{"id":2149,"date":"2022-05-25T16:15:16","date_gmt":"2022-05-25T10:45:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hostkicker.com\/blog\/?p=2149"},"modified":"2022-05-25T16:15:16","modified_gmt":"2022-05-25T10:45:16","slug":"keyword-cannibalization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hostkicker.com\/blog\/keyword-cannibalization\/","title":{"rendered":"What is keyword cannibalization? How to fix it?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Optimizing your articles for a similar keyword may affect your search rankings, and you may compete with yourself. This is keyword cannibalization. If you, too, are suffering from keyword cannibalization and want to fix it, you have landed right. This post will explain what keyword cannibalization is and how you can detect and fix it. Read the post till the end.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many people ignore this and suffer from competing with themselves. Creating more similar content and targetting similar keywords can hurt more than Good.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It can affect your site’s SEO<\/a> and rank in search results.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let’s dive into more details.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is keyword cannibalization in SEO?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Keyword cannibalization occurs when you have created more than one content or article on your site that shares similar information or you have optimized those pages for similar keywords. In that case, all the pages compete to rank in Google for a similar search query.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

When you optimize different pages for a similar keyphrase, they eat up each other’s chance to rank in Google, and no page can perform well as it should.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, suppose we created an article on SEO a few years back. With evolving Google updates, we have recently created an article again on SEO, keeping the current scenario in mind. This is keyword cannibalization. Since we optimized both Articles for the keyword SEO, they will contain more similar content, and therefore, they will compete and struggle with each other for their position on Google.<\/span><\/p>\n

It will split the content, CTR, and links between the two pages that could be for one.<\/span><\/p>\n

How does keyword cannibalism harm SEO?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Keyword cannibalization can have negative effects on your SEO.<\/span><\/p>\n

When you optimize your different content for the same keyword, you compete with yourself for ranking in Google. Google may confuse between your similar content, and your ranking may suffer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, factors like CTR and backlinks may get divided between your similar posts rather than one. Consequently, your posts will not achieve a higher ranking.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, the fluctuating page rankings may lead users to the wrong page, which may result in a loss of site traffic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Following are the detailed reasons how it can affect site SEO:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. It Lowers The Authority Of Your Page<\/span><\/h3>\n

Creating similar pages or pages optimized for a similar keyword may lower the authority of your page.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rather than creating a single highly authoritative page, you have split your CTR among different similar pages. That means you have created your competition yourself, and now the pages will fight for pageviews and search rankings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Consider it from a reader’s point of view, what a reader prefers to read\u2014a single in-depth article for a topic or reading different articles on the same topic. And now imagine what you would have chosen? Yes, that is the answer. We all would prefer a single authoritative page with deep knowledge.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. It weakens Your Links & Anchor Text.<\/span><\/h3>\n

You already know the value of backlinks and internal linking in SEO.<\/span><\/p>\n

The backlinks you acquired for different similar pages would have combined for one better performing page.<\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, A complete comprehensive page could gain more links than pages with thin and less comprehensive content.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also, the internal links and anchor text on your pages will lead your readers to many different pages with less wide knowledge instead of leading to a single authoritative and comprehensive page on the topic.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Google May display the wrong page.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Google understands the pages with the keywords we optimize the page around.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When we optimize our different pages around the same keyword, Google may struggle to find the best relevant page. It may display the wrong page if your content is too identical.<\/span><\/p>\n

Suppose your two pages rank for a similar keyword. It is possible that your higher converting page ranks lower, and you will lose out on high value and search traffic.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Fluctuating Ranking Positions\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

When Google can’t decide which page is more relevant to the search query and which page should rank, the ranking position may fluctuate. Your page conflicts and your ranking positing fluctuate frequently, and neither page could perform its best as they should.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, even when your one page has gained more links than the other, there will be noticeable competition for the search intent and the overall content quality of the page. This means that there will be fluctuation in your organic traffic if one page ranks higher for a high-volume term.<\/span><\/p>\n

This fluctuating position may also affect your user experience and conversion rate.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. It indicates low Page Quality.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Posting similar content around similar keywords may suggest to Google that your content may not be relevant to the keyword on every page. Also, your users may suppose that your content quality is low. The content on the pages is stretched and thin, and you might lose a click.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Your Conversion Rate Will Suffer<\/span><\/h3>\n

All these will lead to lower CTR, less traffic, and eventually, your conversion rate will suffer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, when users land on the wrong or less relevant page instead of your other page, you may lose out on your potential lead.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Identify Keyword Cannibalization On your site?<\/span><\/h2>\n

After knowing what keyword cannibalization is and how it can affect your SEO, Let’s dive into how you can identify keyword cannibalization on your site.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are a few different ways you can use to find out about this issue on your site. Let us brief some here:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Use Google to recognize cannibalizing pages on your site.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Google can easily help you find optimized pages for similar keywords on your site.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can simply enter your site domain along with the suspected keyword in the search bar, and it will display the relevant and optimized pages for the same keyword.<\/span><\/p>\n

You need to do it like this- “site:[domain] keyword”<\/span><\/p>\n

Since we do not have any keyword cannibalization issues on our site, we are showing you an example from Yoast.com. They have fixed this issue, and this is just for a sample.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

You will find the answer to your question after Googling this. The pages it displays and the ranking of those pages will clarify if your site is suffering from a keyword cannibalization issue.<\/span><\/p>\n

If your two pages rank on #1 and #2 search positions for a similar keyword, there isn’t any problem. But, if you notice your two pages ranking in 6 and 7 position, it’s possibly due to cannibalizing issue. You need to fix this.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Find out the intent of both the pages and make sure to optimize the content.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Use Google Search Console<\/span><\/h3>\n

Google Search Console can also help you find cannibalization issues on your site if you have registered your website on GSC.<\/span><\/p>\n

Follow the below steps:<\/span><\/p>\n