10 Common Causes of Keyword Cannibalization and How to Fix Them [+ Cheatsheet]

If you’re like me, you know that keyword cannibalization is one of those sneaky issues that can quietly sabotage your SEO efforts. You might have pages competing against each other, diluting your link equity, and confusing search engines about which page is really the star of the show. Today, we’re going to dig into some of the most common causes of keyword cannibalization and—more importantly—lay out clear, granular instructions on how to fix each one. And stick around for the cheatsheet at the end; it’s like your SEO toolbox in a single glance!

Quick note: If you’re new to keyword cannibalization, check out our in-depth article titled What is Keyword Cannibalization in SEO? for the basics. Now, let’s jump into what’s causing the problem and how you can fix it step by step.

1. Duplicate Content Across Pages

Imagine you’ve got two (or more) pages on your site that are nearly identical—same text, same images, same meta descriptions. It’s like inviting two identical twins to a party and asking them to be the guest of honor. Search engines get confused and can’t decide which page deserves the spotlight.

How to Fix It: Step-by-Step

• Identify Duplicates:
  1. Use a Tool: Run a site crawl using tools like Screaming Frog or Sitebulb. Alternatively, you can navigate to the Affected Queries report on KeyCan and click on any query on the table to find the competing URLs.
  2. Check CMS Reports: Sometimes your content management system can flag similar pages.
  3. Review Manually: Look at your URLs and note any that seem to cover the same topic.
• Consolidate or Merge:
  1. Decide on a Primary Page: Choose the page that has the best content, user engagement, and backlinks.
  2. Merge Content: Combine the best parts of the duplicate pages into one comprehensive article.
  3. Update Internal Links: Go through your site and update links so they point to the primary page.
• Implement 301 Redirects:
  1. Set Up Redirects: In your server’s .htaccess file (or via your CMS if you have a redirect plugin), add 301 redirects from the duplicate URLs to your primary page.
  2. Test the Redirects: Use an HTTP status code checker to ensure the redirects work correctly.
• Canonical Tags:
  1. Add Canonical Tags: On pages that you can’t immediately merge, add a canonical tag in the HTML head to point to the primary version.
  2. Verify in Search Console: Check that Google recognizes the canonical tag correctly.

2. Overlapping Blog Topics

We all get excited about a hot topic. But if you write several posts on the same subject without clearly differentiating them, they start competing against each other. It’s like having multiple dishes at dinner that taste almost identical!

How to Fix It: Step-by-Step

• Audit Your Blog:
  1. Inventory Your Posts: Export a list of all your blog posts using your CMS or a content audit tool.
  2. Identify Overlap: Use a spreadsheet to list topics and keywords for each post. Highlight any topics that appear more than once.
• Keyword Mapping:
  1. Assign Unique Angles: For each overlapping post, pick a unique angle or target a specific long-tail keyword.
  2. Update Titles and Meta Descriptions: Rewrite these to reflect the distinct focus.
     • Example: Instead of “SEO Tips for Small Businesses,” consider “SEO Tips for Small Businesses: Local Strategies” for one post and “SEO Tips for Small Businesses: Content Marketing Essentials” for another.
• Content Revision:
  1. Revise or Merge: Decide if it makes more sense to merge the posts into a comprehensive guide or revise each to focus on a unique aspect.
  2. Republish: Once revised, republish and monitor your rankings to see if the differentiation helps.

3. Poor Site Architecture

A jumbled site structure can make it hard for search engines to understand your content’s hierarchy. When your pages are all over the place, it’s easier for them to end up competing for the same keywords.

How to Fix It: Step-by-Step

• Map Out Your Site:
  1. Create a Visual Sitemap: Use tools like Slickplan or even a whiteboard to visualize your site’s structure.
  2. Identify Overlap: Look for pages that cover similar topics but are placed in different sections.
• Reorganize Your Content:
  1. Define Clear Categories: Group your content into logical categories and subcategories.
  2. Update Navigation: Adjust your site’s menus and internal links to reflect this new structure.
  3. Use Breadcrumbs: Implement breadcrumbs on your site to help search engines and users understand the hierarchy.
• Update URLs if Necessary:
  1. Plan URL Changes: If you’re reorganizing your site, you might need to change URLs. Map these changes carefully.
  2. Implement 301 Redirects: Set up 301 redirects from old URLs to new ones to preserve link equity.
  3. Test Everything: After making changes, crawl your site again to ensure no broken links.

4. Inadequate Keyword Targeting and Mapping

Sometimes, the same keyword ends up being used across several pages because there wasn’t a solid plan in place. This lack of a clear keyword strategy means that pages end up cannibalizing each other without you even knowing.

How to Fix It: Step-by-Step

• Conduct Keyword Research:
  1. Use SEO Tools: Use Ahrefs, SEMrush, or even Google Keyword Planner to gather a list of keywords relevant to your content.
  2. Analyze Competitors: See what keywords your competitors are targeting to spot opportunities for differentiation.
• Create a Keyword Map:
  1. List All Your Pages: Use a spreadsheet to list each page on your site.
  2. Assign Primary and Secondary Keywords: For each page, choose one primary keyword and a few secondary ones that are distinct from those on other pages.
  3. Color-Code or Label: Use color coding to quickly identify if the same keyword appears on multiple pages.
• Update Your Content:
  1. Rewrite Content: Adjust the content on pages that overlap by focusing on the newly assigned keywords.
  2. Optimize On-Page SEO: Update your title tags, meta descriptions, headers, and alt text to reflect the new focus.
  3. Review Internally: Make sure your content now has a unique focus and clear differentiation.

5. Unoptimized Internal Linking

Your internal links should guide both users and search engines to the best, most authoritative pages. If you’re linking to several pages for the same keyword, you’re splitting the authority instead of consolidating it.

How to Fix It: Step-by-Step

• Audit Your Internal Links:
  1. Use a Plugin or Tool: Tools like Yoast SEO or internal link auditing tools can help you list all internal links.
  2. Identify Overlapping Keywords: Find keywords that are being used as anchor text linking to multiple pages.
• Decide on the Primary Page:
  1. Evaluate Performance: Look at traffic, engagement metrics, and backlinks to decide which page should be the go-to resource for a keyword.
  2. Document Your Decision: Note down which pages are primary for each target keyword.
• Update Internal Links:
  1. Manually Edit: Go through your content and update the anchor text links so that they all point to the primary page.
  2. Be Consistent: Ensure that the anchor text is consistent and clearly indicates the primary page’s focus.
  3. Use Tools to Monitor: After updating, run another internal link audit to confirm that all links now point to the correct page.

6. Redundant or Thin Content

Thin content that barely scratches the surface can lead to multiple pages with very little differentiation. Not only does this confuse search engines, but it also results in a poor user experience.

How to Fix It: Step-by-Step

• Identify Thin Content:
  1. Analytics Check: Use Google Analytics to pinpoint pages with low average time on page and high bounce rates.
  2. Content Audit: Run a content audit to assess word count, quality, and depth.
• Decide on a Strategy:
  1. Merge or Enhance: For pages covering similar topics, decide whether to merge them into one comprehensive piece or significantly enhance the content.
  2. Noindex or Delete: For pages that don’t add value, consider setting them to noindex or deleting them entirely.
• Revise Content:
  1. Expand Your Content: Add detailed information, examples, images, or data to improve the depth.
  2. Improve Readability: Break up text with subheadings, bullet points, and images.
  3. Optimize for SEO: Update your on-page SEO elements (titles, meta descriptions, etc.) to reflect the enriched content.

7. Duplicate Product or Category Pages (E-commerce)

In the world of e-commerce, you might end up with multiple product pages that are so similar—think nearly identical product descriptions or images—that search engines treat them as duplicates.

How to Fix It: Step-by-Step

• Conduct an Inventory:
  1. List Product Pages: Export a list of your product pages, perhaps using your e-commerce platform’s reporting tool.
  2. Identify Duplicates: Look for products with very similar descriptions, features, or images.
• Revamp Product Descriptions:
  1. Write Unique Copy: For each product, rewrite the description focusing on unique selling points.
  2. Use Unique Images: Where possible, use different images or angles that set each product apart.
• Implement Canonical Tags:
  1. Set Canonicals: For product pages that are similar by necessity, add canonical tags in your HTML to indicate the preferred version.
  2. Test in Search Console: Verify that Google recognizes the canonical URL for each product.
• Consolidate Where Necessary:
  1. Merge Similar Products: If you have multiple listings for the same item (e.g., different colors or sizes), consider consolidating them into one page with variations.
  2. Update Navigation: Adjust your category pages to reflect these changes, ensuring that users and search engines find the best version.

8. Over-Optimized Landing Pages

It’s tempting to create multiple landing pages that all target a broad keyword. However, when too many pages try to rank for the same term, you end up with internal competition, and none of the pages shine.

How to Fix It: Step-by-Step

• Review Your Landing Pages:
  1. Inventory Landing Pages: List all landing pages that target the same broad keyword.
  2. Analyze Metrics: Use your analytics platform to see which pages perform best in terms of conversions and engagement.
• Narrow the Focus:
  1. Target Long-Tail Keywords: Instead of having every page target “SEO tips,” refine them to “advanced SEO tips for e-commerce” or “SEO tips for startups.”
  2. Rework Content: Update each landing page’s content, meta tags, and headlines to focus on these long-tail variations.
• Differentiate Visually:
  1. Unique Design Elements: Modify design elements like images, calls-to-action, and layout to clearly signal that each page serves a unique purpose.
  2. User Testing: Run A/B tests if possible to see which variations perform best, and adjust accordingly.

9. Multiple Versions of a Page (HTTP vs. HTTPS, www vs. non-www)

It might sound like a no-brainer, but having multiple URL versions for the same page can seriously confuse search engines. This often happens with HTTP vs. HTTPS or www vs. non-www variants.

How to Fix It: Step-by-Step

• Identify the Variants:
  1. Run a Site Crawl: Use tools like Screaming Frog to crawl your site and identify duplicate URLs.
  2. Check Google Search Console: Look for duplicate content reports that highlight URL variations.
• Set a Preferred Version:
  1. Decide Your Canonical URL: Choose whether you want www or non-www, HTTP or HTTPS.
  2. Document Your Decision: Write this down for reference and team communication.
• Implement 301 Redirects:
  1. Configure .htaccess or CMS Settings: Set up 301 redirects so that all alternate URLs point to your chosen canonical URL.
  2. Test Redirects: Use online redirect checker tools to ensure everything is working as expected.
• Use Canonical Tags:
  1. Add Canonical Tags in Your HTML: For every page, include a <link rel="canonical" href="your-preferred-URL" /> tag.
  2. Monitor in Search Console: Ensure Google indexes the correct version over time.

10. Unintentional Repurposing of Content

Sometimes, we repurpose content for different channels or formats. But if the repurposed content is too similar to the original, it ends up competing with itself. We want our repurposed content to offer something new, not just a rehash.

How to Fix It: Step-by-Step

• Audit Your Repurposed Content:
  1. Create a List: Identify all content that has been repurposed—blog posts turned into ebooks, for example.
  2. Compare Versions: Check to see if the repurposed content is too similar in keywords and messaging.
• Differentiate the Angles:
  1. Change the Focus: Update headlines, subheadings, and introductions to emphasize a new angle.
  2. Revise Meta Data: Change meta titles and descriptions so that each version targets a slightly different audience or search intent.
  3. Add Unique Elements: Incorporate additional insights, case studies, or updated statistics in the repurposed content.
• Implement Structured Data:
  1. Use Schema Markup: Differentiate similar pages by marking them up with schema that reflects their distinct purpose.
  2. Monitor Performance: Track how each version performs to ensure the differentiation is effective.

Summary: Cheatsheet for Fixing Keyword Cannibalization

Here’s a quick-reference cheatsheet summarizing the issues and the fixes:

Cause/Issue	Description	Fixes
Duplicate Content Across Pages	Multiple pages with identical or nearly identical content confuse search engines.	– Consolidate: Choose one primary page and merge the best content from duplicates. – 301 Redirects: Redirect duplicate URLs to the main page using .htaccess or a CMS plugin. – Canonical Tags: Add tags to duplicate pages pointing to the primary version.
Overlapping Blog Topics	Several posts covering similar topics compete for the same keywords.	– Audit: List all blog posts and identify overlapping topics. – Assign Unique Angles: Update each post to target distinct long-tail keywords. – Revise Metadata: Rewrite titles, headings, and meta descriptions to clearly differentiate each post’s focus.
Poor Site Architecture	A disorganized structure causes similar topics to appear across different sections of your site.	– Visual Sitemap: Create a visual map to identify overlapping content areas. – Reorganize: Group content into clear categories and subcategories. – Update Navigation: Revamp menus and add breadcrumbs to reinforce the new structure.
Inadequate Keyword Targeting and Mapping	The same keywords are used on multiple pages due to a lack of strategic planning.	– Keyword Research: Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Google Keyword Planner to compile a comprehensive list. – Keyword Map: Assign one primary keyword per page (with distinct secondary keywords). – Revise Content: Update on-page elements to reflect the new mapping.
Unoptimized Internal Linking	Internal links spread authority across multiple similar pages, diluting the focus for each keyword.	– Audit Links: Use internal link analysis tools to spot overlapping anchor texts. – Designate a Primary Page: Choose the best-performing page for each keyword. – Update Anchor Text: Ensure all internal links point to the designated page consistently.
Redundant or Thin Content	Low-quality or overly similar content provides little value and confuses both users and search engines.	– Content Audit: Identify pages with low word count, poor engagement, or overlapping topics. – Merge or Enhance: Combine similar pages or expand the content to create a comprehensive resource. – Noindex/Delete: Consider noindexing or removing pages that add little value.
Duplicate Product or Category Pages (E-commerce)	Similar product descriptions or category pages lead to internal competition, affecting rankings.	– Rewrite Descriptions: Create unique copy for each product/category page. – Canonical Tags: Implement tags on similar pages to designate the preferred version. – Consolidate Listings: Merge pages for similar products, using variations on a single page when possible.
Over-Optimized Landing Pages	Multiple landing pages targeting the same broad keyword result in internal competition.	– Refine Focus: Switch to long-tail keywords for each landing page. – Update Content/Meta Tags: Adjust on-page SEO elements to clarify the unique focus of each page. – Differentiate Design: Use unique design elements to distinguish each page’s purpose.
Multiple Versions of a Page	Duplicate URL versions (HTTP vs. HTTPS, www vs. non-www) confuse search engines and split link equity.	– Site Crawl: Use a tool like Screaming Frog to identify duplicate URL versions. – 301 Redirects: Implement redirects to consolidate all versions to your preferred URL. – Canonical Tags: Add tags on all pages to signal the canonical version to search engines.
Unintentional Repurposing of Content	Repurposed content that isn’t sufficiently differentiated ends up competing with the original.	– Audit Repurposed Content: List all repurposed pieces and compare them with the originals. – Differentiate: Update headlines, intros, and metadata to offer a fresh angle. – Enhance Uniqueness: Add new data, examples, or insights to ensure each version stands on its own.

Keep this keyword cannibalization cheatsheet close by whenever you’re reviewing your site for keyword cannibalization issues. It’s your go-to guide for quickly identifying the problem and applying the right fixes—so your pages can shine individually without competing against each other.

Final Thoughts

There you have it—a deep dive into the most common causes of keyword cannibalization and some granular, step-by-step fixes that you can implement right away. The key here is to be methodical. Don’t just fix one problem and move on; keep auditing your site to make sure your content strategy stays focused and distinct.

If you ever feel overwhelmed, remember this cheatsheet. It’s your quick go-to guide whenever you need to remind yourself which issue you’re facing and how to tackle it.

Now, grab your favorite text editor, dive into your CMS, and start cleaning up that keyword mess. Happy optimizing, and here’s to a more focused, high-performing website!