If you’re managing a website with a primary landing page and multiple location-specific pages, it’s crucial to understand how canonical URLs work — and how to use them correctly. Done right, canonical tags can help you avoid duplicate content issues and ensure the right pages rank in Google.
In this post, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about adding canonical URLs to your website pages — especially when dealing with location-based content.
What Is a Canonical URL?
A canonical URL is an HTML tag (<link rel="canonical" href="https://example.com/page/">) that tells search engines which version of a page is the “preferred” or “original” one. It helps prevent duplicate content issues when multiple pages have similar content.
Why It Matters:
Search engines don’t want to index and rank multiple pages with nearly identical content. If they do, your site’s SEO can be diluted. A canonical tag helps consolidate ranking signals to the right version of a page.
Common Use Case: Landing Page + Location Pages
Let’s say you have:
- A main services landing page:
yourdomain.com/services - Multiple city-based service pages:
yourdomain.com/services/delhiyourdomain.com/services/mumbaiyourdomain.com/services/bangalore
This structure is common for businesses serving multiple cities.
Question:
Should you add a canonical URL to each location page?
Answer:
Yes. Each location page should have a self-referencing canonical tag, meaning:
/services/delhi→ canonical =/services/delhi/services/mumbai→ canonical =/services/mumbai
This tells Google that each page is unique and should be indexed separately.
When to Use a Different Canonical URL
You should only canonicalize location pages to the main landing page (e.g., /services) if:
- The content on each city page is 90% the same
- You don’t want those pages to rank individually
- You are using them only for internal linking or ad tracking
Otherwise, doing so may confuse search engines and result in important location pages not being indexed at all.
SEO Best Practices for Canonical URLs on Websites
Here’s how to manage canonical tags properly:
1. Use Self-Referencing Canonicals
By default, your location pages should point to themselves. This prevents search engines from treating them as duplicates.
2. Avoid Canonicalizing to the Main Page (Unless Necessary)
Don’t set all city pages to point to /services unless they truly offer no unique value. Otherwise, you’ll hurt local SEO potential.
3. Add Unique Content on Each Location Page
Make every city page as distinct as possible by including:
- City-specific services
- Local client testimonials
- Area-specific case studies
- Google Maps embed or location photos
4. Use an SEO Management Tool or Plugin
Depending on your website platform:
- On WordPress: Use plugins like Yoast or Rank Math
- On Shopify: Customize through theme settings or apps
- On Webflow: Use page settings or embed custom code
- On custom-coded sites: Manually add canonical tags in the HTML
<head>
5. Avoid Canonical Conflicts
If you’re using URL parameters for tracking (like UTM tags), make sure the canonical still points to the clean version of the URL (without parameters).
How to Add or Edit Canonical Tags Based on Platform
WordPress (with SEO Plugin):
- Edit the page.
- Go to the SEO plugin settings (like Yoast or Rank Math).
- Navigate to the Advanced tab.
- Add or edit the Canonical URL field.
Shopify:
Use apps or edit your theme’s liquid files to customize canonical tags.
Webflow:
Use custom code in the page settings or the site header.
HTML Site:
Add <link rel="canonical" href="https://yourdomain.com/page-url/"> manually in the <head> tag of your HTML file.
Conclusion: Canonical URLs Are Essential for Scalable SEO
If you’re building out multiple location pages on your website, always use self-referencing canonical URLs unless there’s a clear reason not to. This ensures that Google sees each page as unique and worth indexing.
Avoiding duplicate content and properly structuring your site with canonicals is a powerful way to boost your visibility, especially for local SEO.
FAQs
Q: Will setting the wrong canonical URL hurt my rankings?
Yes. If you point multiple pages to the same canonical unnecessarily, search engines may ignore those pages completely.
Q: Can I have multiple pages with similar content and still rank?
Yes, if each page offers location-specific value. Use unique text, testimonials, images, or services.
Q: What if I forget to set canonical URLs?
Most modern CMSs and SEO tools set self-referencing canonicals by default, so you’re usually safe — but it’s always good to check manually for key pages.
