Google Webmaster Tools - Duplicate Title Tag

In my Google webmaster tools, it tells me I have a duplicate title tag between my home page and my default page:

When I check my file manager, there is only ONE version of my home page on the server: default.htm

Is this problem caused by my xml sitemap which states defines both the main url and the default.htm url:

If so, is it safe to take out this line fromt he sitemap:

Or is there likely to be another cause?

Also, when I do a site search, I get both the normal home page and the default page displayed:

 

The problem is more difficult than you think. You need to fix the canonical issues for your site. You should redirect (301) http://www.completebathroomssuffolk.co.uk/default.htm on http://www.completebathroomssuffolk.co.uk/ |

 

Many thanks deepal.pal - so I don't need a Google canonical tag:

on my homepage?????/

I've never had to do that before but I've never had these problems before.

 

Hi There,

Let me explain you quickly what is happening and what should you do.

The problem:
1.) The titles are indeed duplicated since both pages have the same title.
2.) Much worse, actually the pages are also duplicated; thus, they are considered 'duplicated content'. The problem is that the same content can be found on 2 URLs:
http://www.completebathroomssuffolk.co.uk/
http://www.completebathroomssuffolk.co.uk/default.htm
3.) You are linking both pages
4.) You have included both pages into your sitemap

The solution:

A.) Redirect this:
http://www.completebathroomssuffolk.co.uk/default.htm
to this:
http://www.completebathroomssuffolk.co.uk/
How:
From .htaccess. I have noticed you are using Apache and PHP so it will work.
Look for a hidden file in your root directory called '.htaccess' (with the dot in the front, exactly like here.) If you cannot find it create a file with that name.
Copy this into your .htaccess file:

exactly like here. This will redirect default.htm to your root.

B.) Just to be sure, add this canonical tag into /default.htm:

You see only 1 file on your server called 'default.htm' because that file is set up as Directory Index in your .htaccess.

C.) Replace all links pointing to '/default.htm' to '/'.
So if a link looks like this now:

It should be:

D.) Remove 'default.htm' from your sitemap. Your guess was good, you have to delete this:

A.) and B.) together resolves problems 1.) and 2.); C.) is for 3.), D.) is for 4.).

Also let me mention that actually these are not too big issues, but if want to do ANY seo to your pages you should start like this I think.

Also since this is a pretty adecvate, detailed and helpful post you should really give me some positive feedback on this URL:
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/itrader_feedback.php?u=475205

;-)

 

Many thanks zlori for such detailed and helpful suggestions! Have added to reputation!

 

Use the canonical tag or redirect default page to home page with 301 redirection to solve the problem.

 

why you using both links on xml site map, and you can use 301 redirect.

 

Also go to Google Webmaster tool account and find out all the Duplicate Title Tag and change manually.

 

may on next crawl its get fixed

 

Yes, redirect your default.htm page to homepage and remove this link from sitemap.xml.