Unraveling the Mystery of Duplicate, Submitted URLs Not Selected as Canonical

You're a dedicated webmaster. You've submitted your website's URLs to Google through sitemaps, or you're tracking how your content performs in search engine results. Suddenly, you notice a notification—Duplicate, submitted URL not selected as canonical. What does this mean, and why do you need to address it?

In SEO, "canonical" refers to the preferred version of web pages with similar content. When you inform Google which URL is canonical, you're asking it to prioritize that particular page in rankings. If Google selects a different URL as canonical, you may see the aforementioned notice in Google Search Console.

Why Google Might Not Pick Your Submitted URL as Canonical

When Google chooses another canonical URL, it evaluates various signals to determine which page provides the most value to users. Some reasons include:

Duplicate Content: If your submitted URL closely resembles another page, Google might favor the more authoritative page.
Redirects: Confusing redirects can lead Google to select a different page.
Internal Linking: If more internal links point to another page, Google may consider that page more significant.
External Linking: If other websites link to a different page, Google might also favor that one.
Sitemap Discrepancies: Multiple versions of the same content in your sitemap can mislead Google.

Google acts like a meticulous librarian, ensuring users find the most relevant pages.

How to Fix This Canonical Conundrum

To ensure your preferred URLs are selected as canonical, follow these steps:

1. Consolidate Duplicate Content: Ensure each piece of content is unique. Merge or differentiate identical pages.

2. Review Your Redirects: Clean up any confusing redirects to support your canonical choices.

3. Strengthen Internal Links: Create internal links that point to your chosen canonical URLs, signaling their importance to search engines.

4. Update Your Sitemap: Keep your sitemap updated with only the URLs you want indexed, ensuring each entry is unique.

5. Use Rel="canonical" Tag Wisely: Implement the rel="canonical" link element on pages to indicate your preferred URL for similar content.

6. Seek Quality Backlinks: Encourage reputable websites to link to your chosen canonical URLs to enhance their authority.

7. Monitor Performance: Use Google Search Console to track URL performance and how Google interprets them.

Regular adjustments to your website are key to maintaining optimal performance. Addressing the issue of a submitted URL not being selected as canonical is part of that process.

Sometimes, despite your efforts, Google may still choose a different canonical URL, which may not be a problem unless it confuses users or negatively impacts traffic. Google's goal is to ensure the best user experience through canonicalization.

The digital world is busy; you submit URLs and hope visitors (search engines and users) follow them to your website. Sometimes they take a less direct route, but as long as they reach the right destination and enjoy the experience, it’s effective. By following best practices and using available tools, you enhance your website's success in the evolving landscape of search engines.

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