Keyword cannibalization

SEO & GEO

Cannibalization occurs when multiple pages of the same website target the same search term and intent. Google then has to choose which one to display and often switches between them. Instead of one strong page, you have two mediocre ones.

This typically develops over time: first a services page about hosting , two years later a blog post "The best hosting for small businesses", then a landing page for a campaign. All three essentially cover the same topic.

You can identify this in Search Console: Filter by a search query and see which pages receive impressions for it. If the rankings fluctuate between multiple addresses, you have a case.

There are three ways to resolve this. Merge the pages if the content overlaps, using a 301 redirect to the most relevant page. Separate them if each page serves a different purpose, such as a guide versus a sales page. Or deliberately withdraw a page, for example using noindex, if it's only needed for campaigns.

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