Thanks
The issue you’re encountering with Google Search Console indicates that Google has detected a duplicate page and is suggesting an incorrect canonical URL with an .atom suffix. This typically happens if there are multiple URLs serving the same or similar content, and Google is unsure which one should be considered the primary version.
Here’s how you can address this issue:
Verify Canonical Tags:
Check the page <https://gaugaupet.com/collections/dog-beds-for-humans.atom> and other pages with similar content to ensure that the canonical link element is correctly implemented. This should point to the main version of the page you want to be indexed.
For example, on the main page, include a canonical tag in the HTML section like this:
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Make sure that the .atom URL or any other unwanted URL patterns are disallowed in your robots.txt file if they should not be indexed by search engines. Add a rule like:
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User-agent: *
Disallow: /collections/dog-beds-for-humans.atom
Check Sitemap:
Ensure your sitemap does not include URLs with .atom unless they are intentionally part of your site’s structure and should be indexed.
Remove Duplicate Content:
If the .atom URLs are not necessary or are automatically generated (e.g., for feeds), consider setting up redirects to the canonical version. For example, use a 301 redirect to point requests from .atom URLs to the main URL:
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Redirect 301 /collections/dog-beds-for-humans.atom https://gaugaupet.com/collections/dog-beds-for-humans
Update Internal Links:
Ensure that your site’s internal links point to the canonical URL without the .atom suffix.
Google Search Console Settings:
In Google Search Console, you can use the URL Inspection tool to request indexing of the correct canonical URL and potentially remove the incorrect URL from the index.
Monitor Changes:
After making these changes, monitor your Google Search Console for updates and verify that the issue is resolved over time.
By implementing these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue with duplicate content and ensure that Google indexes the correct version of your page.
I used the Dawn theme. How do i add canonical tag?
Adding a canonical tag in Shopify’s Dawn theme requires editing the theme’s code. Here’s how you can do it:
Step 1: Access Theme Editor
Log in to your Shopify Admin.
Navigate to Online Store > Themes.
Find the Dawn theme you’re using, and click on Actions > Edit Code.
Step 2: Edit the Theme’s Code
In the theme editor, look for the file theme.liquid or header.liquid.
You’ll usually find theme.liquid under the Layout folder and header.liquid under Sections.
Once you open theme.liquid or header.liquid, look for the section of the HTML code. This is where you will insert the canonical tag.
Step 3: Add Canonical Tag
Insert the following canonical tag within the section of your theme file:
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{% if template == ‘collection’ %}
The .atom suffix refers to an RSS feed that Shopify automatically generates for your collections to help with product updates. This is a technical file and not a standard web page. Google has simply discovered this feed and mistakenly labeled it as the primary version because it contains the same product data as your actual collection page.
To resolve this, you should first check the source code of your main collection page to ensure it has a proper canonical tag pointing to itself. While most Shopify themes handle this automatically, Google can sometimes ignore these tags if it finds the feed more easily. You can also use the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console to request indexing for the correct URL, which signals to Google that it should prioritize the standard page over the feed.
Of course, our team can have a further look into the said issue for you, you can check our app SearchPie: SEO, Speed & Schema a look!
Hope this helps!
