Keyword cannibalization is a common but often overlooked issue that can harm your website’s search engine rankings and confuse search engines about which page to rank for a specific keyword. 

In this guide, we will dive into how to identify keyword cannibalization, and how to resolve it effectively. 

What is Keyword Cannibalization and how does it happen? 

Keyword cannibalization occurs when multiple pages on your website target the same or very similar keywords. 

It can happen because of many reasons: 

• If you optimize similar pages for the same keyword.
• Regularly post similar types of content.
• Avoid optimizing pages for subcategories.
• Update a page with a new version but keep the old one active without a redirect.
• Use multiple navigation paths to reach the same product category.

SEO cannibalization can harm your rankings and conversions: 

• Divide the ranking power between pages that compete with each other.

• Spread out backlinks and reduce click-through rates.

• Make it unclear to search engines which page is the most relevant.

Here are a couple of examples: 

Blog Posts vs. Product Pages: You write a blog post titled "Best Coffee Makers for Home Use," but you also have a product page optimized for "Coffee Makers for Home." Both pages target similar keywords, confusing search engines.

Service Pages with Overlapping Focus: For example, a veterinary clinic creates two pages: one for "Emergency Pet Care Services" and another for "24/7 Veterinary Emergency Care." These pages target the same audience and similar search intent.

Seasonal Campaigns with Similar Keywords: For a clothing brand, one page is about "Black Friday Sales on Winter Shoes," and another is about "Cyber Monday Deals on Winter Shoes." Both pages compete for the same keywords, making it harder for search engines to decide which one to rank.

Multiple Landing Pages for the Same Service: A fitness center creates two landing pages, one for "Personal Training for Beginners" and another for "Fitness Coaching for Newcomers." Both pages target similar audiences with overlapping services, leading to competition.

Homepage vs. Inner Pages: Your homepage is optimized for "Delicious Homemade Cookies," while an inner category page also targets "Homemade Chocolate Cookies," 

While they are related, they are competing for the same search results, making it unclear to search engines which page should rank higher.

Here are ways to find cannibalized keywords:

1. Manual Approach There are many SEO tools available to help you identify keyword cannibalization, but if your website is small or if you prefer a manual approach, you can try this simple method:

• Use Google's “site:[your domain]” search operator along with a specific keyword to see which pages are showing up for that term.

• Review the results to check if multiple pages are targeting the same keyword or serving similar content.

• If these pages have overlapping intent or content, it could indicate a keyword cannibalization issue that you may need to fix.

2. Google Search Console

• In Google Search Console, go to Performance > Search Results to see keywords with impressions and clicks.

• Click on a keyword to apply a Query filter and check which pages rank for it.

• If multiple URLs rank for the same keyword, analyze if their search intent overlaps. If they do, address the issue.

3. Semrush’s Cannibalization Report 
   Use Semrush’s Position Tracking tool to monitor your Google rankings and identify cannibalization. Set up tracking by entering your domain and selecting a location. Add your target keywords. After starting the tracking, go to the Cannibalization tab to see: 
   Affected keywords: Keywords with multiple pages ranking in the top 100. 
   Cannibal pages: URLs that share the same keyword ranking. Expand results to see ranking positions and search volume.

Once you find them, what’s next?

1. Merge Pages

If two or more pages target the same keyword, consider merging them into a single, stronger page. Combine relevant content, update it, and optimize it for the keyword. This will avoid competition between pages.

2. Use 301 Redirects

If you choose to remove or consolidate pages, set up 301 redirects from the old URLs to the new or primary page. This passes link equity to the new page and ensures users and search engines are directed to the right content.

3. Update Internal Linking

Adjust internal links to point to the most relevant page for each keyword. This helps guide search engines and users to the best content. Remove links pointing to cannibalized pages that are no longer relevant.

4. Refine Keywords and Intent

Ensure each page targets unique keywords and serves different user intent.

5. Use Canonical Tags

If you have similar content across multiple pages but can’t consolidate them, use rel="canonical" tags on the less important pages to signal to search engines which page is the primary one to index.

6. Optimize for Long-Tail Keywords

Instead of targeting highly competitive short keywords, optimize your pages for more specific long-tail keywords. This can help reduce overlap and make each page more focused on a unique search query.

If all of this feels a bit too much to handle on your own, don’t worry — we’re here to help!