What is Keyword Cannibalization?

Keyword cannibalization happens when you have multiple pages on your site targeting the same keyword. Instead of having one strong page that ranks well, you end up with several weaker pages competing against each other.

Google gets confused about which page to show in search results. Your pages split the click-through rate and backlinks between them, weakening your overall ranking potential.

Why keyword cannibalization is a problem

When you have three blog posts all targeting "how to write blog posts," you're basically competing against yourself. Google might rank different pages for that keyword on different days, or worse, rank none of them well because the signal is diluted.

This also creates a bad user experience. Someone searching for information finds multiple similar posts on your site, making it unclear which one they should read.

How to fix keyword cannibalization

First, identify pages that are cannibalizing each other. Search Google for site:yourdomain.com "your keyword" to see which pages are competing.

Then decide which page should be your main one for that topic. Update the other pages to target different long-tail variations or consolidate them into a single comprehensive post. Use 301 redirects for any pages you merge.

Use internal links to point from supporting content to your main page for each topic. This helps Google understand which page should be your authority piece on that subject.