What is Keyword Cannibalization? | How to Fix It？
Content table
What is keyword cannibalization
The impact of keyword cannibalization
Causes of keyword cannibalization
Signs of keyword cannibalization
How to identify cannibalization
Tools for detecting keyword cannibalization
How to fix cannibalization
Conclusion
What is Keyword Cannibalization
Keyword cannibalization is like when you have multiple friends with the same name – confusing and kind of annoying for everyone involved. In SEO terms, it's when multiple pages on your website are competing for the same keyword, causing them to essentially sabotage each other's chances of ranking well.
Keyword cannibalization happens when different pages on a website are all trying to rank for the same keyword or keyword phrase. This can cause problems because search engines get confused and see these pages as duplicates. When this happens, it can hurt the website's performance and make it harder for people to find the site in search results.
The Impact of Keyword Cannibalization
Lower rankings
When search engines see multiple pages on a website all targeting the same keyword, they may not know which page to show in search results. This can make each page less relevant and authoritative, which means they won't rank as high in search results. As a result, the website may get less organic traffic.
Poor user experience
Keyword cannibalization can confuse visitors by offering multiple similar pages without clear differentiation. Instead of finding the best answer quickly, users may bounce between pages or leave your site altogether.
Causes of Keyword Cannibalization
Poor content planning
Keyword cannibalization often starts with a lack of clear content strategy. Without a well-defined content map, you might unknowingly create multiple articles or pages targeting the same keyword from different angles. For example, publishing a post titled “Beginner’s Guide to SEO” and later another one called “SEO Basics for Beginners” leads to two very similar pieces of content competing against each other. Instead of strengthening your authority for that topic, they weaken each other’s ranking potential.
Duplicate content
Sometimes, keyword cannibalization happens because of unintentional duplication. This could be republishing the same article in different sections, having product pages with almost identical descriptions, or having multiple URLs pointing to the same content (like with and without “www” or using both HTTP and HTTPS). Search engines struggle to choose which page to rank, and often, none of them perform well as a result.
Overlapping keywords
Overlapping keywords occur when multiple pieces of content target different variations of the same keyword. For instance, creating articles titled “How to Increase Website Traffic” and “Ways to Boost Website Traffic” might seem like covering different topics, but in the eyes of search engines, they’re competing for the same search intent. This competition reduces the likelihood that any single page will rank strongly, as your site is sending mixed signals.
Misused categories and tags
Incorrect or excessive use of categories and tags can also cause keyword cannibalization. When category pages or tag archive pages are indexed and optimized for the same keywords as your individual blog posts, you end up with multiple pages competing in search results. For example, if your category page is targeting “SEO Tips” and individual articles are also optimized for “SEO Tips,” search engines may not know whether to rank the category page or the article — leaving both underperforming.
Signs of Keyword Cannibalization
Ranking drops
Instead of one strong, stable page ranking well, you might see fluctuations or drops as Google struggles to determine which page on your site is the most relevant. Sometimes, pages will trade places in the rankings, causing instability.
Multiple URLs for one keyword
When you check the SERPs or Google Search Console, you may notice that two or more of your pages are showing up for the same keyword. While this might seem like a good thing, it often signals confusion for search engines. Instead of one authoritative page gaining full SEO strength, you end up with multiple “weaker” pages diluting your relevance. This situation can make it harder for Google to decide which page to prioritize, reducing the ranking potential of all involved pages.
High impressions but low CTR
If you're getting a lot of impressions but few clicks for certain queries, keyword cannibalization might be the cause. When multiple similar pages rank for the same keyword, users may feel unsure which one to choose. This confusion can lead to low click-through rates, even though your content appears often in search results.
How to Identify Cannibalization
Conducting a content audit
Start by reviewing all the content on your website. Create a spreadsheet that lists all URLs alongside their primary target keywords. Look for overlaps where multiple pages are targeting the same or very similar keywords. This step helps you visualize where cannibalization may be happening. Pay special attention to blog posts, product pages, and category pages that may unintentionally compete with each other.
Using Google Search Operators
A quick and simple way to spot potential cannibalization is by using Google Search Operators. Type the following into the search bar:
site:yourdomain.com "target keyword"
This will show you all the pages on your website that Google has indexed for that keyword. If multiple pages appear, you likely have keyword cannibalization. This method is great for quickly checking specific keywords without having to dig into complex reports.
Checking Google Search Console
In Google Search Console, go to the Performance report and filter by query. For each important keyword, check how many URLs are receiving impressions and clicks. If more than one page appears for the same keyword, that’s a clear sign of cannibalization. You might also notice fluctuations in clicks between those URLs, further confirming competition between your own pages.
Using SEO tools
Tools for Detecting Keyword Cannibalization
Regularly monitor your website’s rankings. Watch for fluctuations in positions for specific keywords between pages. If rankings shift or drop unexpectedly, check for overlapping content that may cause confusion for search engines.
Professional SEO tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Screaming Frog can help you identify keyword cannibalization at scale. For example:
1. In Ahrefs, use the “Organic Keywords” report and filter by keyword to see how many URLs from your domain are ranking for the same keyword.
2. In SEMrush, the Position Tracking and Cannibalization report will show overlapping URLs competing for the same terms.
3. Screaming Frog can help you map content and meta data to spot duplicate targeting issues.
How to Fix Cannibalization
Conduct keyword research
Website owners should also do thorough keyword research to find new keywords to target on different pages. This can help diversify the website's content and avoid competing for the same keywords on multiple pages.Map out your keywords and ensure each page has a unique focus.
Build a clear keyword strategy
First, look at your current keyword strategy and find any keywords that appear on multiple pages. Make sure each page targets a unique keyword to avoid competing with other pages. You can group keywords by their topic or purpose to decide which ones need their own page and which can be combined.
Do keyword mapping
Map keywords to specific pages based on their relevance and intent. Assign primary keywords to cornerstone or pillar pages, and secondary keywords to sub-pages. This approach ensures that you don't target the same keyword across multiple pages and helps search engines understand which page should rank for which keyword.
Organize website structure
Ensure that your website’s structure is logical and easy to navigate. Use categories, tags, and silo structures to separate different topics. A well-organized website helps prevent cannibalization because each page will focus on a distinct topic, minimizing overlap.
Consolidate content
To fix keyword cannibalization, website owners need to identify which pages are competing for the same keyword and decide whether to combine them into one page or make them more unique. This can help search engines understand which page is the most relevant for that keyword.
Use internal links strategically
Internal links help search engines understand how your pages are connected. By linking related content with clear anchor text, you can guide search engines to focus on the most relevant page for each keyword.When you use internal links strategically, you guide search engines toward your primary pages and avoid diluting their authority through excessive internal linking of similar pages.
Set up 301 redirects or canonical tags
In cases where keyword cannibalization has already occurred, implementing 301 redirects or canonical tags can help consolidate authority to the preferred page. Redirects guide users and search engines to the correct page, while canonical tags signal which page should be considered the primary source for a particular keyword.
Conclusion
Keyword cannibalization can hinder your SEO efforts by diluting authority and confusing search engines. By following best practices in keyword mapping, internal linking, utilizing tools for analysis, and implementing corrective measures like redirects and canonical tags, you can mitigate the impact of keyword cannibalization and improve your website's search visibility.