Keyword cannibalization is a phenomenon that not only has an unpleasant name, but also has a negative impact on the effectiveness of SEO campaigns. So where does keyword cannibalization come from and how do you avoid it?

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What is keyword cannibalization?

SEO cannibalization occurs when you don’t select key phrases thoughtfully. If you position several subpages for the same keywords, they begin to compete with each other for position in search results, so your visibility decreases. This happens when the same phrases are included in the content on several pages. This leads to dispersion of organic traffic and undermines SEO effects.

Causes of keyword cannibalization

There are several reasons for keyword cannibalization. One of them is the lack of keyword optimization on individual websites. If the same keywords appear on several pages, they will compete with each other for position in search results.

Another cause of keyword cannibalization can be duplicate content. If you don’t take care of the uniqueness of the content on the site, but just copy it from the manufacturer’s website, for example, or create one product description and use it for all the variants available in your offer, Google not only detects duplicates, but cannibalization occurs.

How to avoid keyword cannibalization?

To avoid SEO cannibalization, it’s a good idea to employ several strategies:

Choose unique keywords for each subpage

Unique keywords will help avoid competition between sites for the same phrases. Therefore, it is a good idea to conduct an analysis and choose unique keywords for each URL. You can use keyword analysis tools such as Senuto or Semstorm.

Create a consistent SEO strategy for your entire site

A consistent SEO strategy for the entire site will help avoid conflicts between sites over the same keywords. That’s why it’s a good idea to develop a consistent SEO strategy that takes into account all the subpages on the site. Caution is also better exercised when creating new subpages and supplementing them with content.

Use unique titles and meta descriptions for each page

Unique titles and meta descriptions will help Google identify what keywords are important for a given URL. That’s why it’s a good idea to use unique titles and meta descriptions for each subpage and include selected keywords in them.

Use the right SEO tools

There are many SEO tools that can help you avoid keyword cannibalization. For example, Screaming Frog or Senuto tools allow you to browse your site and identify sites that are competing for the same keywords. With this, keyword cannibalization problems can be identified and resolved.

Combine competing websites into one site

If several subpages are competing for the same keywords, it is worth combining them. Combining websites will help avoid competition and focus on achieving high rankings in Google search results.

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