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If you’re putting effort into SEO, you’re probably optimizing multiple pages for important keywords. But what if those pages are competing with each other instead of working together? That’s where keyword cannibalization comes in, a silent SEO killer that many websites unknowingly suffer from.
In this blog post, we’ll break down what keyword cannibalization is, why it happens, how it affects your website’s SEO, and most importantly, how to fix it.
🚨 What is Keyword Cannibalization?
Keyword cannibalization happens when two or more pages on your website target the same (or very similar) keywords, causing search engines to compete between your own pages to decide which one should rank.
Instead of boosting your visibility, it can split your authority, reduce rankings, confuse Google, and harm your traffic.
🔍 Example of Keyword Cannibalization
Let’s say you run a digital marketing blog and you have two articles:
- “Best SEO Tips for Small Businesses”
- “Small Business SEO: How to Improve Your Ranking”
Both might be targeting keywords like small business SEO tips. When Google crawls your site, it might struggle to figure out which page is more relevant, potentially leading to both pages ranking lower than they could or the wrong one ranking.
🤯 Why Keyword Cannibalization Happens
Keyword cannibalization often happens unintentionally, especially when:
- Your website has a lot of content over time
- Multiple authors contribute without a content strategy
- You’re optimizing for similar keyword variations
- You create duplicate or overlapping content
- Your eCommerce product pages have similar descriptions
🧠 How Keyword Cannibalization Affects SEO
Here’s how keyword cannibalization can hurt your SEO:
- 🚫 Lower rankings: Google gets confused and chooses the weaker page.
- ⚠️ Diluted link equity: Backlinks get spread across pages instead of focusing authority.
- 📉 Poor user experience: Multiple similar pages can overwhelm or confuse users.
- 🧩 Indexing issues: Google might de-index or ignore one page over time.
🛠️ How to Identify Keyword Cannibalization
Here are some ways to detect if your site is suffering from it:
- Use Google Search Operators
Try this:
site:yourdomain.com “target keyword”
This shows all the pages Google has indexed for that keyword.
- Use Google Search Console
Check the Performance tab to see if multiple pages are getting impressions and clicks for the same queries.
- Use SEO Tools
Platforms like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Screaming Frog can show overlapping keyword rankings.
🔧 How to Fix Keyword Cannibalization
Depending on the situation, you have a few powerful options:
✅ 1. Merge Similar Pages
Combine content from two competing pages into one comprehensive resource, then set up a 301 redirect.
✅ 2. Differentiate Content Focus
Update one or both pages to focus on a different aspect of the topic or use long-tail keyword variations.
✅ 3. Canonical Tags
Use the <link rel=”canonical”> tag to tell search engines which version is the “master” page.
✅ 4. Internal Linking
Strategically link back to the page you want to rank higher from other related pages to signal importance.
✅ 5. Noindex or Delete Old Pages
If the content is outdated or thin, consider deleting or noindexing it.
🧭 Best Practices to Avoid Keyword Cannibalization
- Create a keyword map before publishing content
- Assign unique primary keywords to each page
- Regularly audit your content using SEO tools
- Avoid creating pages that answer the same user intent
- Keep track of keyword performance in Google Search Console
📈 Final Thoughts
Keyword cannibalization can silently drag your SEO strategy down but the good news is, it’s fixable. With a bit of analysis, cleanup, and planning, you can get your pages to rank where they deserve to be.
If you’re unsure where to start, consider an SEO audit or consulting with the best seo agency that understands how to maximize your website’s keyword potential.
Need help fixing cannibalization on your site?
Let’s talk we’ll help you clean up your keyword strategy and boost your rankings the right way.
