Definition
Keyword cannibalization occurs when multiple pages on the same site target the same keyword or search intent, competing against each other in search results. This dilutes SEO authority between pages, prevents Google from determining which page is most relevant, and can cause ranking fluctuations. Detection involves analyzing Search Console queries and crawl tools. Solutions include merging pages, redefining target keywords, 301 redirects, and canonical tags.
Key Points
- Multiple pages on the same site competing for the same keyword
- Dilutes SEO authority and causes ranking fluctuations
- Solutions: page merging, target redefinition, 301, canonical
Practical Examples
Two similar articles
A blog has two articles 'Link Building Guide' and 'Everything About Link Building' targeting the same keyword. Neither ranks well. Merging them into a single comprehensive article solves the problem.
Category page and article
A category page 'Running Shoes' and an article 'Best Running Shoes' cannibalize each other. Redefining the article's focus to 'Top 10 Running Shoes 2026' differentiates the intents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Search 'site:yoursite.com keyword' in Google to see which pages rank. Also analyze queries in Search Console: if multiple pages appear for the same query, there's cannibalization.
Not always. If two pages rank in the top 3 for the same keyword, that's positive (SERP domination). The problem arises when neither page ranks well due to dilution.
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Last updated: 2026-02-07