Content and on-page SEO
Keyword cannibalization
Keyword cannibalization is when two or more pages on your site target the same keyword and intent, so they compete with each other and neither ranks as well as one strong page would.
How to spot it
- In Search Console, filter by a query and check which pages appear for it.
- Look for the ranking page switching back and forth over time.
- Review your keyword map for duplicate primary keywords.
How to fix it
- Merge the pages and 301-redirect the weaker one.
- Re-target one page to a different keyword or intent.
- Use internal links to show which page is the main one.
Frequently asked questions
No. If they serve different intents and both rank well, that's fine. It's a problem when they split clicks and both rank poorly.
Keep a keyword map with one primary keyword per page.