Overcome duplicate content by enabling HTTPS on websites
Enabling HTTPS or SSL on a website is a good thing. Not only does the website make visitors feel safe, but it is also viewed as better by Google’s search engines. But for someone who prefers HTTP for various reasons.
Very often, if the website you are managing has SSL installed, Google duplicates if you late do what it should. Because basically there are things that have to be done so that duplicate content never occurs.
Even if you already have it, anxious thoughts are perfectly normal too. But it is better now to get rid of this fear and it is time to address it in different ways that are shared here.
1. Choose between HTTP or HTTPS
Try to think about it one last time. Decide which protocol is best for the site. Because if the site is already overcrowded with visitors using the HTTP protocol, switching to HTTPS will result in a few percent drop in visitors, and that’s normal.
But if the website is still relatively new, less than a year ago, choosing HTTPS is of course the best option. Don’t forget to check that SSL is installed perfectly by visiting the SSL checker site
Also Read: 3 Ways To See The Total Number Of Website Visitors
2. Make sure that the URL protocol redirects are correct
If your website has SSL installed, make sure it has been redirected directly to HTTPS, or with the intent that it will automatically be redirected to HTTPS when accessed over the HTTP protocol.
This leads to duplicate content where there are two same URLs but different protocols. And Google still isn’t very smart at comparing that. The solution is to redirect using the HTTP 301 method.
If you are using WordPress, please install a plugin called Easy HTTPS Redirection. In the meantime, please edit the file except for WordPress .htaccess and paste the code below at the top.
HTTP to HTTPS
#Redirect HTTP to HTTPSOptions +FollowSymLinksRewriteEngine onRewriteCond %{HTTPS} offRewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}/$1 [R=301,L]In the meantime, if you’ve already enabled HTTPS and prefer to stick with HTTP. Instead, you need to do the opposite, which is to redirect HTTPS to HTTP. Please paste the code below into the file .htaccess
HTTPS to HTTP
#Redirect HTTPS to HTTPOptions +FollowSymLinksRewriteEngine OnRewriteCond %{ENV:HTTPS} onRewriteRule (.*) http://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [R=301,L]3. Check the canonical link attribute on the site
Canonical attributes hidden in tags shortcut that’s usually in Head marks plays an important role for search engines. Using the URL as the page that is currently being crawled and will later be indexed. Here is an example.
So, all you need to do is review and edit the protocol contained in the canonical url according to the currently selected protocol type.
4. Check each link on the main page
As well as trying to check the canonical attributes, try to take a look at the main page and see every link that is there. Like a link that leads to an article or other page pointing to the site.
Make sure each link conforms to the protocol in use today. And you can ignore internal links that’s in an article, though better edited. But that’s fine as long as the site has been redirected as in Step 2 above.
5. Ask Google to crawl again
This is a very important final step. It’s like asking Google to crawl the changed page. The method is very simple, please open the Google Search Console. Then select the properties.
Right click To crawl > Retrieve as google. And just press the button Fetch and Render. Wait for the loading process to finish and then click the button Request Index. contents captcha then there are two options that appear there, choose second option and press the button Submit.
Why should you choose the second option? Because the option to crawl is useful all pages that’s on your website.
diploma
Did you know that you only have to take the 2nd step to solve the problem of duplicate content. But even the above five steps are worth implementing in order to gain a good reputation in the eyes of Google.
Also read: Resolving websites that redirect to lighthouse pages
Since 2021, Google has given HTTPS-enabled sites top priority. The engine is set to crawl the HTTPS protocol first. This sometimes causes duplicate content to appear on websites that are not using and using HTTPS Cache plugins. And the solution to that is to just switch the protocol.
Perhaps there are steps that you do not understand that confuse your previously fearful mind. So please comment which step is confusing you so I can help you make it easier.
Hopefully useful and good luck
