Add <link rel="canonical" href=… /> when an instance serves foreign content #705

New issue

Closed

opened 2019-12-11 21:55:33 +00:00 by edgarogh · 3 comments

edgarogh commented

2019-12-11 21:55:33 +00:00

(Migrated from github.com)

Context

When I type my full name in Google, all the plume-related results that appear are from other instances serving content from mine (articles, users). I have no problems with my content being accessible from other instances, it's the essence of federated networks after all but I had a little improvement to suggest regarding search results.

Suggestion

Whenever an article/user page is served from a foreign instance, add a <link rel="canonical" href=… /> pointing to the URL of the same content on the original instance. This tag makes complying search engines understand that the current page mirrors another one.

Pros

Get rid of duplicate pages (or at least duplicate content) on search engines
Give more value to individual instances, instead of making them popular behind another one's search results
Prevent an instance from filling the first search results and progressively turning into the "entry point" to the Plume fediverse, which would create a kind of "monopoly", completely contrary to the goal of federated networks

There might be cons, but I couldn't think of any...

# Context When I type my full name in Google, all the plume-related [results](https://www.google.com/search?q=edgar+onghena+inurl:plume) that appear are from other instances serving content from mine (articles, users). I have no problems with my content being accessible from other instances, it's the essence of federated networks after all but I had a little improvement to suggest regarding search results. # Suggestion Whenever an article/user page is served from a foreign instance, add a `<link rel="canonical" href=… />` pointing to the URL of the same content on the original instance. This tag makes complying search engines understand that the current page mirrors another one. # Pros * Get rid of duplicate pages (or at least duplicate content) on search engines * Give more value to individual instances, instead of making them popular behind another one's search results * Prevent an instance from filling the first search results and progressively turning into the "entry point" to the Plume fediverse, which would create a kind of "monopoly", completely contrary to the goal of federated networks _There might be cons, but I couldn't think of any..._

👍 5

epsilon-phase commented

2019-12-16 21:01:12 +00:00

(Migrated from github.com)

This element should be placed in the <head> right?

This element should be placed in the `<head>` right?

epsilon-phase commented

2019-12-23 17:05:22 +00:00

(Migrated from github.com)

This should probably be closed now.

elegaanz commented

2019-12-23 17:10:21 +00:00