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Canonical links-product and category - SEO

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    Canonical links-product and category - SEO

    Hi - looking for opinions on 2 questions. First, our products are typically searched for by the name and the brand together. Most of our products are available in the industry by a gazillion brands. In that case, is it better SEO to include both the product and the brand category in the url? Currently a url looks like: http://www.naturalhealthyconcepts.co...y-origins.html

    Secondly, if that is the case, when products are assigned to multiple categories (99% are), is there a way (hopefully easy) to insure that the category assigned in the canonical link is the brand? If it makes a difference, when products are uploaded to MIVA, they are first assigned to the brand category.

    Thanks for your thoughts.

    #2
    Re: Canonical links-product and category - SEO

    Create a custom product field called primarycat. Then use the primarycat value in the url. It is not practical if you change them frequently, but I would think a brand would stay the same.
    Bill Weiland - Emporium Plus http://www.emporiumplus.com/store.mvc
    Online Documentation http://www.emporiumplus.com/tk3/v3/doc.htm
    Question http://www.emporiumplus.com/mivamodu...vc?Screen=SPTS
    Facebook http://www.facebook.com/EmporiumPlus
    Twitter http://twitter.com/emporiumplus

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      #3
      Re: Canonical links-product and category - SEO

      Thanks Bill - will take a look at that.

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        #4
        Re: Canonical links-product and category - SEO

        This technique is also useful when you want to always have breadcrumbs on a product page and don't supply the category code in the url, e.g. a link from the product list (all products) page.
        Bill Weiland - Emporium Plus http://www.emporiumplus.com/store.mvc
        Online Documentation http://www.emporiumplus.com/tk3/v3/doc.htm
        Question http://www.emporiumplus.com/mivamodu...vc?Screen=SPTS
        Facebook http://www.facebook.com/EmporiumPlus
        Twitter http://twitter.com/emporiumplus

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          #5
          Re: Canonical links-product and category - SEO

          Theresa:

          For what it is worth, it might be a good idea in your situation - if you are going to keep the category code in the URL - to use canonical tags for your products that DON'T have the category code. Especially since products will be in multiple categories.

          and once you choose a link format, use it consistently. the link format in your related products is different than the link format on your category pages.

          So if you decide to use the preferred category custom field that bill mentioned, make sure that is used in your category page, as well as your related items and in your site maps (both html and XML) and I would recommend that you use it in your Search results and your product list as well. (note: you will lose certain advantages of query string links that are available with the power search module).
          Mark Romero
          ~~~~~~~~

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            #6
            Re: Canonical links-product and category - SEO

            Thanks Mark for the info.

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              #7
              Re: Canonical links-product and category - SEO

              Importance of the canonical link is to give Google a clean representation and suggestion of what you want your URLs to look like and how you want Google to index and display them in search results, this can also help to clear up duplicate page issues.

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                #8
                Re: Canonical links-product and category - SEO

                They say anymore that you should use the Canonical tags even if you DON'T have URL issues like you mentioned, so getting them set up and working may not be a bad idea.
                Ted Hust
                AarcMediaGroup.com

                Celebrating 13 Years of Outstanding Service & Support
                Miva Merchant Design

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