First link counts / Canonical Tags

[irldonalb]

Hi,

We know Canonical Tags can be used to disregard tracking parameters from URLs. We also know Google only counts the first anchor text to Page B from Page A. I think it’s a safe assume that Google distributes value amongst the unique links on the page.

However what happens in the following hypothetical scenario (ignoring other factors)?

Page A links to Page B several times and Page C once.

- Example.com/PageB.html?tracking=123
- Example.com/PageB.html?tracking=234
- Example.com/PageB.html?tracking=345
- Example.com/PageB.html?tracking=564
- Example.com/PageC.html

In the source of PageB.html we have a Canonical Tag instructing Google that the main version of the page is Example.com/PageB.html". In addition, in the Webmasters Tool we’ve flagged the tracking parameter as a parameter to be ignored.

Does Google give Page C half the value or one fifth of the value distributed from Page A?

Thanks
Donal

[tedster]

This is one of those areas that might change and it's been a long time since I did any testing. Remembering that last year Google did make a change in how nofollow links are counted (and no one in the SEO community caught it until Google themselves announced it), I'd hesitate to guess on this one. But I will guess anyway, just for fun. I think your example would generate a 50-50 split in the PR vote.

[AnkitMaheshwari]

IMO too, this situation might result in a 50-50 split.