Keyword cannibalization is one of the biggest issues in SEO today. This can lead to a loss of organic search traffic and confusion for search engines, as they cannot determine which page should be ranked for a particular keyword.
If left unresolved, it can negatively impact a website's overall search engine optimization performance. However, with the help of SEO services, website owners can win the battle against keyword cannibalization and improve their website's search visibility. In this guide, we'll explore the different aspects of keyword cannibalization and how to fix it.
What is Keyword Cannibalization?
Keyword cannibalization is a sneaky SEO problem that occurs when multiple pages on your website are vying for the same keyword, resulting in a showdown between your pages in the search engine rankings. And what's the consequence? Reduced traffic and fewer conversions.
Think of it like cannibalization in marketing, where introducing a new product can lead to decreased sales for an existing product by the same company. In the case of SEO, this means you're competing against yourself in the search engine results, leading to less traffic and fewer leads.
How Do You Identify Keyword Cannibalization?
1. Manually Examine Keyword Cannibalization
To manually check for keyword cannibalization on your website, you'll need to use a tool like Excel to create a list of important web page URLs and associated keywords. If you notice the same keyword appearing on multiple pages, particularly key pages, you may need help with keyword cannibalization.
To address this issue, you can convert the web page with the strongest domain authority into a landing page that links to other unique pages. This strategy can help you target keywords more effectively and improve your website's SEO.
2. Utilize Paid Tools to Expose Keyword Cannibalization
Uncovering and managing keyword cannibalization can be made much easier with the help of rank trackers and keyword mapping tools. Rank tracking gives you invaluable insight into which keywords your posts appear for in a search engine and their relative position on each page. This information lets you easily optimize content to target your desired audience more effectively.
Moreover, a keyword mapping tool is the perfect way to make sense of all your keywords and where they rank on your website. With such an efficient tool, you can easily detect keyword cannibalization across your entire domain. These powerful tools will act as a map that displays each URL's importance and its corresponding targeted keywords for maximum optimization.
Carefully assessing this list will help you identify any duplicate entries. Duplicates may indicate that your site is a victim of keyword cannibalization. This issue should be immediately addressed, particularly if it affects one or more of the main pages on your website.
3. Avoid keyword cannibalization with the help of Google Search or Google Search Console
There are two ways to identify keyword cannibalization on your website: Google search and Google Search Console (GSC).
To start, you can type in your domain name and keyword in the Google search bar to get information on your website's ranking for that keyword. Alternatively, you can head to GSC to compare your keyword rankings every quarter. Look for any keywords that have dropped in rankings over time.
Once you've identified a keyword that has dropped in rankings, go to Google and use the site: search function with your keyword in quotes (e.g., site:alphabpo.nl 'SEO services'). This will help you identify all the pages on your site that contain that keyword, giving you an idea of how your website competes with itself for better rankings. By understanding how your site is cannibalizing itself, you can take steps to optimize your pages more effectively and avoid losing traffic and conversions.
Simple Ways for Solving Keyword Cannibalization Problems
1. Entrust the Job to a Particularly Qualified Individual
By assigning distinct goals to specific individuals, you can more effectively complete tasks and increase your ranking potential. If you want to ensure your professional seo company objectives and strategies are met with total success, entrust a single individual to steward these endeavors. Remember that shouldering this critical task on multiple people can result in conflicting keywords, ultimately hurting your rankings.
2. Investigate and Redirect the Pages to Maximize their Potential
After you've identified the pages and keywords that are performing poorly, it's time to do some research. Look at which of your web pages is achieving higher rankings, then assess which page generates more traffic and engagement.
Once you have determined this "priority page" or most valuable content, take steps to redirect users from other underperforming pages towards that one URL, pruning them down into a single source for Googlebot to easily find relevant information to each query.
3. Update the Page for Better Search Engine Optimization
Another way to fix keyword cannibalization on a website is to update the weaker page to rank better for the specific long-tail keyword it started ranking on. This can be achieved by rewriting the page title, meta description, and main body content elements of the weaker page and optimizing it for a different keyword or long-tail variant. Alternatively, the weaker page could be consolidated into the stronger one and deleted if necessary.
The focus keyword should be changed to correct the issue effectively, and all meta information and title tags for that page should be updated. The on-page content should also be checked and adapted for the new focus keyword. According to professional SEO agencies, websites can rank better and attract more traffic by updating cannibalized pages as a regular part of the content process.
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4. Merge the Two Pages into One
If you want to tackle keyword cannibalization quickly and effectively, the best approach is typically to consolidate all conflicting pages into a single comprehensive post. To make it happen, combine all material applicable to the same keyword onto a single page and then redirect other pages toward that piece.
Ensure that your ultimate content offers a comprehensive overview of the topic so you can use it as your main point of reference and link to supplemental posts for additional details. With this approach, you can resolve any issues with keyword duplication.
5. Plan your Content to Prevent Cannibalization
The best way to steer clear of cannibalization is by closely watching the keywords in your content strategy. Make sure you are producing comprehensive pieces that cover various topics to avoid reusing any words or phrases repeatedly. With this method, you can manage article rankings effectively with minimal risk of overlap between posts.
By preventing keyword cannibalization from the start, you can save yourself a lot of time and effort. Rather than exhaust all available keywords by posting several superficial articles on your website, focus on diligently constructing one particular piece for each topic. As soon as new information emerges, update your original page or article. This will help ensure Google's ranking success while also earning appreciation from readers.
Final Thoughts
Keyword cannibalization is a common issue among many websites. By utilizing the above guidelines, you can quickly spot and address any upcoming issues that could negatively affect your organic traffic. Keep in mind that you can save time and effort by preventing keyword cannibalization from the start while still getting great organic search performance.
To ensure your content strategy is managed optimally, consider enlisting the skills of a professional seo company. This can skyrocket your organic search rankings and website visibility - an invaluable asset for any business!
