Wordpress: Tags generate duplicate Content - just delete the tags!?

[inlinear]

Asking people, they say tags are bad and spamy and as I can see they generate all my duplicate page content issues.

So the big question is, why Google very often prefers to show in SERPS these Tag-URLS... so it can't be too bad! :)))?

Then after some research I found the "Term Optimizer" on Yoast.com ... that should help exactly with this problem but it seems not to be available anymore?

So may be there another plugin that can help... or just delete all tags from my blog? and install permanent redirects?
Is this the solution?

[AlanMosley]

I would get rid of the tags, I don't think users use them, they are more like a gimmick.

Search engines are more likely to rank your primary page now, rather then the pages produced by tags

[Branagan]

I guess tags are there because they fulfill a function, but if they aren't useful for your users it shouldn't be a problem to erase them, as long as you take the necessary measures not to get tons of nasty 404s, although if what worries you is duplicate content, you could just noindex the tag pages, I think most SEO plugins for WP have this option, else it shouldn't be hard to include the noindex tag in tag.php or whatever file generates it's pages, then you wouldn't have to deprive your users of an useful function (if that's the case, off course).

About your question of Google's preference, I'm not aware of it, but couldn't it be because there are many internal pages linking to tag pages and also with the same anchor?

[AlanMosley]

Make sure that is a no-index, follow tag so that you get your link juice back

[DennisSeymour]

the sites that have tag pages ranking usually have onpage problems or a penalty. Instead of the page, they usually show that tag page....or the privacy page....or maybe the keyword is just not competitive and google has nothing better to put there. Ive seen all these cases.

It's up to you, you can noindex them or whatever you want. As long as you dont go crazy and put 1000 tags on your post and spam links to those tag pages, they shouldnt be a problem. At least in my case.

[aamirzzz]

If you are using similar tags for almost every post, yes it will create duplicate content, but If you are using them separately it wont create duplicate content.

For an example I had a movie site, I used tags for the Movie Cast, since every movie has different cast it never created any duplicate content, my that site was SEO miracle.

[inlinear]

Hi Branagan,

yes I can set noindex, follow in the yoast plugin, but this seems that google does not obey this metatag? See the comment of a User from a blog:

Peter Hinson October 25, 2012 at 7:22 am

Hi, I’ve been using the Yoasts SEO for years now, but unfortunately it does not prevent Google from indexing pagination all the time.

Matt Cutts. the Google technical expert and representative says in his video that the ‘noindex’ meta tag is a weak method in trying to prevent Google from indexing a page, since Googlebot will not always obey this tag.

[Branagan]

Yes, that happens sometimes, just make sure the plugin has implemented the tags correctly and that the head of your pages don't contain any other misplaced meta tags or invalid code, since this could cause the issue.

Then give it a try, it usually works, you'll have to wait until the site is re-crawled dough, so give it some time. Then, if it doesn't work, you could take more drastic measures.

Good luck, and follow Alan's advice of using 'no-index, follow' in your tag if you want to make sure of keeping the link flow.

[inlinear]

Yes, thanks,

I'm curious ... and hope it works. and yes it looks fine...

<title>Christo | INLINEAR Digital Marketing & Brasilien Blog</title>

[Branagan]

Does that validate?

I'm no expert, but I think the trailing slash shouldn't be used with meta elements, except maybe if the declared DocType is XML or XHTML? If you do, leave a space just before it, like in your rel canonical line, for compatibility's sake (old stuff but just in case, it won't hurt).

And shouldn't it be a space between the comma and follow in "noindex, follow"?

[kbaltzell]

Hey!

I was just looking into this same issue for myself, and I figured I'd share the URL from Yoast that ended up answering most of my questions. It's in section 3, gives you some solutions to the duplicate page issue.

Hope this helps,

Tyler

[inlinear]

Hi Tyler,

yes I ended up with the simple checking of the "noindex,follow" option for Tag within the YOAST Plugin (Taxonomies-Tab).

Now all the duplicate Content Issues are gone... so why is this option not set per default? hmmm

Thanks
Holger

[kbaltzell]

I said the same thing! I couldn't figure out why it wasn't the default either. We've had the blog up since before I worked for my current company, and so there were a bunch of duplicate pages I'm trying to fix now... frustrating!

Best of luck,

Tyler

[Somethingbig]

Hi,

I also have this problem with our site with 50 duplicate pages recorded on Moz, If I do a no index, follow on Yoast will it create 404's or will I only get a 404 if i remove the tags completely?

Also is there a way to set this up for all future blog posts on yoast or will I need to do this every time I submit a new post?

Thanks

Jeh

[LIVEASISSTINFO]

My blog provides articles for technical queries and repair options. Almost many keywords does have the same sort of steps to define and we are into problems now..

CASE1: We have replaced the keywords and created the same content for all posts.

CASE2: To solve the above SEO loop hole, I have added these tags for relevant steps which follow the same troubleshooting.

Now again tags are bothering me.

What should I do for my work?

[Everett]

It should take care of the duplicate content issue as it relates to tag pages, but not it will not show as a 404 because the page will still be there, just removed from Google's index.

If you adjusted the settings in Yoast it should apply to all future posts and tags.

[Everett]

I don't understand the question. Perhaps submit a new question to create a new thread, and elaborate on the issue.