Canonical Link Quesiton

[tgr0ss]

I wrote an article that is a page article, but would also be a very good blog post - So my question is two things:

1.  If i post it as a static page and syndicate it as a blog post and have it as a canonical link to the page, google will read see the blog and read the page _url as the one with credit correct? In turn not dinging me for duplicate content.

2.  Given if the above statement is correct, should I write the blog and put it on my static page referencing the blog or the way i have it as a static page with the blog using a canonical reference back to the page.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[Marcus_Miller]

That all depends...

The canonical stuff is okay.

re the post, if this is a relatively static piece of content that you intend to have on your site for a long time in a prominent position, then have it as a page. If it is transient and you just want a page in a prominent navigation then have it as a post.

It sounds like you have a page and want to make it as a post so just make sure the post has a canonical pointing back to the page so you don't get 'dinged'.

You could always just have this as a post and then add a link to the post in your navigation and avoid the duplication altogether?

[CleverPhD]

The canonical is sort of like a 301 redirect without actually redirecting the user reading the page.  So yes, if you publish the article, let it get indexed by Google then publish it in the blog with a canonical back to the article page you should be set.

That said, I think the better approach would be to write a shorter snippet of the article and publish that on the blog and then just provide a regular link back to the article a "if you want more information, read the full article).  If the blog is on a separate publishing network, you get the added benefit that you now have link (and you can optimize the anchor text) that points from "another site" aka the blog to your article.  This helps the article to rank in the SERPS in the long run.  You do not need to completely rewrite the article, just a short summary, do make sure it is not a carbon copy of your opening paragraph.  This really gives you more bang for the buck as a part of this process.

I really only use the canonical for things like, the printer friendly version of a page pointing to the originals etc.

[tgr0ss]

Thanks,

I did do the canonical part from post referring to page, and it's part of a 'resource-center' but also made for a very good piece since it's a prep checklist that i put together for a client.

Otherwise i would have done the post linking, but that's something that will always be there and pretty much wont change.  But the value of it regarding this industry/niche was just too good in my opinion to not put out in a blog.  Just wanted to do it right.

I appreciate the help.

[tgr0ss]

Clever,

Thanks for that insight -  It's like one of those things that almost seems so simple, but overlooked easily.

Regarding that - So I've been reshaping some services page that will split into defined pages for those services, since individually those services are specialized enough that the search value is worth it.

Would you suggest as i put these up start dropping them through blog paragraph/syndication to blog every other day or so - Till we get them all out?

[Marcus_Miller]

One point to keep in mind is which of these versions would you like to come up in a web search as that is one that should be the primary source and have the canonical pointing at it.

[CleverPhD]

Makes sense to me.  You just need to make sure that you can handle talk about all these things and keep up with the publishing schedule.  Stay focused on your most important categories.