Google’s Gary Illyes clarifies canonicalization concept
Gary Illyes from Google Search Central recently clarified the mysterious concept of canonicalization in webpage indexing via video explanation. Simply put, canonicalization is a way to tell search engines that similar URLs are, in fact, the same.
This concept isn’t an absolute command for the search engine; instead, it works more like a strong suggestion. Ultimately, the search engine, using its algorithms and metrics, gets the final say in determining the most useful content for its users.
Elucidating further, the concept of a canonical webpage differs according to who you ask. Publishers might say the first-ever webpage is canonical as it’s the origin of the site. Conversely, for SEO professionals, the most comprehensive, thoroughly optimized webpage tends to hold canonical status.
Google, on the other hand, see canonicalization differently. For Google, it’s more about a ‘deduplication’ process, where the ideal canonical page is chosen based on various factors such as regional, device, and protocol variations, even unintentional duplicate webpages.
Thus, instead of picking sides, it’s more beneficial to perceive canonicalization as a dynamic balance considering both chronological and qualitative aspects in defining a canonical webpage. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the order and efficiency of search engine operations.
Deciphering Google’s approach to canonicalization
Illyes further clarified that Google, while intelligent, isn’t foolproof. Every so often, the wrong page gets the title of canonical due to errors. To mitigate this, Google is continuously evolving, and it’s crucial that best practices are used to effectively communicate the preferred version of a webpage to Google. Techniques such as using the rel=canonical link element can help here, albeit it’s just one piece of the puzzle.
Lastly, Illyes touched on duplicate clustering, stating that typically search results only display canonical pages, and all others, sharing similar content, are grouped together. This process aims to streamline search results and eliminate repetition, hence significantly improving the user search experience.
In sum, the factual nuggets from Illyes provide much-needed clarity on how Google processes and categorizes various webpage versions, thereby throwing light on the complex area of SEO management. His insights are key to SEO professionals looking to optimize their strategies, focusing on what Google prioritizes, and thereby successfully ramp up their website’s visibility in Google’s search results.
