Keyword Cannibalization: What It Is and How You Can Fix It

If we talk about SEO, stand for search engine optimization, there are many terms and concepts that can seem confusing. One such term is “keyword cannibalization.” It’s a situation that can hurt your website’s performance in search engine results. This article will explain what keyword cannibalization is, why it matters, and how you can fix it.

What is Keyword Cannibalization?

Keyword cannibalization occurs when different pages on your site vie for the same keyword. Imagine you have a website about gardening. If you have several articles about “how to grow roses,” those articles might be competing against each other for that keyword. Instead of one strong page, you have many weaker pages fighting for the same spot.

Think of it this way: if you were in a race, would you rather have one strong runner or several weaker runners all competing against each other? The strong runner has a better chance of winning, just like a strong page has a better chance of ranking high on Google.

Why Keyword Cannibalization Matters?

• Diluted Authority: When multiple pages compete for the same keyword, none of them get the full benefit. Instead of one page being seen as an authority, you have several pages that might be seen as less important.

• Lower Rankings: Google and other search engines might get confused about which page to rank. This could result in decreased rankings for all the pages in competition.

• Poor User Experience: If a visitor to your site sees multiple pages about the same topic, they might get confused or frustrated. They want the best information quickly, not to sift through similar content.

• Wasted Crawl Budget: Search engines have a limited amount of time they spend on your site. If they are crawling multiple similar pages, they might miss other important content.

How to Identify Keyword Cannibalization

In order to address keyword cannibalization, you must first identify it. Below are a few methods to determine if it is occurring on your website:

• Check Your Keywords: Make a list of the keywords you want to rank for. Use tools like Google Search Console or SEMrush to see which pages are ranking for those keywords.

• Look for Overlaps: See if multiple pages are ranking for the same keyword. If you find overlaps, you likely have keyword cannibalization.

• Analyze Your Content: Review your content to see if you have similar articles targeting the same keyword. At times, the issue only becomes apparent when taking a closer look at the content.

• Use SEO Tools: Tools like Screaming Frog can help you scan your site for keyword cannibalization. These tools can provide a detailed analysis of your keywords and content.

How to Fix Keyword Cannibalization

Once you’ve identified keyword cannibalization on your site, it’s time to fix it. Here are some ways that can help you to fix it;

1. Consolidate Content: If you have multiple pages targeting the same keyword, consider combining them into one comprehensive page. This enhances your content and also increases your likelihood of achieving a higher ranking. Redirect the old pages to the new one using 301 redirects to preserve any link equity.

2. Differentiate Your Keywords: Make sure each page targets a unique keyword or a different aspect of the same topic. For example, instead of having multiple pages about “how to grow roses,” you could have one page on “how to grow roses,” another on “best fertilizers for roses,” and another on “common rose diseases.”

3. Update Internal Links: Ensure your internal linking structure supports your main pages. Link to the consolidated or primary page from other relevant pages on your site. This helps search engines understand which page is most important.

4. Use Canonical Tags: If you need to keep similar pages, use canonical tags to tell search engines which page should be considered the primary version. This helps prevent confusion and ensures the right page gets the ranking boost.

5. Remove or De-optimize Content: In some cases, it might make sense to remove outdated or low-performing content. If two pages are similar, consider keeping the better one and removing the other. Alternatively, you can de-optimize one page by changing its focus or reducing its keyword density.

6. Create a Content Strategy: Create a well-defined content plan to prevent keyword cannibalization in upcoming projects. Plan your content topics and keywords carefully to ensure each piece has a unique focus and purpose.

Real-Life Example

Let’s look at a real-life example to see how fixing keyword cannibalization can help. Imagine you run a cooking blog with multiple articles about “chocolate cake recipes.” Over time, you notice that none of these articles rank well on Google.

To fix this, you decide to consolidate your content. You create one comprehensive guide to “chocolate cake recipes” that includes tips, variations, and troubleshooting. You then redirect the old articles to this new guide.

After making these changes, you see a significant improvement. Your new guide ranks higher, attracts more visitors, and provides a better user experience. By resolving keyword cannibalization, you’ve strengthened your site and improved its performance.

Preventing Keyword Cannibalization

Prevention is better than cure. Here are some tips to help you prevent keyword cannibalization from happening in the first place:

• Plan Your Content: Before you create new content, check your existing content to ensure you’re not duplicating topics. Utilize a content calendar for the purpose of structuring your topics and keywords.

• Use a Keyword Map: Create a keyword map that assigns specific keywords to specific pages. This helps you keep track of which keywords are targeted by which pages.

• Regular Audits: Conduct regular audits of your site’s content and keywords. This assists in identifying and resolving problems before they escalate into bigger issues.

• Stay Updated: SEO best practices change over time. Stay updated on the latest trends and strategies to ensure your site remains optimized and free of keyword cannibalization.

Lastly, keyword cannibalization is a common issue that can hurt your website’s performance. By understanding what it is, why it matters, and how to fix it, you can improve your site’s SEO and provide a better experience for your visitors.

Remember to regularly check your site for keyword cannibalization, consolidate content when necessary, and plan your keywords carefully. By doing so, you’ll create a stronger, more focused website that ranks higher in search engine results and attracts more visitors.