http://www.bloggerguidepro.com

3) https://www.bloggerguidepro.blogspot.com

4) http://www.bloggerguidepro.blogspot.com

5) www.bloggerguidepro.com

6) bloggerguidepro.com

7) http://bloggerguidepro.com

8) https://bloggerguidepro.com

Similarly, it can have 1000 types of combinations. So, a search engine can identify all as unique URLs.

For instance, a search engine can detect 8 unique URLs as shown above.

To clarify, let’s say “https://www.bloggerguidepro.com” is a canonical tag fixed by me. Thereafter, search engines can consider “https://www.bloggerguidepro.com” as the master copy.

Then, All other URLs will not be considered unique URLs. After that, any duplicate issue will not emerge. It is because all other URLs are pointing toward their master copy or www versions of my page.

Not to mention, If you have an SSL certificate then it is better to use https as a canonical tag. It is because https is always preferable for trust from the audience.

In addition, we can know the use of the canonical tags in detail.

Why is a canonical tag used?

Actually, a canonical tag has many uses. For instance,

1) Firstly. think about you do not use a canonical URL. Then, search engines started to crawl your pages.

As usual, it will see multiple pages appear with the same content. So crawlers may confuse and will stop crawling. Therefore, your page is not indexed at a faster rate.

2) Secondly, the search engine can find a vast amount of duplicate content on your site. It is because the same content will be found on multiple pages. It can negatively affect your website ranking.

3) Thirdly, the Search engine itself tries to find which one is better content. After that, the page of the search engine’s choice will be indexed.

So it may be not the main URL that you want to index. It can rank pick up the irrelevant URL. Thus your brand consistency may harm.

therefore, it is better to insert the canonical tag in every situation.

You knew the advantage of the canonical tag. So it’s time to know how to fix the alternative page with a proper canonical tag.

(#) For SEO knowledge check this

• 50 SEO tools (free)
• Keyword density guide
• Guide of On page SEO and Off page SEO (#)

How to fix an alternative page with proper canonical tag?

To understand it properly let’s go into deep.

Firstly, we identify the issue. Then we look at how to fix alternative pages with proper canonical tags in Blogger. After that, we also look at how to fix canonical issues in WordPress.

For easy understanding, each step is mentioned with a picture. Therefore, be ready to be familiar with the issue first. So, look at the below processes.

1) Search ‘Google search console’ on the internet. After that, click on “Click start” on the displayed page.

So you are now on your search console page. If you have not connected the search console then you have to connect it first. After that click on the triple bar (Menu) of your search console page.

2) Many options will open. Click on “Pages”.

3) You will see 2 types of boxes. Their name is “Not indexed”, and “Indexed”. Just scroll down.

You will find “Why pages aren’t indexed” options. Now find the two terms mentioned below.

1. Duplicate without user-selected canonical
2. alternative page with proper canonical tag

Both are the basic instruction for adding a canonical tag.

4) Now, click on both terms one by one.

Firstly, click on “Duplicate without user-selected canonical” Then, also check by clicking the term “Alternative page with proper canonical tag”.

So, let’s check the first. Click on “Duplicate without user-selected canonical”.

5)  After that scroll down. Then, under the example section you will find the issues for your pages.

Then click on any issues. For example, robots.txt URL.

i) If you have a desktop then a side page will open. You have to click on inspect URL.

ii) If you have a Mobile phone then a new page will open. Click on Inspect URL.

There is another way too.

Just keep your cursor on this issue and you can find a search (Magnifying glass) option. Click on this search option.

6) You can see this URL is not on Google. Here the URL is

https://www.bloggerguidepro.com/2022/09/custom-robots-txt-set-up-for-blogger.html?m=1

It is not indexed by google for the “/?m=1” suffix.

7) Now remove “/?m=1” manually and search again. In my cases it is on Google for the URL of https://www.bloggerguidepro.com/2022/09/custom-robots-txt-set-up-for-blogger.html

It means Google indexed the Normal URL. So “/?m=1” is a duplicate.

8) Similar things you can find for “Alternative page with proper canonical tag”. For example, here two issues are found under “Alternative page with proper canonical tag”.

So, you understand, both the points have the same situation.

Although, you frequently come to the URL with “/?m=1”. What is it?

Understand the “/?m=1”

Actually, indexing is two types.

1. One is desktop indexing with a normal URL.
2. Another one is mobile indexing with “/?m=1”.

Here only one version can be indexed. Also, there is no meaning to index both versions or two URLs for the same content.

Therefore, choose one type of indexing and be consistent with it.

You can try to be consistent with the normal URL or desktop version. Another side, some news bloggers prefer to be consistent with the URL of the mobile version.

But always remind only one version can be indexed. Therefore, do not worry further about that.

Then, what you can do? You can set a proper canonical tag so this issue will not come further. Your existing issue can vanish from the search console.

However, it is essential to set a canonical tag. It prevents random indexing and you can be consistent with one type of URL.

Therefore, we have to add a canonical tag to remove this issue.

We will do it in Blogger first.

How to add canonical tag in Blogger?

It has very easy steps. However, you will find all the things step by step here. So it can help you with easy navigation. Now, look at the below steps.

1) Open your blogger account. Click on the triple bar to unfold the options.

2) Click on the theme.

3) A customized option will open. Click on the (down) arrow situated beside customize option.

4) there are a few options that are unfolding. Click on Edit HTML.

5) Your HTML section appears. Here you have to care enough. Don’t edit anything unnecessarily. You can add a canonical tag because it is a very basic thing. Find the “<head> section in your HTML. You may find it in the very beginning. Generally, it appears on the first page.

6) you have to write a code just below the <head>. You have to write it carefully.

Here is the code.

<link rel=”canonical” href=”https://www.yoursitename/”/>

My website example: <link rel=”canonical” href=”https://www.bloggerguidepro.com/”/>

You can copy the above code. Additionally, must remind these things –

1) If you have HTTP then put HTTP. If you have HTTPS then putting HTTPS is always better. It shows a secure website on google.

2) You have to choose whether you want to include www or not.

3) You need to replace your site instead of “yoursitename”. In my case it is bloggerguidepro.com. In your cases, it may be yoursitename.in or yoirsitename.com or yoursitename.blogspot.com. You have to put it carefully.

7) Click on save.

i) For the computer, find the save icon in the rightmost corner. Click on it.

ii) In mobile click on the triple vertical dot. Many options will open. Then, click on Save. Finally, it is done.

8) You knew how to add canonical tag in HTML. It is the same for other platforms too.

9) If your canonical page is not indexed then come back to your search console page.

Search the URL that has an issue. You can do it through

i) the Same process as described above

ii) Through Clicking on the menu > URL inspection. Then search the URL in the search bar.

iii) Click on the search option on the Google search console page and put the URL here.

10) You will find the URL is not on Google. It will solve automatically within a week or two. You can also request to index it manually. For that click on Test live URL.

11) If everything is ok then the result will show the URL is on Google. See if Mobile usability is ok. You can know it more deeply by clicking the view crawled page or view tested page. Then, you have to click on more info there.

After checking everything click on Request Indexing. After doing it, close everything.

On one side, you can do request indexing for your desired URL. Another side, your existing issue will remove from the search console slowly.

You can check the status after one week or two.

Previously I have issues equal to the indexing page. But now those vanish. Recently, I made some changes. Therefore, a few more issues exist in 2023. It also helps me to provide current information.

Generally, these terms are not the same as previous ones. You got totally updated information for 2023.

Also, fix a must-have issue in Blogger – Complete setup of robots.txt

Now, we will know how to fix it in WordPress.

How to fix canonical issues in WordPress?

Fixing it is very easy in WordPress. Because you can add it within no time. So follow the below steps.

1) Go to your WordPress site. Then, make your you have the “Yoast SEO” plugin.

2) Now, go to your WordPress menu>posts>all posts. Then keep your cursor on the post for which you want to add a canonical tag.

3) You will find many options like “edit”, quick edit”, etc. Here, click on “Edit”

4) Now scroll down to the end of your post. You will find many options under Yoast SEO. Here, click on the down arrow in Advanced options.

5)  You can see an option to add a canonical tag.

Enter your URL (individual full post URL) which you want to identify as Canonical.

Here a Canonical tag would be https://bloggerguidepro.com/Your-post-headline/.

For example, here canonical tag is https://bloggerguidepro.com/alternate-page-with-proper-canonical-tag-fix

You can add a canonical tag to any other post or page in this way.

Now, your issue will be solved automatically within a week or two. You have also an option to Request indexing. You can also follow the previous 9, 10, and 11 steps for that.

Daniel Waisberg, Search Advocate Google says in a video that updating issues can take one or two days or sometimes one week or two.

so check your issue status accordingly.

Here, is one more important thing to consider. How can you know your Canonical tag works immediately? It is very simple. I set my canonical as https://www.bloggerguidepro.com.

Now I will search on google like bloggerguidepro.com or www.bloggerguidepro.com. All these searches will open only as a https://bloggerguidepro.com. Check your website or pages to enjoy this funny staff.

Wrap-up for alternative page with proper canonical tag

We learn a lot along with how to fix alternative pages with proper canonical tags. We learn what it is. Why it is used? How to find it? How to fix it in Blogger and WordPress? Finally, we learn a pro tip to fix canonical tags successfully. Cheer up.

If you have any questions, then place them in the comment section. You can appreciate it by sharing this content.

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