Regarding canonical tags: Is it significant if the homepage is the only page with a trailing slash in the URL? For example: - "dotcom/" - "dotcom/read" - "dotcom/search"
It’s generally recommended to be consistent with trailing slashes across your entire website, including the homepage. While having a trailing slash on only the homepage might not cause immediate issues, it can lead to potential SEO problems and user experience inconsistencies.
Here’s why consistency matters:
- SEO: Search engines might treat URLs with and without trailing slashes as separate pages, potentially leading to duplicate content issues. This can negatively impact your search rankings as search engines struggle to determine which URL to prioritize.
- User Experience: Inconsistent URL structures can confuse users. They might expect certain patterns when navigating your website, and a sudden change in URL structure can break the flow and create a less user-friendly experience.
- Internal Linking: Consistent URLs make internal linking easier and more reliable. If you have a clear and consistent URL structure, you can be confident that internal links will direct users to the correct page.
While it’s technically possible to have a trailing slash only on your homepage, it’s best to adopt a consistent approach across all URLs for optimal SEO and user experience.