Contents
Understanding Keyword Cannibalization in Your SEO Report
Quick Summary:
Keyword cannibalization happens when more than one page on your website is competing for the same keyword in Google. This can confuse search engines and make it harder for your main page to rank as high as it should. Our report helps you spot and fix these issues, so your most important pages get the attention they deserve.
What Is Keyword Cannibalization?
In Simple Terms:
If two or more pages on your site show up in Google for the same search term (like “blue widgets”), they’re competing with each other. This can split your traffic and lower your rankings.
A Bit More Detail:
Search engines want to show the best, most relevant page for each search. If your site has several pages about “blue widgets,” Google might not know which one to rank highest. This can “dilute” your SEO power, making it harder for your main page to reach the top spot.
How Our Report Helps
In Simple Terms:
We show you a table of keywords (like “blue widgets”) and which pages on your site are getting traffic for each one. If more than one page is listed for the same keyword, you might have keyword cannibalization.
A Bit More Detail:
Our plugin filters out pages that haven’t received traffic for that keyword in the last 30 days. This way, you only see current issues. For each keyword, you’ll see which pages are competing, along with how many clicks, impressions, and the average position each page has for that keyword.
Example Table:
| Keyword | Page URL | Clicks | Impressions | Avg. Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| blue widgets | /blue-widgets-guide | 120 | 1,200 | 3.2 |
| blue widgets | /shop/blue-widgets | 45 | 600 | 7.8 |
| blue widgets | /blog/blue-widgets-faq | 10 | 200 | 12.5 |
When Is Cannibalization a Problem?
In Simple Terms:
It’s normal for some keywords – like your company name or big topics to show up on different pages. But for keywords you really want to rank #1 for, it’s important to make sure only your main page is competing.
A Bit More Detail:
If you see your company name or broad topics (like “about us” or “contact”) on several pages, that’s usually fine. But if you want to be the top result for “blue widgets,” and several pages are competing, it’s time to take action.
What Can You Do? (Checklist)
For Beginners:
- Decide which page you want to rank highest for each important keyword.
- On other pages, avoid using that keyword in the page title or description.
- If you mention the keyword on other pages, add a link to your main page for that topic.
For SEO Enthusiasts:
- Consolidate similar content: If two pages cover the same topic, consider merging them.
- Use internal linking: On less important pages, link to your main page using the keyword as anchor text.
- Adjust on-page SEO: Remove or reduce the keyword in titles, meta descriptions, and headings on pages you don’t want to rank for that term.
- Use canonical tags if needed, to tell search engines which page is the “main” one.
- Regularly check the report to see if the issue is resolved (pages will drop off the list if they haven’t gotten traffic for that keyword in 30 days).
Example: Fixing Keyword Cannibalization
Let’s say you want your “/blue-widgets-guide” page to rank #1 for “blue widgets.”
- Update the titles and descriptions of “/shop/blue-widgets” and “/blog/blue-widgets-faq” so they don’t target “blue widgets” directly.
- On those pages, add a sentence like: “For a complete guide, see our Blue Widgets Guide.”
- Over time, check your report to see if only your main page is getting traffic for “blue widgets.”
By using this report, you can make sure each keyword is sending visitors to the right page, helping your site rank higher and making it easier for users to find what they need.