What Is Keyword Cannibalization? Causes and How to Fix It

Keyword cannibalization is the "silent saboteur" in the SEO strategy of many businesses. If it isn't spotted and handled properly, it spreads your website's authority thin and lowers your chances of reaching the top for important keywords. So What is keyword cannibalization? In the article below, Mona Media will show you how to identify, check and quickly untangle keyword cannibalization so that you optimize your websiteand get the most out of your SEO.

What is keyword cannibalization?

Keyword cannibalization is SEO terms used to describe the situation where one keywords is used to rank two or more articles on the same website. This creates competition between pages on your own site.

With "keyword cannibalization", search engines can't tell which page you actually want to rank. Users also find it hard to tell which article they need to read to get the most accurate content.

What causes keyword cannibalization

To understand what keyword cannibalization is and why it happens on your website, here are the common causes of keyword cannibalization to watch for:

• Unscientific keyword research: Without a proper research and keyword allocation strategy, it is easy to use the same keyword on several pages. The pages then compete with each other for the same phrase, which causes keyword cannibalization.
• Duplicate content across pages: When several pages have the same or very similar content, Google has trouble deciding which page to prioritize. As a result, both pages drop in ranking, and the full-scope SEO performance falls with them.
• Over-optimizing keywords: If you stuff keywords or point too many backlinks and anchor texts at the same keyword across several pages, that can also cause keyword cannibalization and leave search engines confused about which page has more value.
• No internal linking strategy: Without a clear internal link structure, Google can't tell which page is the main one and which is secondary for a given keyword, so the keywords end up cannibalizing each other.
• Unplanned overlapping content: Writing too many articles around a similar topic makes pages use the same keywords, which leads to internal competition and keyword cannibalization.
• Poor, unfocused user experience: Google increasingly prioritizes content based on user experience rather than backlinks or anchor text alone. If the landing page doesn't give enough information and also spams keywords and duplicates content, it is easy to end up with keyword cannibalization.

Common cases of keyword cannibalization

Keyword cannibalization usually happens when two or more pages on the same website compete for the same keyword. Specifically:

Case 1: Both pages rank high and compete with each other

When two pages both show up in Google's top results for a keyword, you may gain clicks and more overall traffic. However, if the content of the two pages overlaps or has no clear direction, keyword cannibalization can still appear.

To fix it, adjust the titles and meta descriptions and make sure each page's content is unique and offers its own value. Also set a clear SEO goal for each page to avoid keyword cannibalization.

Case 2: A secondary page ranks high but converts poorly

This is quite common: a secondary page (one that doesn't match the right search intent and doesn't deliver the expected conversions) ranks higher in Google than the main page. In this case, the most suitable fix for keyword cannibalization is to use SEO tools Google Search Console to compare clicks between the two pages. After reviewing the detailed numbers, consider moving the main keyword to the more suitable target page.

Case 3: The main page drops in ranking while the secondary page is at the top

To fix it, audit the content of the main page, or merge the content of the two pages if they aim at the same goal, or re-optimize the main page so it meets users' search intent better. Whichever you choose, make sure the content meets search intent and keep monitoring rankings so you can adjust in time if Google updates its algorithm.

Case 4: Neither page reaches the top

When both pages are stuck on page 2 or 3 for a long time, it's a sign that keyword cannibalization is weakening the keyword's overall strength on the site. From MONA's experience, use Google Search Console to see which page gets more clicks and decide which one becomes the main page. Then keep optimizing the article SEO Content by:

• Rewriting the title and meta description to be clearer and more appealing.
• Merging the two articles into one in-depth piece if needed.
• Redirect 301 the secondary pages to the main page to avoid splitting your SEO strength.

What are the consequences of keyword cannibalization?

Khi teaching themselves SEO, understanding what the consequences of keyword cannibalization are will help you find the right solution and build an effective, lasting SEO strategy.

• Keywords cannibalizing each other: When several pages are optimized for the same keyword, they compete directly with each other. Instead of one page reaching the top, all of them get stuck on page 2 or lower and can't break through.
• Google can't tell which is the main page: If two articles target the same keyword, Google struggles to understand which page you want at the top. The result is rankings that keep fluctuating and traffic that drops sharply, and conversion rate and revenue fall with it.
• Diluted internal links and anchor text: When you spread too many backlinks or anchor texts about the same topic across different pages, the focus weakens. Without meaning to, you weaken the SEO signals and hurt the website's overall authority.
• Wasted SEO budget: Even if you invest time and money in writing, SEO optimization or link building, when your pages are hit by keyword cannibalization, the results will still be very low and won't reach what you wanted.
• Users lose trust in your content: When visitors land on your website and see too many articles with the same keywords, they will think the content is repetitive. That makes for a poor experience, and Google may also decide not to index your new articles.

-> See more: Standard keyword density for SEO, explained for SEO specialists

How do you spot keyword cannibalization?

You can spot keyword cannibalization easily by searching Google with the syntax: site:domain.com "keyword". If the results show 2 to 3 pages from the same website appearing one after another at the top for the same keyword, your website is likely suffering from keyword cannibalization. 

You can also use keyword cannibalization checking tools to find exactly which keywords share the same landing pages.

How to fix keyword cannibalization, where pages "eat" each other

To fully resolve keyword cannibalization, you need to monitor it and find the best fix. So what is the best way to fix keyword cannibalization? When you find keywords cannibalizing each other, you can handle it effectively with the methods below:

1. Restructure the article content

One of the simplest yet effective ways to handle keyword cannibalization is to restructure the articles that share a keyword. Review the titles, the heading, the introduction and the main content, and adjust them to be clearer so that each page serves its own search purpose.

If several articles target the same keyword from different angles, you can merge them into one more in-depth article with more length and more value. If two articles are nearly identical and differ by only a few words, delete one or redirect it to avoid keyword cannibalization.

2. Track and analyze keyword performance 

Before deciding whether to delete, merge or keep an article, you need to track how each page performs. In Google Search Console, go to Performance, choose Filter, then enter the keyword you want to check under Query. This tool shows which page gets more clicks for the same keyword, so you can easily decide which page to keep and which to edit or remove.

The Page filter also helps filter out URL that are similar to each other, so you can quickly spot cases of keyword cannibalization that are hurting your SEO performance.

3. Decide whether to keep or remove cannibalizing pages

If both pages rank at the top and bring in good traffic, you can keep both and just fine-tune the titles, Meta Description to make the difference clear and avoid duplicate content. On the other hand, if both pages are stuck on page 2 or 3 with no sign of improvement, it's best to merge the content or delete one page and re-optimize the keyword, so your SEO effort isn't split.

4. Improve internal linking

To avoid keyword cannibalization, SEO specialists should improve the website's internal link system. With sensible links between articles, you help Google understand which page you want to prioritize for ranking. Internal links also improve the site structure and guide readers to the content they are looking for.  

5. Use a 301 redirect to limit keyword cannibalization

When two pages target the same keyword and you can't keep both, use a 301 redirect to point one page to the other. This passes all the traffic, SEO strength and backlinks to the main target page, avoids keyword cannibalization and improves the user experience by sending visitors to the content they need.

6. Noindex and canonical to the original article

If you need to keep both pages but don't want both indexed, combine the noindex tag on the secondary page with a canonical tag pointing to the original article. For example, a business has two nearly identical articles about "website design service" because they are used for A/B tests on ad platforms. Instead of deleting the secondary page, you can set noindex and a canonical pointing to the main page. That way Google prioritizes only one piece of content, avoiding duplication and keyword cannibalization.

Besides these fixes for when keyword cannibalization has already happened, why not prevent it from the start to save time and resources? At MONA, we carry out SEO services properly, applying keyword allocation techniques, internal link planning and an optimized content structure to bring your website to the top of Google safely and sustainably, without keyword cannibalization getting in the way.

More than 500 businesses in Vietnam and abroad have trusted MONA on the road to the top of Google, and you can be next by calling the hotline 1900 636 648.

Popular tools for checking keyword cannibalization 

Keylogs Keyword Cannibalization Checker

Keylogs offers a free trial for new users, letting you check 3 duplicate keywords used on the same website. Just connect your Google account to start analyzing. The paid version adds more features so you can track and handle many cannibalizing keywords in depth and quickly.

Finding cannibalizing keywords with SEMrush

As one of the leading SEO tools, SEMrush stands out not only for keyword research but also for detailed keyword cannibalization reports. With a few simple steps you can find pages that compete with each other and then work out the best fix.

Google Search Console

You can find cannibalizing keywords in Google Search Console without paying. By tracking the click-through rate (CTR), impressions and average position of each URL, you can easily spot pages with duplicate keywords and adjust in time, so it doesn't hurt your SEO score of your website.

SEO Scout's keyword cannibalization checker

SEO Scout offers a free keyword cannibalization check for 7 days. With a friendly interface and easy-to-read analysis, this tool is especially useful for SEO specialists who are optimizing in-depth content and need to control keyword duplication in long-term SEO campaigns.

Use Moz Keyword Explorer to check for keyword cannibalization

Besides the tools above, you can also use Moz Keyword Explorer to analyze ranking keywords and detect keyword cannibalization professionally. Moz stands out for its deep analysis and high accuracy, so it helps you quickly decide on the right fix and optimize your overall SEO performance.

With the article above, MONA has answered everything about What is keyword cannibalization and the impact this technical issue has on website SEO. You can apply the suggestions above to find and handle cannibalizing keywords on your own website. If you want to grow revenue and reach the TOP 1 spot on Google without spending on ads, take a look at MONA's full-scope SEO solution. Contact us to receive keyword SEO costs .