TL;DR
Google’s Search Console URL inspection tool sometimes identifies a “Google-selected canonical” URL that appears spammy, as experienced by Dan Lauer. Google’s John Mueller suggests this could occur when domains share interstitial or parked pages and advises waiting a few weeks for potential updates.
Key Developments
- Dan Lauer reported a spammy “Google-selected canonical” URL for a client’s blog in Google Search Console.
- John Mueller from Google noted that shared interstitial or parked pages might cause this issue.
- Mueller recommended checking back after a few weeks to see if the canonical URL updates.
Optimixed Analysis
The occurrence of spammy “Google-selected canonical” URLs in Google Search Console suggests potential issues with how Google identifies canonical URLs, especially when domains share similar interstitial or parked pages. This highlights a need for webmasters to monitor such anomalies and consider Google’s advice to wait for updates. However, the underlying cause remains uncertain without more detailed information. This situation underscores the importance of verifying canonical URLs, particularly for new or unindexed content.
What to Watch Next
- Monitor if the “Google-selected canonical” URL updates after a few weeks.
- Look for further guidance or updates from Google on handling similar issues.
