Keyword cannibalization might sound dramatic, but it’s a real problem for websites trying to rank on Google. If you have multiple pages targeting the same keyword, they can compete against each other instead of helping your site grow. This can hurt your rankings, confuse search engines, and lower your traffic.
What Is Keyword Cannibalization?
Keyword cannibalization happens when two or more pages on your website target the same keyword. Instead of boosting your rankings, they fight for attention, making it harder for Google to figure out which page to show in search results.
For example, let’s say you run a blog about fitness. You have two articles:
- “Best Running Shoes for Beginners”
- “Top Running Shoes for New Runners”
Both articles target the same keyword: running shoes for beginners. Instead of helping your website rank higher, Google might split the ranking power between both pages. As a result, neither page ranks well.
Why Does This Happen?
Google tries to show the best, most relevant result for a keyword. If your site has multiple pages competing for that keyword, Google may struggle to decide which one is most important. Sometimes, it will rank a weaker page instead of the one you actually want people to find.
How to Find Keyword Cannibalization
If your rankings are dropping or your traffic isn’t growing as expected, keyword cannibalization might be the culprit. When multiple pages on your website target the same keyword, they end up competing with each other. This can confuse Google, split your ranking power, and cause both pages to perform worse in search results.
The good news? Identifying keyword cannibalization isn’t hard. Below are three easy ways to find out if your website has this issue plus, the benefits of fixing it.
1. Google Search Trick: A Quick Way to Spot Keyword Overlap
If you want a fast and free way to check for keyword cannibalization, Google itself can help. Just type the following into the search bar:
site:yourwebsite.com “your keyword”
This command tells Google to show all the pages on your site that mention that keyword. If you see multiple results, you might have a problem.
Why This Works
Google indexes all your pages, so this search method quickly reveals if more than one page is targeting the same keyword. While this trick doesn’t show rankings or search performance, it helps you spot potential cannibalization issues in seconds.
Benefit for You
This method is completely free and easy to use, even if you’re not an SEO expert. If you notice keyword overlap, you can take action before it starts affecting your rankings.
2. Use SEO Tools for a Deeper Look
While Google’s search trick is a great starting point, SEO tools can give you more detailed insights. These tools help you track rankings, traffic, and keyword overlap between your pages.
- Ahrefs – Use the “Organic Keywords” report to check if multiple pages rank for the same keyword. If they do, your content might be competing with itself.
- SEMrush – The “Position Tracking” tool highlights keyword overlap so you can see which pages are affected.
- Google Search Console – In the “Performance” tab, look at the keywords your site ranks for. If different URLs show up for the same term, that’s a sign of cannibalization.
Why This Works
SEO tools provide real data on how your pages rank. They help you see whether Google is favoring one page over another and whether your rankings are suffering.
Benefit for You
These tools give you a clear picture of your keyword performance, helping you fix problems before they hurt your site’s visibility. With this data, you can decide whether to merge, redirect, or optimize competing pages.
3. Manually Review Your Content: A Hands-On Approach
If your website isn’t too large, a manual review can be a simple and effective way to spot keyword cannibalization. Go through your blog posts and pages and look for:
- Similar topics covering the same subject
- Pages that target nearly identical keywords
- Old content that might be competing with newer, better articles
Why This Works
Sometimes, automated tools miss the finer details. Manually reviewing your content helps you catch outdated or redundant pages that may be dragging down your rankings.
Benefit for You
A content audit allows you to clean up and improve your website. By identifying duplicate topics, you can consolidate information, boost SEO, and create stronger, more authoritative pages.
Why Finding and Fixing Keyword Cannibalization Matters
When you identify keyword cannibalization, you’re taking the first step toward improving your site’s SEO. Fixing this issue can lead to:
- Higher search rankings – Google ranks a single, well-optimized page higher than multiple competing ones.
- More organic traffic – A clearer keyword strategy helps drive the right visitors to the right page.
- Better user experience – Visitors find the best content without jumping between similar articles.
- Stronger site authority – Instead of spreading SEO value across multiple weak pages, you build one strong, authoritative page.
Using these methods, you can quickly find keyword cannibalization issues and take action before they hurt your rankings.
How to Fix Keyword Cannibalization (And Why It’s Worth Your Time)
Once you’ve identified keyword cannibalization on your site, the next step is fixing it. If left unchecked, competing pages can weaken your SEO efforts, split ranking power, and make it harder for Google to determine which page to rank.
Fixing keyword cannibalization doesn’t just help with rankings it improves user experience, boosts traffic, and strengthens your content strategy. Here’s how to do it and why each step benefits your website.
1. Combine Similar Pages for a Stronger, More Valuable Post
If two pages target the same topic, merging them into one high-quality, in-depth post is often the best solution. When you do this, keep the best parts of each page, remove duplicate information, and ensure the final post fully covers the topic. Then, set up a 301 redirect from the old URLs to the new, improved page.
Why This Works
Google prioritizes comprehensive, authoritative content over multiple thin pages on the same topic. When you combine pages, you create a stronger resource that has a better chance of ranking higher.
Benefit for You
- Boosts rankings by consolidating link equity into a single page
- Enhances user experience by reducing duplicate or repetitive content
- Increases engagement since readers stay on the page longer, rather than bouncing between similar articles
2. Use Internal Linking to Show Google the Priority Page
Internal links help Google understand which pages are most important on your site. If you have multiple pages competing for the same keyword, use internal links strategically to direct authority to the page you want to rank.
For example, if two of your articles discuss “best hiking shoes,” but one performs better in search results, link to that page from the weaker one. This signals to Google that the linked page is the priority and should be ranked higher.
Why This Works
Google follows internal links to determine a website’s structure. When multiple pages target the same keyword, internal linking tells Google which page should take precedence.
Benefit for You
- Improves SEO by consolidating authority to the best page
- Helps users find the right content instead of jumping between similar pages
- Strengthens your site structure, making it easier for search engines to crawl and index your pages
3. Change Keywords on Competing Pages to Differentiate Them
If you want to keep both pages live, consider adjusting the keywords so they target different search intents. This ensures each page has a unique purpose and reduces competition between them.
For example, instead of having two pages about “best running shoes for beginners”, change one to:
- “best running shoes for women” (gender-specific)
- “affordable running shoes for beginners” (budget-focused)
- “best trail running shoes for beginners” (different use case)
Why This Works
Google rewards content that serves specific, unique search intents. By refining your keyword strategy, you help your pages rank for a wider variety of search terms instead of competing against each other.
Benefit for You
- Increases keyword diversity, allowing more of your pages to rank
- Prevents unnecessary competition between your own pages
- Attracts different audiences, helping you reach more potential visitors
4. Use Canonical Tags to Tell Google Which Page to Prioritize
A canonical tag (rel=”canonical”) is a small snippet of HTML code that tells Google which version of a page is the preferred one. If you have similar pages and don’t want to delete or merge them, adding a canonical tag prevents them from competing.
For example, if you have:
- A main product page for “wireless earbuds”
- A nearly identical landing page for a promotion on “wireless earbuds sale”
You can place a canonical tag on the sale page that points to the main product page. This tells Google to prioritize the main page in search results while still allowing visitors to access both.
Why This Works
Google sees canonical tags as a ranking signal. Instead of splitting ranking power, all authority is directed to the preferred page.
Benefit for You
- Prevents duplicate content issues, keeping your site in good standing with Google
- Ensures ranking power is not diluted across multiple pages
- Keeps multiple versions of a page accessible, while still guiding search engines to the right one
5. Delete or Redirect Low-Value Pages to Strengthen Your Site
If an older page has little traffic, weak content, or is outdated, it might be better to remove or redirect it. Instead of keeping thin or competing content, 301 redirect it to a stronger, related page.
For example, if you had an old blog post titled “Top SEO Tips for 2018”, it’s probably outdated. Instead of leaving it live, you could:
- Redirect it to “Top SEO Tips for 2025” if a newer post exists
- Refresh the content and update it for current best practices
- Delete it if the information is no longer relevant
Why This Works
Google prefers fresh, high-quality content. Old, low-performing pages can drag down your overall SEO if they’re irrelevant or competing with stronger pages.
Benefit for You
- Eliminates weak or duplicate content, improving your site’s quality
- Boosts rankings by consolidating SEO value to stronger pages
- Creates a better user experience by keeping only relevant, up-to-date information
Preventing Keyword Cannibalization in the Future
To avoid this issue down the road, follow these simple steps:
- Plan your keywords ahead of time. Use an SEO tool to track which keywords you’ve already covered.
- Create a content strategy. Make sure each post or page has a unique focus.
- Use internal linking wisely. Link to your most important pages so Google understands their value.
Keyword cannibalization can slow down your website’s growth, but it’s not hard to fix. By finding competing pages, combining or redirecting them, and adjusting your keyword strategy, you can boost your rankings and get more traffic.
If you’re serious about SEO, keeping your keyword strategy clean and organized will help your website grow faster and perform better in search results.
