Keyword Cannibalization: What It Means & How to Fix It?

Every single word counts in SEO; however, keyword Cannibalization occurs when multiple pages rank for the same keyword. It is a standard, unnoticed error that impacts rankings, traffic, and authority. Therefore, in today’s era, where everything takes place online, it is crucial for you, as a business owner, blogger, or service provider, not to let this issue go unnoticed and to have complete information. To make you aware and prevent this issue, read this blog to the end and gain valuable insights, as SEO is the backbone of every website today. 

What is Keyword Cannibalization? 

Keyword Cannibalization happens when multiple pages compete for the same keyword. Instead of having a single authoritative page to let a keyword rank, multiple pages confuse the search engine and make it hard to decide which page to rank. It leads to a split in traffic, reduces click-through rate, and also impacts SEO authority. Improper keyword planning, multiple blogs targeting the same keyword, or duplicate content are among the reasons for keyword Cannibalization.

What Impact Does Keyword Cannibalization Have on SEO and Rankings? 

There will be many signs that will clearly show how keyword Cannibalization impacts SEO and rankings. 

Lower Visibility

When multiple pages use the same keyword, it confuses search engines, lowering the rankings of every page; this would not have happened if a single page were intended to be ranked for a keyword rather than a set of keywords. In a nutshell, it results in lower search engine visibility, which affects authority. Over time, this one issue leads to reduced traffic and no brand recognition. 

Check: difference between internal and external link

Wastes Crawl Budget 

Googlebot crawls a set of pages on your website, and even for it, a budget is set. When there is keyword Cannibalization in SEO, such a budget goes to waste as bots crawl pages with similar content. Thus, it prevents the bot from recognising the valuable pages of your website. 

Reduces Click Through Rate 

Keyword Cannibalization in SEO often comes with other issues, such as title mismatches, an irrelevant content structure, or duplicate meta descriptions, which reduce the likelihood that users will engage with your content. It also lowers click-through rates, thus impacting rankings. Inclusion of the right keywords, along with unique content and a proper structure, increases click-through rates and encourages users to engage more interactively. 

Confused Search Engine Signals 

With many pages targeting the same keyword, search engines get confused. Thus, instead of ranking valuable pages, it focuses on lower-quality pages. It affects the overall performance and rankings. Thus, resolving keyword Cannibalization in SEO by fixing keywords helps Google prioritise the important page, significantly improving the website’s rankings. 

Now that you are aware of the keyword Cannibalization in SEO impacts , it is time to take the next step and learn how to fix it. 

How to Fix Keyword Cannibalization? 

If you know there is an issue with Cannibalization, do not worry, here are a few steps that will help you to fix or sort this problem. 

Conduct a Keyword Audit 

Firstly, conduct a keyword audit. Assess pages that target overlapping or the same keywords. Tools such as Ahrefs, Semrush, or Google Search Console would be helpful in such a case. Analyse different pages and decide which page should be your primary focus for search engines. Accordingly, choose which page to optimise, delete, or merge with another page to improve SEO performance. 

Merge Content 

Merging two or more pages that cover practically similar subjects could help you to create one thorough, excellent page. Select the page with the highest SEO value (backlinks, traffic, or engagement) and merge the best features of the others. More authority and credibility will be carried on this consolidated page for both users and search engines. To preserve link equity and prevent broken links, redirect the previous URLs using 301 redirects to the new URL after merging. Combining guarantees better content performance and eliminates keyword conflicts on your website. 

Customise for Distinctive Keywords

Every page on your website should have unique keywords allocated. Often called keyword mapping, this approach ensures that each page serves a specific search purpose. For instance, one might target “best running shoes for males” and another “lightweight running shoes for ladies” instead of two pages both aimed at “best running shoes.” This saves both search engines and consumers from confusion. Rewriting meta titles, headers, and content to align with these specific objectives can greatly improve ranking potential for all your pages and clarity. 

Make Use of Canonical Tags

Canonical tags specify the main version of a page search engines should deem when identical or similar content is present. Adding a canonical tag (rel=canonical) to subsidiary sites pointing to the main page helps you to combine ranking signals and avoid keyword rivalry. Particularly useful for e-commerce sites with comparable product pages. It helps your SEO by ensuring that search engines index and rank only the chosen version, thereby avoiding duplicate content issues. 

Improve Internal Linking Structure

Internal connecting lets search engines know which pages on your site have top priority. Should you have several pages on related subjects, link to the primary page employing keyword-rich anchor text. This marks its significance to search engines. Since this could trip crawlers, avoid connecting too many opposing pages with the exact anchor text. Effective distribution of link equity and emphasis on your most important pages for improved SEO exposure come from a clear, purposeful link structure.

Check the Blog: What are LSI keywords

Which Signs Indicate Keyword Cannibalization? 

There are chances of spotting keyword Cannibalization. Go through these points to identify how you can get the clear signs. 

Multiple Pages Rank for Same Keyword 

One of the obvious signs of keyword Cannibalization is when you type a search query and two pages appear for the same keyword. It indicates that the search engine is confused about which page best answers all the queries. It diverts traffic and impacts the authority. Tools like Ahrefs and Google Search Console help identify pages that compete for the same keyword. 

Drop in Visibility 

Another sign of keyword Cannibalization is a drop in search engine visibility due to multiple pages competing internally. The confusion over which page to prioritise results in unstable performance, leading to a drop in visibility. You may experience reduced organic traffic, which might not have been the case earlier. 

Decline in Click Through Rate 

Keyword Cannibalization confuses readers, so they turn to the competitor website with a clear structure, answers to all queries, and clear meta descriptions. Thus, it increases your website’s bounce rate and results in a decline in click-through rate. To achieve a reasonable click-through rate, add unique information to the content, include clear titles and meta descriptions, and use a single page focused on one keyword. 

Reduced Page Authority & Backlink Dilution 

When multiple pages rank for the same keyword, it becomes difficult for any one page to build authority over time, as search engines become confused. Also, when it comes to backlinks, dilution happens. Instead of a single authoritative page, backlinks are diluted across multiple pages that do not drive the expected traffic. Use of the backlink analysis tool will help you fix this error. 

Wrapping Up 

Although Cannibalization appears small, its effects on your SEO performance might be significant. Giving many pages a chance to compete for the exact keywords weakens your site’s authority and confuses search engines, resulting in lower traffic and ratings. The key is to find, compile, and purposefully improve your content so that every page aligns with a specific keyword goal. Frequent SEO audits, strong internal linking, and accurate content mapping, seeking help from Affrise Media will help to avoid future problems. We are a 360-degree marketing agency focusing on six pillars of digital marketing, helping with ranking, attracting more relevant traffic, and building a stronger, more cohesive digital presence when implemented appropriately.

Also Read : search google or type a url

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