What is keyword cannibalization?
Keyword cannibalization is an SEO (Search Engine Optimization) concept where multiple pages on the same website target the same or very similar keywords, competing against each other in search engine rankings.
This happens when content across different pages overlaps too much in terms of focus, intent, or keyword usage, causing confusion for search engines like Google about which page should rank higher for those terms.
Instead of strengthening your site’s authority for a specific keyword, this internal competition can dilute your SEO efforts, lower click-through rates, and reduce the overall visibility of your pages.
For example, if you have two blog posts titled “Best Running Shoes for Beginners” and “Top Beginner Running Shoes” with nearly identical content, they might split the ranking potential rather than one page dominating the results.
To fix it, you can consolidate content, differentiate the intent of each page (e.g., one for reviews, another for buying guides), or use canonical tags to signal the preferred page to search engines. The goal is to ensure each page has a clear, unique purpose and keyword focus.