: Best way to handle ignored Rel=Canonical? My Google Analytics is reporting organic traffic for URL's with a QueryString attached, even though there's a Canonical tag that points to the preferred

@Rivera981

Before taking action using the Parameter tool in GWT, I would recommend at least trying to identify why Google is ignoring your rel=canonical reference.


Check your XML Sitemap - URLs reference in an XML Sitemap will normally override any rel=canonical reference
Check the internal and external linking profile for those URLs with a tool like MajesticSEO (external links) and ScreamingFrog (internal site crawler).


I would hesitate recommending using a 301 redirect on URLs containing query-strings, as you haven't mentioned the type of query-string - tracking parameter, sort-parameter, pagination, etc.

If you find that your internal links, external links and XML sitemap aren't causing conflicting signals, then the parameter tool would be a logical next step in mitigation. The instructions provided by Google in using this tool are pretty helpful.

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@Hamaas447

Consider trying to reduce the visibility of your query strings. For instance, in WordPress, the Yoast SEO plugin has an option to 'hide shortlink' this removes the URL with the query string from the head of the page.

Another place I frequently see (overlooked) query string URLs is in automatically generated sitemap.xml files, so check there.

If you use services that syndicate your content via RSS or auto post to social media, check those as well. On-site search can also sometimes return query string results.

Ideally though, you probably want to do a server side 301 redirect so any traffic coming in from a link with a query string, including a bot from a search engine, is redirected with a "permanent redirect" header.

That said, configuring parameters in Webmaster Tools (don't forget the other Webmaster Tools) is also a good idea.

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