{"id":6749,"date":"2026-02-24T09:45:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T14:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/?p=6749"},"modified":"2026-02-10T12:13:42","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T17:13:42","slug":"keyword-cannibalization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/blog\/keyword-cannibalization\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Keyword Cannibalization Hurting Your SEO? Learn How to Fix It!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Have you ever spent hours creating a perfect web page, only to publish it and find out you have <em>another<\/em> page on your site ranking for the same keywords?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This unwelcome surprise is known as keyword cannibalization, and it's a common problem in SEO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Keyword cannibalization occurs when multiple pages on your site compete for the same search queries.<\/strong> This dilutes the SEO efforts of each page, making it harder for either URL to rank in Google search results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news is that fixing it isn't nearly as scary as the name suggests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And over the past 6+ years, I've developed <strong>a reliable system to prevent keyword cannibalization<\/strong> from the start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this guide, you'll learn exactly how to stop keyword cannibalization in its tracks and improve the visibility of your content without competiting against yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group aioseo-table-of-contents crazy has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>In This Article<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-aioseo-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#what-is-keyword-cannibalization\">What Is Keyword Cannibalization?<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#what-causes-keyword-cannibalization\">What Causes Keyword Cannibalization?<\/a><ul><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#1-expanding-content-natural-topic-overlap\">Expanding Content: Natural Topic Overlap<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#2-poor-keyword-strategy-lack-of-planning\">Poor Keyword Strategy: Lack of Planning<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#why-is-keyword-cannibalization-bad-for-seo\">Why Is Keyword Cannibalization Bad for SEO?<\/a><ul><\/ul><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#how-to-prevent-keyword-cannibalization-before-it-happens\">How to Prevent Keyword Cannibalization Before It Happens<\/a><ul><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#step-1-do-a-quick-rank-check-before-you-write\">Step 1: Do a Quick Rank Check Before You Write<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#step-2-map-out-your-content-keywords\">Step 2: Map Out Your Content & Keywords<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#step-3-create-topic-clusters\">Step 3: Create Topic Clusters<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#how-to-fix-keyword-cannibalization-in-4-steps\">How to Fix Keyword Cannibalization in 4 Steps<\/a><ul><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#step-1-identify-the-cannibalizing-pages\">Step 1: Identify the Cannibalizing Pages<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#step-2-decide-on-your-canonical-page\">Step 2: Decide on Your Canonical Page<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#step-3-resolve-the-other-pages\">Step 3: Resolve the Other Pages<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#step-4-update-internal-links-add-canonical-tags\">Step 4: Update Internal Links & Add Canonical Tags<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#combat-keyword-cannibalization-for-better-seo\">Combat Keyword Cannibalization for Better SEO<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#faqs-about-keyword-cannibalization\">FAQs About Keyword Cannibalization<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-keyword-cannibalization\">What Is Keyword Cannibalization?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Keyword cannibalization happens when multiple pages on your website compete for the same search query.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, imagine you have an eCommerce website for shoes. You're trying to sell &#8220;red shoes,&#8221; but you have 3 different pages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>&#8220;Red Shoe Collection&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;Best Red Shoes of 2025&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;Red Shoes for Women&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>These pages are all competing for the same keywords<strong> <\/strong>(&#8220;red shoes,&#8221; &#8220;red shoes for women&#8221;). <strong>This dilutes your <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/blog\/on-page-seo\/\" title=\"Easy On-Page SEO: A Beginner\u2019s Guide to Ranking Higher\"><strong>on-page SEO<\/strong><\/a><strong> efforts<\/strong> and <strong>creates an internal competition <\/strong>among your own web pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Google also struggles to determine <em>which<\/em> of your pages is the best answer for a searcher's query. This can lead to lower rankings for <em>all<\/em> of your pages, and lost traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-causes-keyword-cannibalization\">What Causes Keyword Cannibalization?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are typically 2 main causes of keyword cannibalization: (1) expanding content and (2) a poor keyword strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s look at each in more details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-expanding-content-natural-topic-overlap\">1. Expanding Content: Natural Topic Overlap<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As your website grows and addresses more related topics, overlap happens. It's not inherently bad, but addressing it is key. This can happen when a single topic is covered with varying perspectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Example:<\/strong> The bakery expands content from \u201cRed Velvet Cupcakes\u201d to \u201cRed Velvet Cupcake Recipes\u201d and \u201cRed Velvet Cupcake Decorating Ideas.\u201d While related, each page should uniquely answer unique search intent.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Contributing Factors:<\/strong> New content creation, broad topic choices, or addressing similar questions in an ad-hoc manner.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Solutions:<\/strong> Careful content planning, <a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/blog\/topic-clusters\/\" title=\"How to Create Topic Clusters for SEO (+ Automation Guide!)\">topic clustering<\/a>, and thorough <a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/blog\/keyword-research-for-small-businesses\/\" title=\"Keyword Research for Small Business Owners [Easy SEO Guide]\">keyword research<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-poor-keyword-strategy-lack-of-planning\">2. Poor Keyword Strategy: Lack of Planning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Without a clear keyword strategy, overlapping search terms can easily happen. This is particularly true if you have a team of writers are working independently or are not in sync with everyone\u2019s SEO efforts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Example:<\/strong> Multiple authors create pages without a central planning process, resulting in similar keywords and overlapping content.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Contributing Factors:<\/strong> No keyword blueprint, ad-hoc content creation, or misaligned content assignments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Solutions:<\/strong> Conduct thorough keyword research, create a content blueprint, and align content assignments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Addressing the root cause helps prevent and solve the underlying problems surrounding keyword cannibalization<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-is-keyword-cannibalization-bad-for-seo\">Why Is Keyword Cannibalization Bad for SEO?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Discovering keyword cannibalization is frustrating, but understanding <em>why<\/em> it's detrimental to your SEO is key to prioritizing a solution.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here's a breakdown of the main issues:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-confuses-search-engines\">1. Confuses Search Engines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The core issue is confusion. <\/strong>Google\u2019s goal is to deliver the most relevant result for each search query.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When multiple pages compete for the same keywords, Google struggles to determine <em>which<\/em> of your pages best answers a searcher\u2019s intent.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This dilutes your overall ranking potential for that keyword.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-wastes-link-equity-aka-link-juice\">2. Wastes \u201cLink Equity\u201d (aka Link Juice)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Each page on your website has a limited amount of &#8220;equity&#8221;\u2014think of it as voting power.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When multiple pages compete for the same keywords, they essentially divide that equity, rather than focusing it on a single, authoritative page.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This reduces the ability for content to build topical authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-reduces-ranking-potential\">3. Reduces Ranking Potential<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Because of the confusion and wasted equity, cannibalization leads to lower rankings for <em>all<\/em> involved pages.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rather than having one page on the first page of Google, you may have multiple pages on pages 2, 3, or even beyond.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With <a href=\"https:\/\/aioseo.com\/seo-statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"83 SEO Statistics for 2025 (Current & Verified)\">75% of website traffic<\/a> coming from page 1, you can expect limited performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-decreases-crawl-budget\">4. Decreases Crawl Budget<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Google\u2019s crawl budget is a limited number of pages it will index on a website.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If several pages are competing with one another, Google must spend more resources crawling duplicate content instead of discovering other, unique content on your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This makes it harder for search engines to find and index what could be some of your most valuable content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-creates-a-poor-user-experience\">5. Creates a Poor User Experience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Because of the issues above, <strong>Google may serve a URL you don\u2019t necessarily want to rank <\/strong>in search engine results pages (<a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/blog\/what-are-serps\/\" title=\"What Are SERPs?  An Easy Guide to Search Engine Results Pages\">SERPs<\/a>).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means a <em>user<\/em> is going to land on this page, and it might not be the experience you intended to provide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, if the page doesn\u2019t align with <a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/blog\/search-intent\/\" title=\"Search Intent Explained: What It Is, 4 Types, & Why It Matters\">search intent<\/a> (aka, what the user want to see or achieve), you\u2019ll experience increased <a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/blog\/is-bounce-rate-a-ranking-factor\/\" title=\"Is Bounce Rate a Ranking Factor? (Easy SEO Guide)\">bounce rates<\/a>. This engagement metric is a <a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/blog\/google-ranking-factors\/\" title=\"7 Most Important Google Ranking Factors in 2025\">Google ranking factor<\/a>, which could lead to a drop in rankings when the bounce rate is high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The good news is that the consequences of keyword cannibalization can be remedied.<\/strong> But addressing it requires a strategic approach and a few <a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/blog\/seo-best-practices\/\" title=\"15 SEO Best Practices That Really Work (& How To Do Them)\">SEO best practices<\/a> to prevent it altogether.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-prevent-keyword-cannibalization-before-it-happens\">How to Prevent Keyword Cannibalization Before It Happens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The best way to solve keyword cannibalization is to prevent it from the start. A few simple steps in your content planning process can save you countless hours of work down the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-1-do-a-quick-rank-check-before-you-write\">Step 1: Do a Quick Rank Check Before You Write<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you start creating <em>new<\/em> content, check if you already have a page ranking for your <a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/blog\/focus-keywords\/\" title=\"Focus Keywords Explained: What They Are & How to Pick Them\">focus keyword<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can do this with a <a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/blog\/best-seo-keyword-research-tools\/\" title=\"15 Best SEO Keyword Research Tools [Free & Paid]\">keyword research tool<\/a> like Semrush or Google Search Console (GSC).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here\u2019s how you\u2019d do this in Semrush:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, enter your website in the <strong>Domain Overview<\/strong> tool.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"416\" src=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/semrush-domain-overview-1024x416.jpg\" alt=\"Semrush domain overview of potterybarn.com\" class=\"wp-image-6750\" title=\"Semrush Domain Overview\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/semrush-domain-overview-1024x416.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/semrush-domain-overview-300x122.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/semrush-domain-overview-768x312.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/semrush-domain-overview.jpg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, scroll down until you see <strong>Organic Research<\/strong>. Click the <strong>View Details<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"625\" src=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/semrush-organic-keyword-view-details.jpg\" alt=\"Organic keywords in Semrush.\" class=\"wp-image-6751\" style=\"width:535px;height:auto\" title=\"View Details\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/semrush-organic-keyword-view-details.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/semrush-organic-keyword-view-details-300x234.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/semrush-organic-keyword-view-details-768x600.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This action will open a new page that shows your website\u2019s keyword rankings. Now, since we want to look for a <em>specific<\/em> keyword, we\u2019re going to use a filter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Enter the keyword you\u2019re checking into the box labeled \u201c<strong>Filter by Keyword<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/search-keyword-semrush-1024x400.jpg\" alt=\"Filter by keyword in Semrush.\" class=\"wp-image-6752\" title=\"Keyword Filter\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/search-keyword-semrush-1024x400.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/search-keyword-semrush-300x117.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/search-keyword-semrush-768x300.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/search-keyword-semrush.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For our example, I used \u201crustic coffee table.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Semrush found <strong>89 ranking keywords<\/strong> related to my query. This means the website has covered the topic <em>really<\/em> well and I wouldn\u2019t want to create keyword cannibalization by making even more content on it. (That is, of course, unless I identified a <a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/blog\/find-related-keywords\/\" title=\"How to Find Related Keywords to Improve Your Content\u2019s Reach\">related keyword<\/a> with unique intent.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"414\" src=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/keyword-cannibalization-check-1024x414.jpg\" alt=\"Checking for keyword cannibalization in Semrush report.\" class=\"wp-image-6754\" title=\"Keyword Cannibalization Check\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/keyword-cannibalization-check-1024x414.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/keyword-cannibalization-check-300x121.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/keyword-cannibalization-check-768x310.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/keyword-cannibalization-check.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-aioseo-theme-notice-box\" role=\"alert\">\n<p><strong>Don\u2019t have a Semrush account? <\/strong>You can also <a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/blog\/check-google-rankings\/\" title=\"How to Check If Your Website Is Ranking on Google for FREE\">check if your website is ranking on Google<\/a> by performing a quick search in Google itself. Just type <em>site:yourwebsite.com \u201cyour keyword&#8221;<\/em> in Google and see if it returns any results. This a fast, free way to do a ranking check.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Ultimately, if you find an existing page ranking for the term, you should either optimize that page or, if the content is completely different, build a proper <a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/blog\/internal-linking-strategy\/\" title=\"How to Build an Internal Linking Strategy \u2014 The Easy Way!\">internal linking structure<\/a> to differentiate them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-2-map-out-your-content-keywords\">Step 2: Map Out Your Content & Keywords<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Create a content blueprint or spreadsheet that clearly lists:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Each URL<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its primary keyword<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The main search intent<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This helps you and your team stay organized and avoids creating overlapping content.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, a content map for the &#8220;red shoes&#8221; site might include pages for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>URL:<\/strong> \/red-shoes-for-women\/\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Primary Keyword:<\/strong> red shoes for women sale<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Intent:<\/strong> Transactional (user wants to buy)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>URL:<\/strong> \/red-shoes-for-running\/\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Primary Keyword:<\/strong> best red running shoes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Intent:<\/strong> Informational\/Commercial (user wants to research and then buy)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This strategy ensures you\u2019re targeting all relevant keywords to your product but align each URL with that specific query\u2019s intent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-3-create-topic-clusters\">Step 3: Create Topic Clusters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Organize your content into logical clusters with a central <a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/blog\/pillar-content\/\" title=\"I Fixed My SEO With This Pillar Content Strategy\">&#8220;pillar&#8221; page<\/a> for a broad topic and supporting pages for more specific, <a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/blog\/long-tail-keywords\/\" title=\"Long-Tail Keywords: What They Are & How to Find Them\">long-tail keywords<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, use <a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/blog\/internal-linking-strategy\/\" title=\"How to Build an Internal Linking Strategy \u2014 The Easy Way!\">internal links<\/a> to connect related pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/topic-clusters-example-1-1.png\" alt=\"A diagram showing the topic clusters in a pillar page.\" class=\"wp-image-4402\" style=\"width:579px;height:auto\" title=\"Topic Cluster Diagram\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/topic-clusters-example-1-1.png 1024w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/topic-clusters-example-1-1-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/topic-clusters-example-1-1-768x576.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>This process is known as topic clustering<\/strong>, and it clearly signals to Google what content is most authoritative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also helps you avoid overlap by ensuring <strong>every new page has a unique purpose<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow this tutorial to learn how to build <a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/blog\/topic-clusters\/\" title=\"How to Create Topic Clusters for SEO (+ Automation Guide!)\">topic clusters<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can create topic clusters manually in spreadsheets, but it takes<em> a lot<\/em> of time. (Trust me, I can\u2019t tell you how many hours I spent in Excel before <a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/blog\/best-keyword-clustering-tools\/\" title=\"5 Best Keyword Clustering Tools (Tried & Tested by an SEO)\">keyword clustering tools<\/a> were a thing.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Luckily for you, <strong>LowFruits automates the entire process of keyword clustering<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"557\" src=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/new-lowfruits-homepage-1024x557.jpg\" alt=\"LowFruits homepage, the best keyword research and SERP analysis tool for small businesses.\" class=\"wp-image-5292\" title=\"LowFruits\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/new-lowfruits-homepage-1024x557.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/new-lowfruits-homepage-300x163.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/new-lowfruits-homepage-768x418.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/new-lowfruits-homepage.jpg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/\" title=\"LowFruits - Analyze the SERPs Faster, Find Weak Spots\">LowFruits<\/a> is the best keyword research and SERP analysis tool for small business owners because it <strong>focuses on finding low-competition keywords <\/strong>you can easily rank for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It uses exclusive metrics, like Weak Spots, to <strong>identify low-authority competitors <\/strong>ranking in the top positions. (These are competitors even new websites can outrank with the right content.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also has a powerful <a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/features\/keyword-clustering-tool\/\" title=\"Keyword Clustering Tool\">Keyword Clustering Tool<\/a> that\u2019s simple enough for beginners but with insights that SEO professionals use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here\u2019s a brief overview of how it works:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After performing a <a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/blog\/seed-keywords\/\" title=\"How to Find Seed Keywords [5 Quick & Easy Ways]\">seed keyword<\/a> search in the KWFinder, you\u2019ll get a keyword report of related terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"440\" src=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/easy-keywords-florist-1024x440.jpg\" alt=\"Easy keyword in LowFruits, the best Semrush alternative.\" class=\"wp-image-2973\" title=\"LowFruits KWFinder Report\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/easy-keywords-florist-1024x440.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/easy-keywords-florist-300x129.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/easy-keywords-florist-768x330.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/easy-keywords-florist.jpg 1450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>From here, click on the <strong>Clusters<\/strong> tab in the top menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"442\" src=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/keyword-clusters-lowfruits-1024x442.jpg\" alt=\"Keyword clusters in LowFruits.\" class=\"wp-image-2590\" title=\"Keyword Clusters\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/keyword-clusters-lowfruits-1024x442.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/keyword-clusters-lowfruits-300x130.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/keyword-clusters-lowfruits-768x332.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/keyword-clusters-lowfruits-1536x663.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/keyword-clusters-lowfruits.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This will bring you to a new page that clusters your keywords automatically. You\u2019ll see the <strong>main cluster keyword <\/strong>in the far-left column and a preview of how many keywords are within that cluster to the right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Click on any of the main cluster keywords to view the individual queries within that group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"410\" src=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/keyword-clusters-best-la-florist-1024x410.jpg\" alt=\"Keywords within a single topic cluster.\" class=\"wp-image-6093\" title=\"Keywords Within a Cluster\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/keyword-clusters-best-la-florist-1024x410.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/keyword-clusters-best-la-florist-300x120.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/keyword-clusters-best-la-florist-768x307.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/keyword-clusters-best-la-florist.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-aioseo-theme-notice-box\" role=\"alert\">\n<p><strong>Remember:<\/strong> The main idea behind keyword clustering is to target semantically-related queries on the same web page to increase its visibility in SERPs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>By using the LowFruits Keyword Clustering Tool, you can do what used to take me days \u2014in seconds.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And not only is the process extremely fast, but it <strong>sets you up for success <\/strong>and<strong> prevents keyword cannibalization<\/strong> in your content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-fix-keyword-cannibalization-in-4-steps\">How to Fix Keyword Cannibalization in 4 Steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you've already found pages competing against one another, don't panic! You can fix it with this simple, 4-step process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-1-identify-the-cannibalizing-pages\">Step 1: Identify the Cannibalizing Pages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The first step is to find the pages that are competing. You can do this by using a <a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/blog\/keyword-position-checkers\/\" title=\"My Top 10 Keyword Position Checkers I Use to Monitor SERPs\">keyword position checker<\/a> to see which URLs are ranking for the same target keywords. A quick Google search with the site: operator can also help:<em> site: yourwebsite.com &#8220;your keyword&#8221;<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first step is to find the pages that are competing. This can be done in a few different ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Using a Keyword Position Checker:<\/strong> In a paid tool like Semrush or Ahrefs, your rank tracking report will show you which of your pages are ranking for a given keyword. You can easily spot cannibalization when multiple URLs are listed for the same term.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Using Google Search Console:<\/strong> Head to the Performance report in GSC and filter by the keyword you suspect is being cannibalized. Then, click on the &#8220;Pages&#8221; tab. If you see multiple URLs with impressions for that single keyword, you have a problem.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Manual Site Search:<\/strong> In Google, type <em>site: yourwebsite.com &#8220;your keyword<\/em>&#8220;. This will show you all the pages on your site that Google has indexed for that exact keyword. If you see more than one, it's a strong indicator of cannibalization.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-2-decide-on-your-canonical-page\">Step 2: Decide on Your Canonical Page<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you've identified the competing pages, you need to choose one to be the main, authoritative page for that keyword. <strong>This is the page you want to rank.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Look for the page with the highest:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Organic Traffic:<\/strong> Which page is already attracting the most clicks from search engines?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Backlinks or Page Authority:<\/strong> Which page has the most backlinks or the strongest authority metrics from tools like Moz or Ahrefs?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Content Quality and Freshness:<\/strong> Which page has the most comprehensive, up-to-date, and well-written content that best serves user intent?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Conversion Rate:<\/strong> Which page is the most valuable for your business in terms of conversions, sales, or lead generation?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-3-resolve-the-other-pages\">Step 3: Resolve the Other Pages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Now it's time to fix the competing pages. You have 3 primary options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Merge:<\/strong> This is often the best solution. Take the best, most valuable content from the weaker pages and add it to your canonical page. This makes your main page even more comprehensive and authoritative. Once you've done this, set up a 301 redirect from the weaker URL to the canonical one. This redirects any traffic or backlinks from the weaker page to your new, stronger page.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Repurpose:<\/strong> If a competing page serves a different search intent or targets a slightly different but related keyword, you can re-optimize it. Rewrite the content to target a new, unique keyword and intent. This turns a cannibalizing page into a valuable, non-competing asset.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Delete:<\/strong> If the page is low-quality, outdated, or completely irrelevant, and its content offers no value, you can simply delete it and issue a 410 &#8220;content deleted&#8221; status code. This signals to Google that the page is permanently gone and should be removed from the index.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The best solution will depend on the context of your canonical page and its competing content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-4-update-internal-links-add-canonical-tags\">Step 4: Update Internal Links & Add Canonical Tags<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, <strong>you need to consolidate your efforts<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Go through your entire website and identify any internal links that point to the pages you have repurposed or redirected. <strong>Update those links so they point to your new canonical URL instead.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a crucial step to properly concentrate all your &#8220;link equity&#8221; on the main page you want to rank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the canonical page you've chosen, it's also a best practice to <strong>add a canonical tag<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/blog\/canonical-urls\/\" title=\"Canonical URLs & Tags Explained [Easy Beginner\u2019s Guide]\">canonical tag<\/a> tells Google that a specific page is the main, authoritative version, even if other pages on your site have similar or duplicate content. Here\u2019s what it looks like in HTML:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"201\" src=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/canonical-link-annotation-1024x201.jpg\" alt=\"Canonical URL in HTML source code.\" class=\"wp-image-2773\" title=\"Canonical URL\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/canonical-link-annotation-1024x201.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/canonical-link-annotation-300x59.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/canonical-link-annotation-768x151.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/canonical-link-annotation.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a crucial step to prevent cannibalization and clearly signal to search engines which page should be ranking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-aioseo-theme-notice-box\" role=\"alert\">\n<p><strong>Pro Tip: <\/strong>Not sure if your page has a canonical tag? Use the <a href=\"https:\/\/chromewebstore.google.com\/detail\/all-in-one-seo-analyzer-b\/gdmkcblhddhhfejpfbjomilpgpbpjhhg?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"All in One SEO Analyzer Free Chrome Extension\">All in One SEO Analyzer<\/a> to check. This free Chrome extension scans websites to reveal SEO data, including canonical URL information.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1298\" height=\"532\" src=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/self-referencing-canonical.jpg\" alt=\"The All in One SEO Analyzer shows a self-referencing canonical tag.\" class=\"wp-image-2772\" style=\"width:681px;height:auto\" title=\"Self-Referencing Canonical URL\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/self-referencing-canonical.jpg 1298w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/self-referencing-canonical-300x123.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/self-referencing-canonical-1024x420.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/self-referencing-canonical-768x315.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1298px) 100vw, 1298px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"combat-keyword-cannibalization-for-better-seo\">Combat Keyword Cannibalization for Better SEO<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Keyword cannibalization can be a tricky problem, but it's one every site owner will face at some point.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By prioritizing thorough keyword research, strategic content planning, and careful internal linking, you can ensure your content is clear, focused, and effective.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And remember\u2014it's better to have 1 <em>powerful<\/em> page than 3 <em>average<\/em> ones.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Google also favors more comprehensive content, making this approach an effective means of boosting your keyword rankings and organic traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faqs-about-keyword-cannibalization\">FAQs About Keyword Cannibalization<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-aioseo-theme-accordion\">\n<div data-schema-only=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\">What is keyword cannibalization in SEO?<\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p>Keyword cannibalization is an SEO issue where multiple pages on your website compete for the same search queries. Instead of Google seeing a single, authoritative page on a topic, it sees several pages, which can confuse search engines and dilute the ranking potential of all the competing pages. This often leads to lower rankings and lost organic traffic.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-aioseo-theme-accordion\">\n<div data-schema-only=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\">How can I identify keyword cannibalization?<\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p>You can identify keyword cannibalization by using a keyword rank checker tool or Google Search Console. In a rank tracker, you'll see multiple URLs from your domain ranking for the same keyword. In Google Search Console's Performance report, you can filter by a specific keyword and then check the &#8220;Pages&#8221; tab to see if more than one URL is receiving impressions for that term. A simple manual check on Google using the site: operator can also help you find competing pages.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-aioseo-theme-accordion\">\n<div data-schema-only=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\">How can I avoid keyword cannibalization?<\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p>The best way to avoid keyword cannibalization is to have a strong content and keyword strategy from the start. Before creating new content, do a quick rank check to see if you already have a page on your site ranking for that term. You should also create a content blueprint and organize your content into topic clusters to ensure every page has a unique purpose and is optimized for a specific keyword.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-aioseo-theme-accordion\">\n<div data-schema-only=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\">How do I fix keyword cannibalization?<\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p>To fix keyword cannibalization, you first need to identify the competing pages. Next, choose one page to be the main, authoritative version (your &#8220;canonical&#8221; page). Then, you should either merge the content from the weaker pages into the main page, repurpose the weaker pages to target a different keyword, or delete them if they are low-quality. Finally, you should update your internal links and add a canonical tag to the main page to consolidate all your &#8220;link equity&#8221; in one place.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you ever spent hours creating a perfect web page, only to publish it and find out you have another page on your site ranking for the same keywords? This unwelcome surprise is known as keyword cannibalization, and it&#8217;s a common problem in SEO. Keyword cannibalization occurs when multiple pages on your site compete for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":248,"featured_media":7137,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"am_check_title_format":true,"am_check_permalink_format":true,"am_check_check_categories":true,"am_check_image_links_new_tab":true,"am_check_links_new_tab":true,"am_check_flifdn_i_zdilyghwmc3q":true,"am_check_bw5lhchtaays6phnuxaab":true,"am_check_7xjfkeyllswtlb8m4geli":true,"am_check_mmpyavkpnvqakyoa0pswp":true,"am_check_nwzd0q2luski4upg5xkib":true,"am_check_phrpfzy7iv6_4sb6gtmfe":true,"am_check_dt_uokjr34nmlp5i4mai5":true,"am_check_ck0ix72zhwrmtntdo09mi":true,"am_check_m0uc7nzckg1x33rffydya":true,"am_check_joaqzpt1pujl4bkkyurpx":true,"am_check_wmavsh39a3yxl49ptxfe7":true,"am_check_v_r5yh0urz2icvtljws0m":true,"am_check_00ob2jv86fnniwqec_pzr":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[131],"tags":[112],"class_list":["post-6749","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-seo","tag-keyword-cannibalization"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6749","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/248"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6749"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6749\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7138,"href":"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6749\/revisions\/7138"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7137"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6749"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6749"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6749"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}