Picture this: You're a dashing, well-dressed marketer, and you've got a website that needs traffic. You, like any wise marketer, decide that SEO is the way to go. So, you pick a keyword, work some magic, and lo and behold, your website starts ranking.But wait! In your enthusiasm for ranking, you've created multiple pages targeting the same keyword. You may have just fallen into the quagmire of keyword cannibalization, where your pages devour each other's chances of ranking, and you're left fighting yourself over precious search engine real estate.Keyword cannibalization is what happens when you have multiple pages competing for the same keyword on your website, leading to a potential decrease in traffic. Can you imagine the disappointment of your pages, like puppies in a litter fighting for the same treat?

Why Should You Care About Keyword Cannibalization?

Keyword cannibalization might sound like a B-grade horror movie plot, but it's a genuine issue that could take your website down a dark and gloomy path. Here's why you should care:

Confused search engines: Search engines, like the rest of us, can get easily confused. When two (or more) pages target the same keyword, search engines might struggle to decide which one should rank higher. Instead of having one high-ranking page, you could have a couple of mediocre ones.
Diminished authority: When you have multiple pages targeting the same keyword, each page can dilute the authority of the others. Instead of having one strong authoritative page, you end up with several weaker pages.
Lower click-through rates: If multiple pages rank for the same keyword, users might click on several of them, only to discover the same content presented differently. This can lead to frustrated users, lower click-through rates, and potentially damaged trust in your website.

Identifying Keyword Cannibalization

Before you don your deerstalker hat and investigate your website for keyword cannibalization, it's essential to know how to spot it. Here are some telltale signs:

Performing a site search: Conduct a site search with your target keyword, like so: "site:yourwebsite.com keyword." This will reveal how many pages on your site include that keyword.
Checking Google Search Console: Google Search Console's "Performance" report can help you identify which pages are ranking for the same keyword. If you see multiple pages ranking for a single keyword, it might be time to reassess your content strategy.
Using SEO tools: Several SEO tools can help you track keyword usage across your site. These tools can help you identify potential instances of keyword cannibalization and help you make informed decisions about your content.

How to Fix Keyword Cannibalization

Now that you've gone full Sherlock Holmes and identified keyword cannibalization, what's next? Here are some strategies to help you resolve it:

Consolidating content: If you find multiple pages with similar content targeting the same keyword, consider merging them into one comprehensive, high-quality piece. This can help improve the authority and ranking potential of the resulting page.
Adjusting keyword targeting: Reevaluate your keyword strategy and assign different keywords to each page. This way, each page can target a unique keyword and have its chance at ranking in the SERPs.
Using canonical tags: If you want to keep multiple pages with similar content, use canonical tags to indicate which version of the page search engines should prioritize. This can help you avoid confusion and maintain a more organized site structure.
Internal linking: Strategically link from the lower-ranking page to the higher-ranking page, using anchor text containing the keyword you want the higher-ranking page to rank for. This can help search engines understand which page is more important and help improve its ranking.

Conclusion

While keyword cannibalization might sound like something ripped from the pages of a pulp fiction novel, it's a real challenge that can hamper your website's SEO performance. By identifying and addressing instances of keyword cannibalization, you can ensure your pages are working cooperatively, rather than competitively. Together, they can create a better user experience, capture more search traffic, and help you build a website that's truly a force to be reckoned with.

FAQ