Keyword cannibalization

What is keyword cannibalization?

Keyword cannibalization happens when several pages of the same website compete for the same keyword or the same search intent. Google then has to choose which page fits best and sometimes switches between them. As a result, no single page ranks well and traffic stays below its potential.

Why is keyword cannibalization important?

• Scattered signals: links and clicks are spread across several pages.
• Fluctuating positions: the page Google shows keeps changing, so your ranking swings.
• Wrong page: Google may show a less suitable page, such as a blog post instead of a service page.

Examples of keyword cannibalization

• Two blog posts, “SEO tips” and “10 tips for SEO”, that both rank for “seo tips”.
• A category page and a blog article that both target “buy running shoes”.
• A service page and a landing page with nearly the same text for “web design Boston”.

How do you fix keyword cannibalization?

Look in Google Search Console for queries where several of your pages appear. Merge near-identical pages with a 301 redirect, give each page its own search intent or point to the strongest version with a canonical tag (on-page SEO).