Content Cannibalization: SEO Guide to Fix & Prevent

Keyword and content cannibalization occur when multiple website pages target similar keywords or topics, causing search engine confusion and hindering rankings. Keyword cannibalization focuses on identical or near-identical keywords across pages, while content cannibalization involves thematic overlap regardless of keyword matching. Both negatively impact SEO by lowering rankings, diluting backlinks, confusing search engine crawlers, and reducing click-through rates (CTR). Identifying these issues involves using site searches with “site:yourdomain.com “keyword” in Google, leveraging tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs, or Semrush to track keyword rankings and overlapping URLs, and reviewing URL structures and content categories for thematic overlap. Solutions include merging or deleting redundant content, prioritizing high-performing pages, and using 301 redirects to maintain existing backlinks and traffic. Yoast's experience in addressing keyword cannibalization regarding keyword research is highlighted. They audited content, analyzed performance in Google Search Console, decided which pages to keep or delete with redirects, and merged relevant sections. Another example involves merging three SEO audit articles into one comprehensive guide. Preventive measures include regular content audits, assigning unique target keywords to each page, using clear content briefs, maintaining a keyword and topic map, and, for e-commerce, optimizing category pages. Common mistakes to avoid include deleting valuable pages without checking data, relying solely on canonical tags, merging pages with different search intents, and neglecting internal linking opportunities. Ultimately, proactively addressing cannibalization improves search engine understanding of your content and enhances user experience.

(Source: https://yoast.com/keyword-cannibalization/)