Keyword cannibalization

What is keyword cannibalization?

The Keyword Cannibalization refers to the targeted use of one and the same keyword, term or phrase on several pages of a website. Every single page of your website should refer to a Primary term (main keyword). So that this page can be clearly defined by the search engines as relevant for this term. Thus, it can be excluded that the search engines have to choose between similar content.

As long as they are not too similar, cannibalization refers to not on the Variations use of keywords or terms on different pages. For example, if you optimize a page for "SEO service prices", search engines know that the terms "prices" and "costs" are synonyms. So if you want to optimize one page for "SEO service costs" and another for "SEO service prices", it is a good idea to differentiate the respective content more strongly.

The "SEO Service Prices" page can talk about the individual possible rates you charge for your service, while the "SEO Service Costs" page describes the specific costs of individual actions.

Why is the Keyword Cannibalization a problem?

The problem is when multiple pages are created for the same Keyword a Ranking take, Google does not know which page is most relevant for a particular search query.
Google crawls your site and sees dozens of different pages, all for the same Keyword are "relevant". But now Google will have to choose between the different pages the one that best answers the search query.

With this tactic you will NOT rank higher, so you'd better do without it. Besides, you will miss other great SEO opportunities:

• Conversion Rate: Why waste your time with multiple sites that have the same goal, when one of them always has better conversion rates or higher Traffic will achieve? You should always concentrate your efforts on one side.
• Internal Anchor text: If you have different pages with the same Keyword you are giving away the opportunity to focus the value of internal anchor text on one page.
• External links: External links can change the Ranking of a website in the SERP's from Google improve. However, if you have different pages with the same Keyword then your external links will be divided among these different target pages. So you only give away senselessly Link Juiceinstead of concentrating it on one side!

How to solve the problem of cannibalization?

Use Canonicals
Instead of the same Keyword to replicate on every page, you'd better use variations of it. From there, you can link to the different canonicals (sources). This will enable Google to see which version is most relevant for each search query. Besides your SEO for Google, you should also never forget your users! Multiple pages with the same Keyword are not optimal for the user experience. And nothing is as important to Google as satisfied users.

301 Redirects use
Use 301 redirects when you Keyword Cannibalization have to fight. These offer you the possibility Link-Juice and the Relevance to focus on a single page. Use a 301 for each "duplicate" of your chosen website. Your visitors will then land on the right page and Google will rank the "most valuable" page for a search query.

In summary: instead of trying to make your website work for a single Keyword to rank, focus on Long Tail Keywords to be able to avoid these problems.