SEO: Canonical Links Vs Alternate URLs vs Redirects

1. Canonical Links: Resolving Duplicate Content

• Purpose: Mitigate duplicate content issues by specifying the preferred or "canonical" version of a page.

• Implementation: Insert the canonical link tag in the HTML:
  

<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.example.com/preferred-url" />

• Example Scenario: Ideal for managing multiple URLs with similar content, ensuring search engines prioritise the designated URL.

2. Alternate URLs (Hreflang Annotations): Multilingual Targeting

• Purpose: Enable multilingual or multinational targeting by indicating language and regional preferences.

• Implementation: Utilise hreflang tags in the HTML:
  

<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://www.example.com/en/page" />

<link rel="alternate" hreflang="es" href="https://www.example.com/es/pagina" />

• Example Scenario: Essential for websites with diverse language versions, guiding search engines to serve content based on user preferences.

3. Redirects: Seamless URL Transitions

• Purpose: Automatically guide users and search engines from one URL to another, crucial for URL changes or page movements.

• Implementation: Implement server-side redirects, like 301 for permanent moves and 302 for temporary changes.

• Example Scenario: Valuable when restructuring your website or relocating content to ensure a smooth user experience and maintain search engine rankings.

Implementing these strategies ensures a streamlined web experience, resolves SEO challenges, and enhances overall site performance.