Is rel=prev/next necessary for ecommerce?

[Satans_Apprentice]

We are currently not using rel=prev/next for paginated categories. My predecessor instead canonicaled paginated pages back to the parent. This obviously needs to be fixed. The pages should self-canonical.

Is using the parameter handling function of Google Search Console enough, or do we need to have our dev team implement rel=prev/next?

[Nigel_Carr]

Hi Satans Apprentice

Best practice is to add rel/prev to the pages and self-canonicalise as you say. Then go to parameters and tell Google that the parameter (usually 'page') paginates and to crawl every URL.

See attachment for the setting in search console.

If you don't do this and you 'release' all the pages you risk them being indexed and cannibalising the main content.

Best Regards

Nigel

cizwrt6

[Satans_Apprentice]

Good answer. Thanks, Nigel. Exactly what I thought.

Do you think fixing this will have any significant positive rankings impact? I've never had to correct this before.

[Nigel_Carr]

Hi

Honestly? no, I know it's best practice and all but what you have there is a kind of 'workable fudge'. I actually have a client who implemented what you have in place now a couple of years ago and his pages rank brilliantly so we just haven't bothered changing it yet.

For best practice and to make it Google future proof, do it, but don't expect a huge bump.

I'd love to know what the outcome is after you do it,

Regards

Nigel

[Satans_Apprentice]

Will do. I'm not expecting much. Maybe a slight bump for products.