Keyword Cannibalisation Detection

Keyword cannibalization occurs when multiple pages on your website compete for the same search keywords. Think of it like having two salespeople from the same company pitching the same product to the same customer—they end up competing against each other rather than against your actual competitors.

When multiple pages target the same keyword, search engines may:

  • Get confused about which page to rank higher
  • Split ranking signals (like backlinks) between pages
  • Lower the ranking of both pages instead of ranking one page highly

This tool helps you identify and resolve these issues on your website.

keyword cannibalisation detection

Understanding the SERP360 Keyword Cannibalisation Tool

The SERP360 Keyword Cannibalization Tool automatically identifies instances where multiple pages on your website are ranking for the same keywords. It analyzes your website's ranking data to find cases where:

  • Multiple URLs rank for the same keyword
  • The ranking positions are relatively close to each other
  • The rankings fluctuate, indicating competition between your own pages

The tool not only identifies these issues but also provides AI-powered analysis and recommendations to help you resolve them effectively.

Why Keyword Cannibalization Matters

Addressing keyword cannibalization can lead to significant improvements in your search visibility and traffic:

  • Improved rankings: When you consolidate your ranking signals to one page instead of splitting them across multiple pages, that page is more likely to achieve higher rankings.
  • More stable positions: Eliminating internal competition leads to more consistent rankings.
  • Better user experience: Directing users to the most relevant page for their search query enhances their experience on your site.
  • More efficient crawl budget: Search engines can focus on crawling your important content rather than multiple similar pages.

Getting Started with the Tool

The initial screen shows you keywords where multiple pages from your site are ranking, potentially competing with each other.

Main Table Columns:

  • Keyword: The search term for which multiple pages are ranking
  • Search Engine: Indicates whether the data is from Google, Bing, or another search engine
  • Domain: Your website domain that has cannibalization issues
  • Expand: Click the + icon to see detailed data about the competing URLs
  • Action: Contains the AI button for detailed analysis and recommendations

The data is presented in order of keyword, making it easy to browse through potential issues.

Working with Cannibalization Issues

Expanding Keyword Data

To examine a specific cannibalization issue:

  1. Click on any row or the + icon in the "Expand" column
  2. This reveals a subtable showing all URLs that are ranking for the same keyword
  3. For each URL, you'll see:
    • The complete URL
    • Best Position: The highest position this URL has achieved for the keyword
    • Worst Position: The lowest position this URL has ranked
    • Average Position: The average ranking position over time

The fluctuation between best and worst positions often indicates pages competing with each other.


Using the AI Analysis Feature

For comprehensive analysis and recommendations:

  1. Click the "AI" button in the Action column
  2. The system will analyze:
    • Content overlap between the competing pages
    • Canonical tag implementation
    • User intent alignment for each page
    • Potential solutions to resolve the cannibalization

The AI analysis typically takes 15-30 seconds to complete, depending on the number of URLs being analyzed.


Understanding Canonical Checks

When you click the AI button, the tool also performs canonical checks on the competing URLs:

  1. The "Canonical Check Summary" section shows:
    • Number of URLs checked
    • Number of errors detected
    • Number of warnings identified
  2. If issues are found, each one is detailed with:
    • The affected URL
    • Error severity (warning or error)
    • A detailed explanation of the issue
    • The impact on your SEO performance
    • Specific recommendations to fix the problem

Common canonical issues include:

  • Multiple pages with the same canonical URL
  • Pages with no canonical tags
  • Self-referencing canonicals that conflict with other signals

keyword cannibalization analysis

Implementing Recommendations

The AI Analysis provides actionable recommendations in the following categories:

Content Strategy Recommendations:

  • Which page should be the primary page for the keyword
  • How to differentiate content between pages
  • Specific sections to add, modify, or remove
  • Title and heading suggestions to clarify the focus

Technical Implementation Recommendations:

  • Canonical tag implementations
  • Internal linking adjustments
  • URL structure changes (if necessary)
  • Redirect suggestions for completely redundant content

For best results, implement the recommendations in this order:

  1. Fix any canonical tag issues first
  2. Make the suggested content changes to differentiate pages
  3. Adjust internal linking as recommended
  4. Monitor rankings to see improvements
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