Effortless Solution: Eliminating '?M=1' from Your Blogger URL
Effortless Solution: Eliminating '?M=1' from Your Blogger URL
Introduction
If you're a Blogger user, you may have noticed that when visitors access your site from mobile devices, your URL contains "?m=1." In this article, we'll explore why Blogger adds this parameter to mobile URLs and guide you through the process of removing it. We'll also discuss whether removing "?m=1" is beneficial for SEO and website speed. So, let's dive in.
Why Does Blogger Show ?m=1 in Mobile URLs?
Blogger, though a popular platform, is somewhat outdated when it comes to mobile responsiveness. In the past, many Blogger themes didn't use responsive design, which led to the need for different versions for desktop and mobile users. To identify the user's device correctly, Blogger introduced the "?m=1" parameter in the URL. When someone accesses your blog from a mobile or tablet, the URL would look like this: https://www.yourblog.com/?m=1.
However, most modern themes now utilize responsive design, eliminating the necessity for this URL parameter. Unfortunately, there is no permanent fix to this issue within Blogger's settings. Still, there's a solution to display a cleaner URL to mobile visitors, and it involves using a script. Let's proceed to the steps to remove "?m=1" from your Blogger URL.
How to Remove "?m=1" from Blogger
Step 1: Go to Blogger Dashboard and Select the Theme Option
Go to your Blogger dashboard and select the theme option.
Step 2: Click on the "Edit HTML" Option
Click on the "Edit HTML" option from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Add the Script Below the <head> Tag
You need to add the following script just below the <head> tag in your theme:
Now, save the code, and "?m=1" will be removed from your Blogger website for mobile devices.
If the provided script doesn't work well, you can try the alternative code below:
Now, you might wonder whether you should actually use this script or not. Let's delve into that.
Is Removing "?m=1" from Blogger Beneficial for SEO and Speed?
Using the script doesn't permanently remove "?m=1" from your Blogger URL; instead, it redirects this URL to the original URL in the user's browser. This means that if you want a cleaner URL, you can use the script just below the <head> tag of your theme file.
However, it's important to note that this script doesn't significantly impact the speed of your website. Speed fluctuations are primarily related to server response times, not the redirect caused by the "?m=1" parameter.
In fact, many Blogger users, including the author of this article, don't use the script on their Blogger sites. Nevertheless, using the script won't harm your website, and removing "?m=1" from the mobile URL can give your site a more professional appearance. Feel free to try it out and see how it works for your website.
Alternative Method to Handle "?m=1" in Blogger URLs
If you're concerned that using the script might not be the best option for your Blogger website, consider an alternative approach. It's important to understand that it's practically impossible to permanently remove "?m=1" from Blogger URLs since you don't have access to the root of Blogger.
However, you can visually hide "?m=1" from the URLs served on mobile devices by implementing JavaScript code into the theme file. Keep in mind that this JavaScript code won't remove "?m=1" but rather conceal it. This may disturb your on-page SEO, as it doesn't change the HTTP header response or how Google PageSpeed Insights evaluates your site.
Nonetheless, there's a method that can help you handle the issue of serving different URLs for mobile and desktop devices. It involves declaring the desktop URL as canonical and "?m=1" as the relative URL. This can assist Google in prioritizing the URL correctly.
Solving Duplicate Content SEO Issues in Blogger
If you're experiencing duplicate content SEO issues due to "?m=1" in your Blogger blog, this section is crucial for you. Blogger serves the same content through two URLs, one for desktop and one for mobile users. The "m=1" query parameter in your Blogger blog's URL is related to the mobile version of your site. It's automatically added when someone accesses your blog from a mobile device.
Desktop Version: https://www.example.com/
Mobile Version:
https://www.example.com/?m=1
However, if your goal is simply to remove "?m=1" from the end of your webpage URL, adding a script is not recommended. Search engines might penalize your blog by reducing its page rank if you go this route.
So, instead of providing you with a script for removal, we're here to boost your blog's search engine optimization rather than degrade it. It's essential to follow proper methods to address this issue.
Additional Tips
It's worth noting that Blogger serves different URLs for mobile and desktop devices with and without "?m=1." This is similar to having different URLs for the same post. In this scenario, declaring the desktop URL as canonical and "?m=1" as the relative URL can assist Google in prioritizing the URL correctly. This is crucial for solving the issue of Blogger duplicate content and ensuring that the search console treats both URLs as the same.
If you're using Adsense Ads for monetization, it's essential to consider how changes to your URL structure might impact your revenue. Keeping the SEO of your Blogger blog in check is important, and you can explore using SEO-friendly Blogger blog themes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it's practically impossible to permanently remove "?m=1" from Blogger URLs due to the platform's limitations. However, you can use scripts to visually hide it or declare the desktop URL as canonical to address the issue of serving different URLs for mobile and desktop users. While the choice of using a script depends on your preference, it's important to understand that it won't significantly affect the speed of your website. The impact on SEO is also minimal. Google is now better at understanding and ranking content accordingly, so your focus should be on creating unique and engaging content.
If you have any doubts, queries, or feedback, feel free to leave a comment in the section provided below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Can I permanently remove "?m=1" from my Blogger URL?
A1: Unfortunately, it's not possible to permanently remove "?m=1" from Blogger URLs due to platform limitations.
Q2: Will using a script to hide "?m=1" impact my blog's SEO?
A2: Using a script to hide "?m=1" won't have a significant impact on your blog's SEO. Search engines are now better at handling such parameters.
Q3: How can I handle duplicate content issues in Blogger?
A3: You can declare the desktop URL as canonical and "?m=1" as the relative URL to help search engines prioritize the correct URL. This can solve duplicate content issues in Blogger.
Q4: Should I add JavaScript to remove "?m=1" from my Blogger blog URLs?
A4: It's not recommended to add JavaScript to remove "?m=1" from your URLs, as it may negatively affect your blog's SEO. Consider alternative methods to address the issue.
