Google’s John Mueller was requested about whether it is nonetheless okay to make use of noindex and canonicals on the identical time and when to make use of one or the opposite. It is a subject we lined a number of occasions right here through the years however I noticed a brand new Reddit thread with John’s feedback on it, so I figured I might resurrect this subject.
First, right here is our earlier protection:
The brand new Reddit thread references an outdated workplace hours hangout (which I miss loads) the place on the 16:38 mark, David asks about this subject.
John replied that if you wish to consolidate pages with the potential of the pages nonetheless displaying up, then go together with the canonical. In order for you the pages gone from Google Search, then go together with noindex. He additionally stated, technically you may go together with each.
Here’s what John stated there:
However I feel the overall query of ought to I exploit noindex or rel canonical for an additional web page is one thing the place there in all probability is not an absolute reply. In order that’s form of simply offhand. It is like, should you’re scuffling with that, you are not the one one that’s like, oh, which one ought to I exploit? That additionally normally implies that each of those choices might be OK.
So normally what I’d take a look at there may be what your actually robust choice there may be.
And if the robust choice is you actually don’t need this content material to be proven in any respect in Search, then I’d use no index.
In case your choice is extra I actually need every part mixed in a single web page, and if particular person ones present up, like, no matter, however most of them must be mixed, then I’d use a rel canonical.
And in the end, the impact is analogous in that, effectively, it is like, doubtless the web page that you are looking at will not be proven in search. However with a no index, it is undoubtedly not proven. And with a rel canonical, it is extra doubtless not proven.
Certain, I imply, you too can do each of them. And it is something– if exterior hyperlinks, for instance, are pointing at this web page, then having each of them there helps us to determine, effectively, you don’t need this web page listed, however you additionally specified one other one. So possibly a number of the alerts we will simply ahead alongside.
Right here is the video embed:
So this was introduced up within the Reddit thread and the response was a bit bizarre however you may check out it.
John wrote:
I’d simply choose one (noindex or adopted hyperlinks). Hyperlinks on a noindexed web page might be picked up, however it’s not assured. website positioning is usually about making your choice very clear and never about possibly’s. Additionally, it is useful to be reasonable: typically (usually) having an excellent web site construction that usually works effectively for engines like google is healthier than hyper-focusing on hyperlinks (or some other particular person side of website positioning).
Discussion board dialogue at Reddit.
