How can I set up Canonical tags in Webflow to indicate republished articles while also ensuring Google knows the correct canonical URL for my site, considering multiple custom domains connected to Webflow?
- Set a default domain in Webflow Hosting to establish a primary URL and enable automatic redirects.
- Add canonical tags in CMS template pages using the custom code section, optionally using a CMS field with conditional logic for dynamic URLs.
- Verify implementation using Google Search Console and SEO browser tools.
Setting up canonical tags in Webflow helps avoid duplicate content issues, especially when articles are republished or your site uses multiple custom domains. Here's how to implement canonical tags correctly.
1. Choose a Primary Domain
- Go to Webflow Project Settings > Hosting.
- Under "Custom Domains", look for the domain marked as Default (e.g.,
www.example.com). This is the one Google will treat as primary. - Set a default domain if not already done by clicking “Make default” next to the preferred domain.
- Webflow automatically 301-redirects traffic from other connected domains to the default one.
2. Add Canonical Tags to CMS Templates
To handle republished content or manage SEO when articles appear on other sites:
Go to your CMS Template Page (e.g., Blog Post template).
Open Page Settings (gear icon).
Scroll to the "Custom Code" section under the page settings.
In the "Inside tag" section, add:
<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.example.com/blog/{{slug}}" />Replace
www.example.comwith your primary domain.Ensure
{{slug}}matches the slug field for the CMS collection.
3. Use Conditional Logic for Canonicals (Optional)
If republished articles have a custom canonical source:
Add a plain text field in your CMS (e.g.,
canonical_url).In the custom code, use conditional logic like:
``
⚠️ Note: Webflow doesn't support dynamic logic in native
<head>sections without custom code. You'd need to use an Embed inside the page body or export the site if fine-grained control is needed.
4. Verify Canonical Implementation
- Use Google Search Console’s URL Inspection Tool to confirm which canonical Google recognizes.
- Use browser extensions like Ayima Redirect Path or SEO Meta in 1 Click to visually inspect canonical tags.
Summary
Set your default domain in Webflow to enforce a primary URL. Then, add custom canonical tags on CMS templates (either static or CMS field-driven) to guide Google on the correct source. This ensures proper SEO across republished content and multiple domains.