Keyword cannibalization occurs when multiple pages or posts on your website target the same or very similar keywords. When this happens, search engines get confused about which page to rank for those terms. Essentially, you’re competing with yourself for the top spot in search results, which can hurt your overall SEO performance.
If you publish content frequently, as many websites do, you might encounter keyword cannibalization at some point. It’s a common issue, but it’s also something you can fix with the right strategy. Here’s how you can resolve keyword cannibalization and improve your site’s search rankings.
1. Identify the Keywords Affected by Cannibalization
The first step is to pinpoint which keywords are causing cannibalization. You can do this by using SEO tools like Google Search Console or keyword tracking tools to see where multiple pages are ranking for the same keyword or similar terms. Once you’ve identified the problematic keywords, you can analyze the content that is ranking for them.
2. Analyze Which Content Is Performing Best
After identifying the pages targeting the same keywords, you need to assess which one is performing the best in search results. Look at key metrics such as traffic, user engagement, and ranking position. This will help you determine which page provides the most value for those keywords.
3. Keep the Best-Performing Posts
Once you’ve determined the top-performing post for a keyword, focus your efforts on maintaining and improving that content. This could involve updating the post with more relevant information, optimizing it for better user experience, or improving the page’s on-page SEO.
4. Merge or Redirect the Other Posts
For the underperforming posts, you have two options:
- Merge them into the best-performing post, if they cover similar topics. This will consolidate the content and create a more comprehensive resource on the subject.
- Delete the underperforming content and set up a 301 redirect to point to the more successful page. This way, any link equity or traffic from the old posts is passed to the top-ranking page, helping it to perform even better.
Conclusion
Keyword cannibalization can dilute your SEO efforts, but with a little analysis and some strategic changes, you can resolve it and boost your site’s rankings. By identifying the keywords that are affected, keeping the best-performing content, and merging or redirecting underperforming pages, you can optimize your site’s structure for better search engine visibility.
For a more detailed guide on how to fix keyword cannibalization issues on your website, be sure to check out our full guide.