04 · Write once, publish twice: canonical links¶
If you have your own blog, publish there first and republish on Medium with a canonical link pointing to your blog. Google then treats your blog as the original, and Medium brings the readers. Sources: Help: Set a canonical link · Help: Importing a post.
Two ways¶
| Way | Steps | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Import tool | Medium → Import a story → paste your blog URL → edit → publish. It backdates the story and sets the canonical link for you | Moving 2–3 old posts on day one |
| Set by hand | Draft or story → ⋯ → More settings → Advanced settings → "This story was originally published elsewhere" → paste URL → Save → Publish | A new post you wrote on your blog this week |
Check it: open the Medium story, View page source, search canonical: the first match must be your blog URL.
Order and timing (practice to test)¶
- Publish on your blog. Make sure Google can index it (Search Console → URL inspection).
- Wait a few days, so your page is likely indexed first.
- Republish on Medium with the canonical link. Change the title or first paragraph for Medium readers if you like; keep the substance.
- If a publication accepts it, the canonical link stays; tell the editor it's a republish when you submit.
Things to know¶
- Republished stories can still be Boosted, but only when you, the original author, post them (facts).
- Don't point the canonical anywhere but your own original. Pointing it at a product page or someone else's site is SEO manipulation under Medium's publication rules.
- Only import what you own. Not a guest post you sold, not someone else's article.
- No blog yet? Then write on Medium first. You can move the post to your site later and set the canonical on your site to the Medium URL, or the other way round; pick one original and stick to it.