Introduction
The "Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag" message in Google Search Console indicates that Google has identified an alternate version of a page on your site but has correctly recognized and prioritized the canonical (preferred) version. Canonical tags are essential for preventing duplicate content issues and ensuring that the right version of your page appears in search results.
This article explains what this message means, common scenarios where it applies, and whether you need to take any action.
What is an Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag?
An "Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag" refers to an alternate version of a page that Google has identified and linked to the main version through a canonical tag. Common examples include:
AMP Versions: Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) created for fast loading on mobile devices. These act as alternate versions of standard web pages.
URL Parameters: Pages with parameters in the URL (e.g.,
?filter=latest) that do not alter the main content.
HTTP to HTTPS Migration: During a migration to HTTPS, Google treats the HTTP version as an alternate, with the HTTPS version as the canonical.
The canonical tag tells Google which version of the page should be indexed and prioritized in search results, consolidating ranking signals.
Should I Be Concerned About This Message?
No, this is a positive message. It confirms that Google has correctly identified the alternate page and is prioritizing the canonical version. This setup:
Prevents duplicate content issues.
Consolidates ranking signals.
Ensures the best version of your content is indexed and displayed in search results.
Common Canonical Tag Scenarios in Newsifier
AMP Articles
What Happens: Google detects AMP versions of articles as alternates to the standard URLs.
How It Works: The canonical tag ensures the main article URL is indexed while the AMP version serves as a fast-loading alternative for mobile users.
URL Parameters
What Happens: Pages with URL parameters, like sorting or filtering options (
?filter=popular), are treated as alternates.How It Works: The canonical tag ensures the primary version of the page (without parameters) is indexed.
HTTP To HTTPs Migration
What Happens: During a migration, HTTP pages are treated as alternates to their HTTPS counterparts.
How It Works: The canonical tag directs Google to index the secure HTTPS version, consolidating ranking signals and ensuring a smooth transition.
What Actions Should You Take?
No action is required. Newsifier automatically manages canonical tags to ensure that alternate pages are properly handled and the correct versions are prioritized by Google.
If this message appears in Google Search Console, it confirms that your canonical tags are set up correctly and working as intended.
FAQs
Why does Google show alternate pages with canonical tags?
Answer: Google frequently finds multiple versions of the same content, such as AMP pages, URLs with parameters, or HTTP versions during a migration. Canonical tags signal which version should be prioritized, avoiding duplicate content and focusing ranking signals on the primary version.
What happens if my canonical tags are set incorrectly?
Answer: If canonical tags are not configured properly:
Google may index the wrong version of the page.
Ranking signals could be split across multiple versions.
This could dilute your SEO efforts and reduce rankings for key content.
To avoid issues, ensure that canonical tags always point to the version of the page you want indexed.