How To Take Care Of Keyword Cannibalization

Ever wondered why your targeted keywords aren't ranking high? Or how content cannibalization might be costing you? Let's dive in!

What's Keyword Cannibalization?

Keyword cannibalization happens when different pages on your site compete for the same keywords. This confuses Google, making it hard to decide which page to show in search results. Remember, it's about keywords, not URLs.

Keywords Image Found From Unsplash

Types of Cannibalization

There are several types, but we'll focus on internal cannibalization. It usually boils down to:

Overlapping themes
Authority injection
Poor internal linking
Non-contextual optimization

Spotting Cannibalization

Look out for:

Suspicious Flux: Issues with internal linking
Content Evolution: Conflicting pages due to rumors, releases, and reviews
Inline Conflict: Pages conflicting based on search terms

Fixing Cannibalization

Here are some strategies:

Downgrade theming and boost with links
Merge 301 pages or two pages into one
301 older content to your chosen doorway
Link to the page you want to be the doorway
Noindex/archive competing content
Create hubpages

Monitoring Cannibalization

After fixing, it's crucial to monitor keyword cannibalization daily. Track all URLs, top 100, all rivals, and the past.

Key Takeaways

You will face cannibalization
It operates at the keyword level
You must make the decision
It can be prevented