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Understanding the “Alternate Page with Proper Canonical Tag” Issue and How to Fix It
When I switched to Hostinger, everything was running smoothly until last month, when I encountered an error: “Alternate page with proper canonical tag. These pages aren’t indexed or served on Google.” The message isn’t very specific and doesn’t indicate which page is affected. Can anyone explain what this means in simple terms? Also, how can I go about resolving this?
What Does This Error Mean?
In plain English, this error suggests that there are certain pages on your website that Google recognizes as duplicates or similar pages. You’ve used a canonical tag correctly on these pages, pointing Google to the preferred version of the content. However, despite having the proper canonical tag, Google has decided not to index or display these alternate pages in search results.
How to Fix the Issue
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Identify Affected Pages: Unfortunately, this error message doesn’t specify which pages are impacted. You can use tools like Google Search Console to get more insights into which URLs are recognized as alternate pages.
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Review Canonical Tags: Ensure that your canonical tags are correctly implemented on all your pages. They should be pointing to the primary version of the page you want to be indexed.
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Analyze Check if there are necessary differences between the pages. If they are nearly identical, consider integrating or consolidating them if possible.
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Set up 301 Redirects: If some of these pages are redundant, set up 301 redirects pointing them to the primary page. This action helps consolidate link equity and signals to Google that the redirected page is the preferred choice.
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Regular Updates: Keep your content updated and reassess canonical tags as your site evolves to avoid further issues.
By following these steps and understanding the nature of this canonical tag issue, you can effectively manage your site’s search presence and ensure critical pages are getting indexed by Google.
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This post describes the issue with alternate pages not being indexed by Google, offers an understanding in simple terms, and provides actionable steps to address the problem.
2 responses to “Can someone translate this error into simpler terms and advise on fixing it? “Alternate page with proper canonical tag. These pages aren’t indexed on Google.””
Certainly! Let’s break down what this message means and how you can address it.
What Does This Message Mean?
The message “Alternate page with proper canonical tag. These pages aren’t indexed or served on Google” primarily relates to how search engines like Google view and handle multiple versions of the same content on your website.
Key Terms:
Explanation:
Why You’re Seeing This:
How to Fix or Manage It
Ensure that the canonical tags on your pages are correctly implemented. A canonical tag should point to the preferred URL, considering domain consistency (e.g.,
https://www.yoursite.com/pagevs.http://yoursite.com/page).Use Tools to Diagnose:
Use the “Coverage” report in Google Search Console to get insights into indexing issues.
Review Content to Minimize Duplication:
Check if there truly is duplicate content that could be combined into a single, more authoritative page.
Check Robots.txt and Noindex Tags:
Ensure that you do not have conflicting directives in your
robots.txtfile ornoindextags that could confuse indexing.Page Quality and Relevance:
Thank you for breaking down the “alternate page with proper canonical tag” issue in such a clear manner! It’s a common challenge, especially for those navigating the complexities of SEO, and your explanation is very helpful.
In addition to the steps you’ve outlined, I’d like to emphasize the importance of regularly auditing your site’s performance using tools like Google Analytics alongside Google Search Console. These tools can give you deeper insights into how users are interacting with your pages, which can help identify not just which pages are flagged, but also which pages are performing well or poorly.
Furthermore, when reviewing the canonical tags, consider examining the internal linking structure on your site. Sometimes, Google may overlook certain pages if they are not well-linked within your site. Ensuring that your preferred version of a page is linked from various other relevant pages can enhance its visibility.
Lastly, if merging pages or implementing redirects, it’s also worth checking for any potential loss in keyword rankings or traffic. Each step should be monitored for its impact on your overall SEO performance. Keeping track of changes can provide valuable insights into what works best for your site’s structure and indexing.
Looking forward to hearing how others have dealt with similar challenges!